Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
As soon as it's up, notifications start rolling in.
The same unknown number Coda contacted me on previously pops up.
He's up to something. There's a lot of movement in the house and on the street out front.
Half an hour later, he sent another text.
He's on the move. I'm going to follow him.
Fifteen minutes later, he tried to call me.
That was two hours ago. He hasn't been in contact since.
Me: You good?
He doesn't respond.
I dial the number he called me from, but it goes straight to voicemail.
Fuck. Something is wrong. Coda would have sent a message to let me know all was well. We've done this far too long to leave that question up in the air. When someone doesn't check in, it's never good news.
My suspicions are confirmed two minutes later when I receive a text.
His life for my niece. Bring her to me, or I kill him.
I don't even hesitate before dialing Rafe's number.
"Have you heard from Coda?" I ask as soon as he answers.
"No, but I'm guessing you have if you're calling me."
"Cazzo! That motherfucker has him."
"Who?"
"Cillian."
"How do you know this?"
"He was tailing Cillian this morning, Rafe. He hasn't checked in since, and I just got a text saying his life for Finley."
Dead silence echoes down the line before Rafe curses softly. "I'd hoped he'd make a different choice."
"He made the choice he did to protect the family, fully aware that you might kill him for making it. He knows war is coming, Rafe. He was trying like hell to help me stop it."
"It wouldn't be coming if you hadn't started it."
"That's not true, and you know it. Do you really think Coda would have sided with me if I was the one who put the family in danger?" I ask. "This thing with Cillian was going to end up here one way or another. I'm just the excuse he's using. Coda sees it. I see it. Why can't you?"
He doesn't say anything.
"It's not your fault, Rafe," I press on, knowing damn well that I might just push too far. But if I don't say it, no one else will either. I know why he's so fucking reluctant to see what's right in front of his face. Because if he does, he has to face the fact that he fucked up. And after everything else we've been through, the last thing he wants to admit is that this happened because he wasn't paying close enough attention. The last thing he wants to face is the possibility that everything he's done over the last few years to stave off war means absolutely nothing because he missed the one brewing right under his nose.
"You weren't the only one responsible for paying attention," I say. "We all were. We all should have seen what was happening, but we were all fucking busy dealing with all the other bullshit coming our way. That doesn't make you weak. It doesn't make you a shit leader. It makes you fucking human. But what you do now? That defines who you are. You can either wait until it you have no choice, or you can show him who the fuck he's dealing with."
"Cristo, Domani," Rafe growls. "When the fuck did you start talking so goddamn much?"
"When you decided to put me in charge of some of this bullshit. You asked me to step up and lead. I stepped up."
"If we're doing this, we aren't doing it divided. You bring the girl here, Domani. We decide as a family how we're going to handle this shit."
"I won't give her back, Rafe. She's my wife."
"Cristo. Of course you married her."
"I did. If that changes things, so be it."
"It changes nothing, Brambilla," he says, wry amusement in his voice. "Bring her here. We'll figure it out together."
"I want your guarantee that she'll be protected."
"You know she will."
"That's not good enough, Rafe. I know I betrayed my oath and defied direct orders. I know you have to do what you have to do about that. If you kill me for it, so be it. But regardless of the outcome, I want to know that she'll be protected."
"I vow to you that she'll be protected no matter what, Domani," he says, his voice somber.
I exhale a breath.
"Now, fucking come home so we can go get Coda. And then I can kill you both for pissing me off."
"Yeah. We'll be there," I promise, disconnecting.
I drop the phone and turn around.
Finley's standing beside the bed, her wide eyes and stricken expression telling me louder than any words that she heard far more of that conversation than I ever intended for her to hear.
Fuck.
Chapter Twelve
Finley
"Finley, mio sole." Domani takes a step toward me, his hand outstretched as if he's asking me to take it. For the first time since I met him, I refuse. I heard most of his conversation. I should have told him I was awake, but I didn't.