Page 107 of Chaos Kills

“And that may work,” I reply. “But what if it doesn’t? I’ve been around him for most of my life, and I know that motherfucker has put several hits out on Torin.” She twirls around to leave, but my hand catches her bicep, and I pull her back into her spot.

Bay will hear this.

She has to.

She needs to know what she’s fully up against at all fucking times.

“You know he’s deaf in one ear?”

“Let me go,” she orders through her teeth, pulling on her arm to give me the decision to do this the easy way or the hard way.

I’m picking the hard way.

“That’s a fuck no in Emilio’s eyes,” I tack on. “He raised that idiot. He killed your fucking mother for not wanting to be with him.”

“I know what he did.”

“Then let’s be fucking real here,” I grind out. “He’s not Father of the Year. You really think he gives a shit about you? He wants that fifth seat. You’re heir to that fifth seat by being Penn Northcott’s granddaughter.”

“I’m not taking?—”

“Yes, you are.” Bay’s eyes sharpen and she scowls at me like I have a right to tell her she’s going to do anything. I don’t. But, as much as I’m not a fan on it, sheisthe missing piece to solving this war. “You’re gonna run, Little T? You’re gonna let this man run you out of town? Your father built South Shore. This is your legacy. Take it and own the shit.”

“Shut the fuck up,” she rages, yanking again on her arm. “You don’t know shit about me or my family. Did you forget what I’m up against? Your brother believes I killed his brother.”

“I’ll handle that.”

Bay wrenches her limb so forcefully that, I’m afraid if I don’t let go she’ll hurt herself.

So, I do.

“You haven’t,” she rebukes sharply. “So, get it through your thick head, Sinatra. I’m not fucking staying here.”

I bump her chest with mine, irritation filling it because I don’t understand what sort of simple stupid she thinks I am, but I have all my fucking research done. “Fall in line, or we all go down. All of us. Emilio won’t hesitate taking down Wallace, and you’ll be going to war, Little T. But this time, he’ll be dead.”

A fat tear hits her cheek, but she doesn’t leave. I have her attention by mentioning Wallace, and I’m completely mindful that not only did I hit the mark, but I’m not going to have much more of her time.

“We didn’t start on the right foot,” I digress simply, shoving my hands into the pockets of my jeans. “Most of that is my fault. I’ll own up to being a complete asshole and letting you get to me.But I need you to push Emilio into believing you want to know where you are from, not who you grew up to be. You have to take the seat. The more time that goes by, allows Emilio to believe Ozzy is failing. That marrying you instead of throwing Ramsey in was a mistake.”

“Cairo.” My name off her lips is one of desperation and sadness. “I have my sisters.”

“I know that.” And I hate the words that form from my rational mind, but I force them out anyway. “But they’re already gone if you don’t move up and suit up.”

“I’ll protect them.”

Ozzy’s voice protrudes suddenly over the running waterfall on the other side of the pool, but I don’t bother to look over my shoulder at him. If he wants Bay to see he’s serious, he needs to know what moves he has to make.

And that’s physically being seen.

“And I’ll have your back,” I offer, receiving her watchful and cautious eyes again. “What do you want me to say, Bay? I’m running out of words.”

“Well, you won’t get them from Ozzy,” she drones, not removing any of the space between us.

Meanwhile, I can’t help the smirk that forms on my lips. “Yeah, well…we’re all a work in progress, aren’t we?”

She doesn’t answer that question, her mind filled with possibilities and nightmares all clashing together in one go.

“Bay.”

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