Page 31 of Corrupt Desires

“Something’s happened at your parents’ estate. Franklin has been keeping tabs on your parents for me, ever since the severed head, and it’s not looking good, Emilia. I need you to brace yourself.”

“Qué diablos! Are they OK, James? Tell me, now!” (What the hell.) I make a mental note that he’s been watching the estate, saving that for later.

James shakes his head, his hands clenching the steering wheel as he zig zags through traffic. “I don’t know the answer to that. All I know is that the cameras showed people storming the place before the feeds went to static and then nothing.”

My hand flies to my mouth as I barely contain a sob. My mother and father, Matty and Lorenzo. They were all there, waiting on me. I can’t have lost my entire family in one day; I refuse to entertain the idea. James looks at me with barely contained rage, but it has nothing on the fury that is coursing through my body right now. I’m taut with the desire to put bullet holes into every Romani head.

James lifts his phone to his ear once more, having placed a call to someone I couldn’t see.

A few seconds pass before someone answers, and he says, “I need you, Brother. No, right now. Your best men. I’ll explain later. Have them meet me at the address I text you.”

Kayden then. Or at least I think it’s Kayden. He’s the only one with specialized men on his payroll that I know of. If James is calling in Kayden’s men, then it must be really bad. Kayden’s men are all retired Special Ops, doing god knows what for him, so to call them in means there could be bullets flying.

As James quickly shoots over the address to Kayden, I pull out my gun and make sure it’s loaded and ready to go. James gives me a side eye. “Emilia, you won’t be needing that. Kayden’s men will have it covered.”

“Al diablo con eso. If there is a Romani still there, he’ll findmybullet between his eyes.” (Fuck that.)

* * *

As we near the estate,I see black smoke billowing up into the sky, blocking out the midday sun. The scent of smoke fills the cabin of the car, and my leg bounces as my anxiety shoots through the roof.

“No, no, no…” I mutter under my breath. James puts a reassuring hand on my leg, but I push it off. Things are not OK, and I don’t want his comfort right now.

We drive up the long, winding driveway, gravel flying behind us, and come upon utter destruction. There is no one in sight, but the estate is in shambles, debris lying across the lawn everywhere. What stood proud amongst the dark green landscape is no more.

“Shit.” James’s voice in the silence makes me jump.

“They bombed it… they took everyone from me.” My last word ends on a hiccup as I rapidly fall apart. My vision becomes blurry with the tears gathering in my eyes. An ache blossoms in my chest, threatening to overtake me as I fumble for the door handle.

Stepping out of the car, I walk up to the damage, the flames already dying down, and crash to my knees. I scream my rage, my sorrow, into the abyss of what once was. My family is gone, Matty is gone. James approaches me from behind, not saying a single word, just lying his hand on my shoulder. What does one say to a person that just lost their entire family? Days ago, his presence would have set me off, but now I lean into his touch as I fall apart. James moves around me to my front and kneels, gathering me into his arms. There is nothing to say, he just holds me as I let all my anguish release in screams and sobs.

I don’t know how much time passes until my eyes run dry, all my tears depleted, when the sound of gravel crunching announces the numerous SUVs approaching us. James pulls me to my feet but doesn’t shelter me behind him. He must recognize the vehicles because he pulls me to his side but remains silent as the cars spread out and park, surrounding us.

From the first vehicle, Kayden emerges wearing camo combat pants and a black shirt, his large arm muscles on full display. Kayden is attractive, black hair cut short, vivid blue eyes, and a scar that runs down his right cheek. I know Kayden is former Special Ops just as his men are, and from what I’ve seen, the man has scars to show for his time overseas. Usually when I see him, he has a haunted look in his eyes, but now there is nothing but pure, unfiltered rage simmering behind those blue eyes, matching the fury contained within James’s green eyes.

James and Kayden nod at each other in greeting before Kayden’s eyes rove behind us, taking in all the damage.

“I’m assuming the threats hightailed it?” Kayden breaks the silence, peering at both of us with a hard stare.

“I think they were in and out, a quick job. No one was here when we arrived,” replies James, turning toward the rubble.

I have nothing to say as I feel a numbness taking over my entire body, watching as everything plays out in slow motion. Kayden’s men make their way over to the damage, looking for any survivors. I know there aren’t any, though. No one could have endured that blast and lived to tell about it.

“What do you want to do, James?” Kayden asks, coming close to us and placing a gloved hand on his shoulder.

“I want to take my wife home so she can process this. Then, we can make plans on what we are going to do.”

“At least let me assign two of my guys to your home.”

James hesitates, but then reluctantly agrees. “Sure, Brother. We’ll take all the help we can get.”

With that being said, James puts a hand to my lower back, steering me toward the car. I follow as though I’m on autopilot, following him listlessly as he opens my door, and I bend down into my seat. James shuts the car door, but not before I see the look on his face, the worry that shines in his eyes.

I spend the entire car ride in silence, while James drives with one hand on my leg, rubbing comforting circles on my thigh.

I’m broken, completely and utterly broken. The people I love the most ripped away from me. James, Lorenzo, and Matty were supposed to be talking cars and manly shit, but now they’re gone. I’ll never see Matty’s smiling face again or hear Lorenzo spout the hard truth to me. My mother will never give me a hard time, and my father… Fuck, I can only hope it was quick for all of them.

I stare out the window, promising death to every Romani that gets in my way.

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