Page 141 of The Best of Us

Chills bolted up my back and turned into ridges across every inch of my skin as I processed what he said, waiting for Colin to do the same.

What about her father? Why would he let them hurt his daughter or son if he’s tied to this?I’d save those questions for him when Colin wasn’t around.

“Lennon’s alive because you’re safe,” Alessandro reiterated, brows pinching.

“So, you’re saying I would have been responsible for her death had I . . .” Colin rocked back on his heels and dropped his head into his hands, and I shifted to that position alongside him, rubbing his back.

“The police swarmed the Navy Yard after we got away. Lennon was never brought there,” he said firmly.

“So, where do you think she is now? What do they want with her? What’d they want with me?”

Alessandro closed his eyes, took a breath, then returned his attention to my son as I stroked his back, trying to comfort him and maintain my sanity.

“They planned to offer you up as a trade for something they think your uncle Easton could get them. They originally targeted you because of him.”

Colin’s shocked dark eyes flew to Alessandro’s face.

“Your father complicated their original plans by coming into your life, by showing up at that rave. They had to regroup. Find a way to get you away from my brother. They knew who they were up against, so they had over twenty mercenaries protecting you tonight.”

He offered his hand like a truce, and Colin hesitantly accepted it. He held out his other for me, and the three of us stood as Izzy emerged, appearing in the foyer.

“Jamie couldn’t do all of this. He sold E to rich punks and boosted cars. And no way Lennon helped him make that video that was sent to draw me out. She’d never risk my life to help her brother like that. I don’t believe this.” He shook his head. “But I saw all those bodies, so . . .”

“Constantine just called me.” Izzy aligned herself with her brother, arms locking over her chest as she shared, “He checked out their hotel in Brooklyn himself to see what really happened. Jamie, Lennon, and the others didn’t leave on their own. They were taken by force. They’re working on following the trail since we know they were never brought to the Navy Yard.”

A biting chill slipped under my skin at her words.

“We think someone inside Jamie’s crew at that hotel double-crossed him,” she continued as Colin and I quietly stared at her and Alessandro.

Colin was probably as numb with shock as I was.

“They knew your dad had eyes on the building and that you’re a Costa. They knew everything you texted Lennon,” she went on in a soft voice.

“What are you saying?” Colin whispered as I looped my arm around his side, worried whatever Jenga piece was pulled next would take us down.

“We think your girlfriend’s father has been running Jamie’s operation behind bars. Their uncle is probably their money man and supplier. Trafficking in the drugs here to sell them, then laundering the money through offshore accounts,” Izzy explained, giving us a glum look. “We thought Jamie was using you as a way to get his father out of jail, but new information has changed our minds.”

She quickly laid out the facts for Colin about The League and the device that this mystery “they” were after.

“We believe Jamie was doing whatever he had to do to prevent his father from being killed in prison. He used you to save his father. Maybe to protect his sister, too.”

My free hand went to my chest, the pain lingering there burrowing deeper.

“Jamie’s by no means innocent.” Alessandro lifted his palm, patting the air to get that point across. “But someone with a lot more power and pull is behind all of this. Jamie was a puppet. He was probably only following orders to arrange a deal with the Sicilians at the rave, but the plan failed. So, they, whoever the helltheyare, sent in a team to intercept you tonight and try to take out your father.”

“But they failed. Dad’s alive, and I’m free. So, now they have no choice but to use Lennon instead of me and try to negotiate with both Dad and Uncle Easton.” Colin closed his eyes, scrunching up his face. “And they’re hoping Dad . . . that he’ll risk everything and get them what they want anyway to save her. Not because I love her, but becauseheloves me.”

“We’ll protect her, I promise.” Alessandro’s words provoked another shiver to fly freely as more chills had me shuddering.

Colin opened his eyes and stepped forward out of my reach. “Can I talk to my dad?” He held out his palm, and Alessandro tipped his head, a signal to Izzy to do what he was asking.

She called Constantine and placed him on speakerphone. He answered a moment later, and I nearly cried in relief at the mere sound of his voice. “Hey, everything okay?” he answered.

“Dad?” Colin whispered as she handed him the phone.

Silence was on the other line for a moment. “Yeah?” A hoarse answer came out.

I cupped my mouth, trying to keep from crying as Colin begged, “I’m so sorry.” Tears slipped down his cheeks. “Please come home.”

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