Page 12 of Unbound

As we were wrapping up our meeting, I got a call from

Nino who said he and a few other of our guys were checking out Denarda’s place and his office and they’d nearly gotten caught by Denarda’s security. Nino found a fucking Ferrano inner circle flowchart on the fucker’s home office wall. Tessa’s picture was circled.

Nino called her immediately to tell her to stay put so he could get additional security for her but she hadn’t answered, so he called me to tell me he’d have her tracked down. I called her cell. The phone went straight to voicemail. I called Sarah’s cell. Voicemail again.

I phoned the house.

“Hello?”

Lisa. Shit.

Lisa and I hadn’t talked much since her meltdown. She hadn’t been back from her retreat for long and had revealed her secrets of her origins to the girls.

Tia had been there and filled me in on how it all went down, how Tessa and Luciana left without letting Lisa off the hook. My sisters were in shock and Dare and I had talked it over. We knew that given time, they’d welcome her back into the fold. Hopefully Lisa knew that, too.

Dare told me he’d talked to Lisa and said she was doin’ okay, despite the shock from the chat with the girls. Tia and Angel were being a good support to her, as was Sarah. Though Sarah was pretty fuckin’ angry lately, knowing the truth about all that her girls had been through. She treated all of them like daughters and took it as a personal affront that anyone would hurt those girls.

“Hey. It’s Tommy. You good?” I half prayed she wouldn’t answer that question with more than a yes.

“Hi. Uh. Yeah, Tommy, I’m good. Um… you?”

“Not so good. Listen, Tessa there?”

“Oh, I’m not sure. I think Sarah has the boys.”

The volume of her voice got lower and I heard the click of heels on floor and then outside noises.

“Wait, she’s got Luc’s girls in the backyard. They’re playing in the snow. Tessa’s boys must be at daycare. I don’t know where Luc and the baby are.”

“Snow?” I asked. “Lots?”

“We got a dumping of it overnight. You out of town?”

“Yeah. Business. But things need to go on lockdown. Need to find Tess immediately.”

“Oh, uh, you texted her?”

“I called. No answer. Luc isn’t there in another part of the house or something?”

Fuck. Both my sisters unguarded.

“I’m not sure but I don’t think so. I’ll ask Sarah.”

“I need to talk to Sarah,” I started and then changed my mind. If Lisa was gonna continue to be a member of this family, we had to get over this awkward dance and she needed to be able to act quickly in a crisis.

“Scratch that,” I said. “I need you to keep things calm at the house and keep Sarah and the kids there. Find out where Luciana is and text me. Anyone else there?”

“Dex is around somewhere, I think. Unless he is over at your house. He’s been back and forth today. Tessa might be at the restaurant. She’s been helping Eddy with prep a few days a week.”

“Right. No panic all right, but stay there until you hear from me or unless I give Dex a change in orders. Yeah?”

“Okay,” she answered softly.

“I’ll get word to you guys when things are cool. Ask Sarah about Luc and text me. I need you to be cool and collected, Lisa.”

“Got it,” she replied and her voice sounded sure.

Me? I wasn’t sure about her yet, but Dex was on her heels and reporting to me and Dare that she seemed adjusted since returning from her retreat. I wasn’t fully convinced, but she was getting some leeway from me.

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