Page 101 of Declan's Dove

My phone rings, but everyone who would be calling me is in this room, except my Dove and the kid.

“Answer it on speaker,” Gabe commands. “Could be a ransom call.” I nod.

Taking my phone out, I set it on the table and answer on speaker. “Hello?”

“Declan?” a small, scared voice whispers. “Declan, it’s me Carter.”

“Where are you, Little Man? How are you?” My throat clogs with emotion, happy to hear his voice, and scared I won’t get to him before his prick of a sperm donor.

“I’m in the closet. Mr. Connelly is in the office on his computer. Jennifer, his wife, left to get groceries. I stole his phone to call Mama, but figured I should call you first. You said if I was ever in trouble to call you. I want to come home, Declan. Please?” His voice tightens as he sobs softly.

“You did good, bud. I’m coming to get you. You sit tight and keep out of sight. You hear me?”

“Yes, sir. I have to go.” The line drops.

“Carter!”

“Get ready to roll,” Gabe orders. “Hawk, weapons and comms. Pop, I need a cage ready, and load it with medical supplies, just in case. Jake, I want prospects on the women, and the women on lockdown until we return. Get them here. If the Devil’s Order is on their way to town, we don’t want to leave the women unprotected. Ethan, help Hawk. Jameson, I need you to get something special put together with Ghost to announce our arrival. I don’t want to leave any stone unturned.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Violet

Vincenzo took Mili upstairs to rest. She protested the entire way up the stairs, cursing and calling him every name in the book. Now I’m sitting here with only my thoughts to keep me company.

I miss Declan and Carter.

Vincenzo said the club would get Declan out of jail, but he didn’t say when. For all I know, he’s waiting to go before a judge first. Mrs. Cortez made it sound like it could be awhile before a judge became available. I guess that only matters if you don’t have a mob boss with a judge in his pocket.

I still don’t know what that’s going to cost me.

I have no idea how to find Carter. I can’t stop wondering if he’s okay. Are they feeding him? Is he in pain? Is he scared? I’ve seen those criminal investigation documentaries about the things that happen to children in some of those places. I’m sure not all of them are bad, but not having him in my sight, or being able to talk to him, leaves me to the worst in my imagination.

I’m so tired of crying. It doesn’t help the situation, but it’s all I seem able to do.

“He’ll be okay, Dolcezza,” Matteo says, entering the room. I sit up on the couch, cradling my knees to my chest. “Carter’s a good boy. Smart. Resourceful. He’ll be okay. He’ll find his way back to you.”

“He shouldn’t have to find his way back. He never should’ve been taken in the first place. Now my fucking psycho of a husband is going to be told where to find him, Matteo. Even if Carter could find his way back, if his father finds him, he won’t live long enough to make the journey.”

Matteo chuckles.

“What about this is funny to you?”

“You are what amuses me, Violet,” he says. “Even now, after being out from under your cunt of a husband for two years, you still give him power over you. Do you know he’s been looking for you all this time. He even came close to finding you once. The boss made sure he didn’t.”

“I didn’t know that.” I don’t know if I should be relieved or pissed by the fact they didn’t tell me.

“He can’t afford for you to be alive. Yet he needs you.”

“I don’t understand.”

He looks me dead in the eyes and says, “He needs you to get the money.” Now I’m totally confused.

“What money?”

“When Kayce faked your deaths, your husband cashed in on the insurance. The home and life policies both paid out. He made almost half a million dollars off your supposed death. Not to mention what he made when he rebuilt and sold the house.”

“That’s why Mrs. Cortez accused me of fraud. She asked me about the insurance money, but I didn’t know what she was talking about.”

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