Page 113 of Ruthless Secrets
I take the burner phone that Jax sorted out for me out of my pocket and press it into Clara’s hand. “Only call if it’s an emergency. I’ll text when I can.”
She nods, her eyes glistening as she clutches the phone. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
I cup her face, brushing my thumbs over her cheek to wipe away her tears. “I promise.”
Clara reaches up on her tiptoes to kiss me.
I would give anything to freeze time so I can stay in this moment, but I can’t. The longer I stay here, the more time I’m giving to Alfonzo and Tommaso.
“Come back to me,” she whispers against my lips.
I hand Zoe back to her and turn to walk back to the car without another word.
My body feels weighed down with grief.
Even if Andre and I manage to get through this, who’s to say something like this won’t happen again?
As I pull away from the cabin, I keep my eyes locked on the road ahead to stop myself from looking in the rearview mirror.
I can’t bear to see Clara standing there with Zoe in her arms, knowing that I might never see them again.
The driveback to Andre’s house is a blur. We decided to meet back there as there’s a high chance it will be targeted first.
There’s enough security to buy us some time, and I know Andre has enough weapons hidden throughout the property to give us an edge.
I find my brother sitting on the couch in his office, scouring over a mess of papers and maps.
His shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and his hair is disheveled.
From the half empty bottle of whisky on the table, it seems he’s trying to numb himself too.
“How did it go?” He doesn’t glance up at me.
I shrug, grabbing a glass from the cart and taking a seat beside him. “As good as it could.”
I pour myself a glass as I try not to think of Clara.
He nods as his eyes scan a document in front of him.
“I say we hit Alfonzo first thing in the morning. If he doesn’t attack us first.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And you think he’ll just back off if we tell him to?”
Andre snorts. “Not a chance.”
I take a long drink, the whisky burning my throat on the way down. “Then why bother?”
“He’s the weaker out of the two. If we can scare him into backing off, then it might buy us some more time. Tommaso might not have the balls to go up against us without the help of Alfonzo.”
My brother makes a good point. It would be easier to go after Alfonzo, but I don’t like that we have a hell of a lot riding on him backing down. If it doesn’t work, I’m not sure what other route we could take that wouldn’t involve both Andre and me getting killed.
“And what if we don’t?”
Andre finally looks at me, his expression dark.
“We do what needs to be done, Marco. We don’t have a choice.”
I think of Clara and Zoe and nod.
