Page 78 of His Captive
“That’s not a good thing, is it?” Lea asks apprehensively.
“No, but they haven’t started shooting at each other yet,” I answer. “Emilio hasn’t made a move. I might be able to use that to my advantage.”
“What are you going to do?” Lea tilts her head inquisitively, and there is more concern than I can ease etched on her face.
“The less you know the better,” I say firmly. “I’m dropping you off somewhere safe. As long as you stay there, nobody will find you. If I don’t make it back tonight, it means something went wrong, and you need to get out of Las Vegas. Don’t go home.”
“Where should I go?” she asks.
“I’ll leave you some cash, directions to another safehouse, and a card for a woman named Jillian Morris. Tell her who you are. She’ll know what to do,” I instruct. “Understood?”
“Y-yeah,” she whispers, nervousness cracking her voice.
Lea can figure out the rest once she sees how much money she has at her disposal. I hope it doesn’t come to that, but precautions are necessary. Emilio hasn’t made his move yet. He could be expecting me to come for him and setting a trap. Or he could be planning to pretend he had nothing to do with it so he can try again after the dust settles. He doesn’t know the hitman talked to me—another thing I might be able to use to my advantage.
I turn into the driveway of my safehouse and open the garage. Once we’re safely inside, I turn off the car and hop out.
“I’d give you the grand tour, but I don’t have time,” I mutter, helping Lea out of the car and leading her inside. “Just stay here and remember what I said.”
I lead her straight to my office, open my safe, and leave it ajar. I pull Jillian’s business card out of my wallet, put it on my desk, and scribble the directions to the next safehouse on the back.
“Keys for the Bentley in the garage are hanging by the door,” I say. “It should have a full tank of gas.”
Lea rushes to me and wraps her arms around my waist. It yanks me out of my horrifying reality for a moment and I pull her into a warm embrace. I never thought I’d hold her again—never thought I’d see Las Vegas in her eyes. I’ve got a chance here. A chance at things I never imagined. It’s just going to come at one hell of a price.
“I love you, Lea,” I sigh. “I mean that.”
“If you love me, then come back to me,” Lea cries, tightening her arms around me.
“You’ll be okay, regardless,” I say. “But I’m going to do everything in my fucking power to walk through this door and kiss you the way you deserve to be kissed every damn day for the rest of your life—or at least the rest of mine.”
She looks up and I kiss her with the fury of a man who has a second chance. A man who has tasted death and wants to stay amongst the living as long as he can. Lea is the reason for that. She’s changed everything.
But first, it’s time to make everything right. Settle a score I thought was already settled. I don’t know if I’ll put a bullet in Emilio’s head for the hit, but I’ll damn sure do it if he was involved with Layla’s murder.
Who am I kidding? Death is theonlyway this ends. It’s brother versus brother, now. This civil war will be a bloody, violent mess that lasts until one side can no longer keep fighting. But if Emilio hasn’t started firing shots yet, then I might be able to stop the worst of it before he can start giving orders.
“Remember what I said,bambina,” I growl, looking her in the eyes. “No more playing hero. You could have gotten yourself killed earlier and if something happens to me, you have to leave.”
“I will.” Lea swallows hard and tears prick the corners of her eyes.
“I’ll text you soon,” I say. “Remember, if you don’t hear from me, something’s wrong, and you need to go.”
I turn away before she starts crying. I’ve seen her cry so many times I’d like to give her a reason to smile for a change. The only way that happens is if I survive.
I leave the safehouse, get in my car, and make sure everything is locked down before I leave. There are several places my brother could be holed up. He’s got a club on the strip, an office at one of our casinos, and several safehouse I know about—probably several I don’t know about, if he’s anything like me.
I make my rounds, looking for one of my brother’s cars, or one that my immediate family would use. My phone is still blowing up. Theo, Rowan, my father, my mother, Emilio—everyone is trying to call me. I’m not answering them. The element of surprise is about all I have. If word has spread that I got shot, Emilio may think I’m licking my wounds rather than launching a direct attack.
“He’s at his fucking house?” I hiss as I park on the hill that overlooks his estate. “Fuck.”
The signs are obvious. Extra security at the front gate. Men patrolling the grounds, and not just foot soldiers. I spot several made men, one of my father’s Capos and Emilio’s bodyguard. There’s no sign of Big Boyd, which is a relief. He’s Erica’s bodyguard and a tough son of a bitch. I’ve seen him shrug off a half-dozen bullets and break the neck of the motherfucker shooting at him.
Butloyaltyis the real question. My father sits at the head of the table. I’m next in line. None of them should raise a gun if they see me, unless Emilio has flipped them to his side. I know he’s got a lot of secret alliances, and men who will support him, but identifying them in a group of guys I’ve known my entire life?
Time to see who calls my bluff. A traitor won’t, and I’ll deal with them on the spot. Hopefully, I don’t have to fight against an army of guys I’d want on my side in a war.
My Glock is tucked in the back of my waistband. I park close to Emilio’s estate and walk the rest of the way. The guys at the front gate spot me first. I let my hand hover, ready to pull my weapon at a moment’s notice—if I get that long, considering the two men in front of me are holding M16s.
