Blood has known me nearly as long as Ethan has. There’s no point in lying to him.
“Then we need to plan carefully. I’m not letting you go to prison for putting those motherfuckers down.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“Since when do you walk on eggshells around me?”
“There’s a place we can take them. It’s off the grid. My contact owns the property, but he’s not exactly on the right side of the law.”
“Some might say neither are we.”
He shrugs. “I follow my own laws. And that means eliminating anyone who hurts the innocent. I won’t go into details—just know that once we catch them, I’ve got a place to hold them.”
“In this state? Boston?”
“No,” he says as he stands up, and I already know he’s not going to say more.
Blood has barely left the room before my phone lights up.
Lilly.
She didn’t call like I told her to.
The sweet little girl’s turning into quite the rebel.
Lillyana:Hi. Good morning. Just wanted to let you know I’m fine.
I tap the screen and call her. “Did Ula tell you to text me?”
“Good morning, Amos. How are you?”
“You already said good morning in your message.”
“And you didn’t reply.”
“Good morning, Lillyana. Now answer my question.”
“She said I should call, but I didn’t really have anything to say. I figured texting that I was okay was enough.”
And maybe it would’ve been—but I don’t like being disobeyed. “It wasn’t just a check-in. I need to know what your plans are while Ethan’s away.”
She sighs. “Yesterday you said you wouldn’t treat me like I’m made of glass, and now you’re acting exactly like Ethan.”
“This isn’t about treating you like a child. It’s about security.” I run a hand through my hair, irritated. It’s not her fault. She has no idea how many enemies her brother has.
“Sorry. Go ahead and give me a list of rules, and I’ll follow them, sir.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
Because God help me, that just makes me want to tame her even more.
“Then don’t treat me like a baby. I’m just going to a bookstore and then maybe stopping by some real estate agencies to start looking at apartments.”
“What else?”
“Oh my God, I’m trying so hard to be nice, but you’re really not helping.”
