“Fuck,” I breathed and covered my mouth. It was typical Amelia. I would have done the same thing. Sacrifice my safety to protect my loved ones.
Gigi turned back to me. “Luc, please, you have to get to her. You have to save her. Knight of cups.” She nodded.
She’d called me that once after I’d picked up one of her tarot cards with the image of a knight carrying a cup. I wished that I could have appreciated the reference, but I couldn’t. I wasn’t that person. I wasn’t there for Amelia when she needed me. She got taken, and now we were here in this mess.
“I will get her back, even if it kills me.” Time to shake things up a bit. “Pa… come here.” Dad came closer. “Gigi, this is my father. He’s going to get you some place safe. Amelia’s father will go with you too—”
Just as I thought, dear old Raphael cut in. “I’m going with you. I told you. You can’t send me back.” He squared his shoulders and gave me daggers.
“Like fuck. Of course, I’m sending you back.”
“Luc, I will kill you here.”
“Raphael,” Pa snapped and moved closer. “You’re going to slow them down. Look at you, you can’t even breathe properly. Listen for a fucking change.”
“No. I’m going,” the stubborn old fool said. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
I pulled out the ring he’d given me earlier and shoved it on my hand, then waved it in front of his face.
“I think you’ll find that I can. I’m in charge here, and I’m pulling rank. Don’t cross me, or I will kill you.” I bared my teeth and stared him down.
Max stepped in, literally stepped in front of Raphael and me.
“Hey, we don’t have time for this shit,” He held up his hands and whirled around to face Raphael. “With every due respect, Mr. Rossi, I think Luc’s right.”
“I can’t just leave.” Raphael frowned.
“Okay, how about you stay here with some of your guys and watch surveillance. I think we should split up anyway. This is how we’d lead a team on a raid. Can we do that?”
I had to give the guy credit for his attempt.
I nodded, agreeing. “You four,” I pointed to the four guys in the back. “Stay with the boss.” I called Raphaelbossout of habit.
They nodded, agreeing.
“Keep watch, and by God, Raphael, if you see Amelia come this way, you take her and go. You hear me? Take her out of here and go. Don’t be some hero and go after Tag. Leave that part to us.”
“Sure,” Raphael finally agreed. “Boss.”
It threw me off kilter to hear him call me that. It didn’t have the effect I thought it would. The effect I’d dreamed of so long ago. Because I’d changed so much.
I gave him a curt nod.
“Okay, let’s do this.” I walked on ahead and looked back at Raphael. He continued to watch me. That look was still in his eyes. I knew how badly he must have wanted to join us, but this had gone long past sympathy or empathy.
Those things were weaknesses on a battlefield. They would be weaknesses in Victor’s arena.
Chapter 16
Amelia
* * *
Punch.
Kick… upper cut. Kick, punch. Kick.
I got him. The tallest guy. I sent a kick straight to his sternum and pushed up his neck. Something snapped, and he fell backwards.
