Unbeknownst to me, Berto’s team had other orders. He decided the best way to have me to himself was the get rid of Frank completely. There was another concern though. Connor McCann’s reputation had reached New York. Some of the bosses had met him at a meeting. Berto was worried that C would retaliate for Frank’s murder, so he was on the team’s hit list, too.
Things went wrong. People had noticed the arrival of a group of New York Mafia guys in Coynston. As head of the city, people called to ask Frank who they were and why they were in town.
Frank was shot twice in the chest in the parking lot of Slattery’s Pub. It would’ve killed him if not for the Kevlar vest he wore under his suit. A splinter group had gone after C. Sasha was shot during the fight.
Unbelievably, Alberto and his family were able to smooth things over. They said I told him Frank was physically abusing me. Alberto had fallen for my lies and ordered the hits because he loved me. If Frank could see his way clear to forgive the attempted murders, Alberto and his family would make amends.
Frank made a deal with the Leones, and he made one with me. If I behaved myself and married Alberto Leone, he wouldn’t kill Zoe as retaliation for my betrayal. He’d even stop hunting my mom. He didn’t care that much about finding her anymore anyway, he said.
It was an easy decision. I got to protect all the people I care about, with the promise of getting out of Frank’s house within a year.
All I need to do is marry a man I don’t love and can’t trust.
* * *
Anvil
The sky’s spitting drizzle as I head back to the Range Rover. I’ll wait till nightfall to switch it out for the car. Now that everyone’s looking for Rachel, they’ll be watching us closer than ever. I look up at the gray sky. Night can’t come fast enough. I don’t want her in the woods alone.
I also want to get near her again. I keep thinking about fucking her. I keep remembering the shower.
“‘Vil!” Trick calls.
I look up, forcing myself to get a grip.
He jogs around and holds up his phone. Our phones were off and tucked under the seat of the truck while we were in the motel room. We don’t bring commercial spyware into our meetings.
“What?” I ask.
“Rachel’s been spotted.”
I jerk the door open. “Where?” I ask, my mind considering the houses on neighboring properties to the cabin.
“She’s at Zoe’s old apartment.”
My mind hangs up for a moment, trying to sort that out. That’s miles from the cabin. “Alone?”
“Sounds like it.”
I get behind the wheel and slam the door closed. If Trick’s heard, so has Frank.
I gun the engine and swing the car around. Trick and C are silent as I race back to Coynston. When I get to Zoe’s complex, the parking lot is a zoo. I spot Frank’s limo and some other Palermo cars, but there are also police cars.
I’m halfway to the building by the time C and Trick flank me.
“What are we doing?” Trick asks.
“Stop,” C says, moving in front of me.
I jerk to a stop. “I’m going up.”
“Let me go,” C says in a low voice. “I’ll see what’s what.”
I start to move around him, but they both block me. I glare at Trick, but I know they’re both right. My head is not straight. I expected her to be where I left her, but she’s not. So now the only thing I can think about is taking possession of her again.
“It’s Zoe’s place. She’s Zoe’s friend. Let C go in first,” Trick says.
I nod, but I don’t stay in the lot. I follow C up the stairs.
