“I’d prefer to cover both bases, honestly.”
It was hard for me to concentrate when Sailor’s revelation replayed through my thoughts. All these years later, and Matteo was somehow still steering the ship. My fate had never been my own; that was something I’d known practically since birth, but it seemed my father wasn’t the one holding the puppet strings either.
“We have an address,” Dad announced, but it was too soon to feel relieved.
“Should we go to his house or wait for him to send an invite to another location?”
“We’ll split the men,” he responded, already on his phone. “Some can go to the house to see if it’s the right address and if she’s even there.”
I needed the fucker to go ahead and ask me to meet him somewhere. The delay was only making me anxious.
“The Russo men are heading to the warehouse district now. They’ll likely beat us there, so if anyone is hanging around, they’ll let us know.”
“You’re going to owe Leo even more money after this.”
He shrugged. “Can’t take it with you.”
She was worth it, regardless of how much money the Russos might ask for in exchange for helping us out. If I had to live with my father for the rest of my life, completely broke, I would do it for her.
I knew I still loved her, but it had been too easy to blame her for everything that went wrong as though we weren't both pawns in a bigger scheme. Taking a full breath had been nearly impossible lately, even after I quit drinking myself into a stupor. Numbing the pain had only been a temporary solution, knowingthat once I sobered up, I would continue to miss the woman who’d left me hollowed out. There was no denying that once I got over my bitterness, I needed her back by my side. Night after night, all I wanted was to open my eyes and find her lying next to me.
Too bad she hated me, and with good reason. If not for these circumstances, we wouldn't even be speaking to each other.
Dad began talking at the same time I received a text. Ignoring him for the moment, I swiped open my phone.
I hear them coming.
My chest tightened.Find somewhere to hide.
That was probably impossible. They would have put her in a room with no escape and no hiding spots.
“Did you hear me?” Dad asked. “Our men have arrived at a white house with blue shutters.”
“It’s too late,” I murmured, focusing on her next text. “They’re moving her.”
I’m not afraid to die.
“Goddammit.” Typing furiously, I tried to find the right words. I wanted to reassure her that she wasn't going to die, but how did I know that?
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked.
“She said they’re coming into the room now.” My heartbeat was slow enough that I felt my blood moving like sludge through my veins.
I have my answers, she said.I’ve known love.
“We have to move faster toward the house and intercept them!” I shouted. “She’s fucking ready to die over this.”
Sailor, hold on. We took a turn, and I nearly dropped my phone.We’re coming.
There was no response, and I had no way of knowing whether that was because they were in the room and she couldn't use her watch anymore, or because they’d hurt her immediately. If shewas on the move, we might have a better chance of overtaking the vehicle than scaling the walls of his compound.
Interrupting my thoughts, Dad said, “We can’t know if he’s left the house yet or if he’s still there. If we go to her location, we miss out on the chance to kill him once and for all.”
“No.” I shook my head harshly. “Let the Russos take him out. We need to get to Sailor.”
I could tell he wanted to argue with me, but he kept his mouth shut.
There were men at both locations, but it wasn't the same if I wasn't at one of them myself. At least I had confirmation that she was at the house for the next few minutes.
