It’s Kortez that answers, his fingers typing away on a laptop sitting on the bar in front of him. “We only told Atlas’s most trusted people. Everyone else thinks I’m bringing Roman home for a meeting with Quin.”
“Who is Quin?” Wylder leans forward in the seat beside me, his military training kicking in as he tries to gather all the information he can.
“He handles our clubs in NY. It’s a good cover since I usually handle our club business.” Roman leans over the bar and grabs a few beers from the fridge. He passes two over to Wylder and I on the couch before getting one for himself and sitting down in the chair across from Atlas.
They seemed surprised to see the plane put back together when we got on in Florida. Apparently, Atlas and Kortez had thoroughly trashed it before they landed.
I turn back to Atlas after taking a sip of my drink. “You don’t think it’s safe enough for him to go to school?”
Atty shakes his head, “Not until I handle my father. After what just happened…he has a lot to answer for. The elders won’t be happy either.”
Abel looks up from his place on the ground. He brought a black suitcase full of cars into the cabin with us and has been playing for hours. “My grandpa?”
Atlas’s face falls as he looks down at our son. “Yes, but he’s not a good man, Abel. He wouldn’t be a very good grandpa.”
I see our son deflate between us. “I kind of wanted another grandpa. Most kids have two. I only have David and Brenda.”
Wylder reaches over and ruffles Abel’s hair with a chuckle. “Only? You’ve got two sets of grandparents now.”
Roman speaks up from his seat, “My parents will love you, Bel. They’ve been wanting a grandchild.”
His words make my hand fall down to my stomach, butterflies erupting at even the thought of another.
Atlas gets down on the floor beside Abel and our son immediately gives him a few cars to play with. “My mother will love you, though, Bel. She’s nothing likemy father.” I can see Bel chewing on his lip, a trait he no doubt picked up from me. “So, I have two grandpas?”
I join them down on the floor and steal one of Atlas’s cars, making him look up at me with mock anger written across his face. “Exactly – and three grandmas.”
“Wow.” Him and Atlas prepare a race with their cars, and I take the time to look around the cabin. When Bel was first born, I hated that he would never have a large family. It’s all I wanted when I was younger. I wanted a mother’s touch and a father to teach me the tricks of life. I wanted grandparents to spoil me and siblings to argue with. It looks like Bel will get all of this and more.
“Good evening, Mr. Valente. The plane is approaching the runway. Please prepare for landing.”
At the captain’s words, we all find a seat and strap in. Abel’s cars begin to roll about the cabin as the plane begins its descent, making everyone release a small laugh. When the plane finally rolls to a stop, we all unbuckle and begin picking up the cars and putting them back into Bel’s suitcase. I think I hear Roman muttering something about his ‘custom Prada’, but it’s not clear enough to make out.
A gunshot sounds through the plane. I scream and lunge for Abel, putting his body behind me as Atlas shoots up with a gun already in his hand. Kortez joins him as Roman and Wyld step in front of me and Bel.
The cabin door opens and I hear Roman release a soft curse. Atlas’s body tenses even further and Kortez spins a knife in his palm. Wyld reaches his hand over for a gun that Roman immediately slides into his waiting palm.
“Mom?” Abel’s voice wobbles as he grabs ahold ofmy shirt.
“Well, it looks like my son has finally returned.”
Aldo Valente.
“Don’t you meanbothof your sons?” Atlas’s voice is dripping with venom as he spits the question at his father.
I can’t see around their bodies, leaving my only view of Aldo to be the bottom of his suit and his shiny black loafers. His voice, though, is enough to send shivers down my spine. “I was wondering who set fire to my old warehouse. It was you, wasn’t it?”
No one says a word as Aldo’s shoes move a step closer. “You brought friends.” He hums as he comes to a stop only about a foot away from Atlas. “And…a woman?”
Kortez stops his knife spinning as a gun cocks and breaks through the silence that followed Aldo’s question.
“Don’t be stupid, Kortez. Move out of my way before I have to shoot you.”
His demand is greeted with more silence.
“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I shoot up, Abel’s hand gripped tightly in mine as I shove through Wylder and Roman. “Wait!”
