I shake my head. I can’t focus on that now. I’ve waited my entire life to discover who I am, and now that I have, I don’t care. I can’t. Not yet.
“Does Augustus have my men?” My gaze collides with Evelyn’s familiar one. “Did he take them?”
“We believe so, yes.”
She pulls out her phone and scrolls for a moment before sliding it across the table. Hunter grabs it, turning the screen to display a blurry photo. It appears to be from a traffic camera displaying a series of black SUVs identical to the ones from last night.
“When our shadow team arrived, things were chaotic. Bobby was sent to retrieve you. The Surgeon and Daniel got to Hunter first. And Ghost went in for your men, but he was attacked. We had no choice but to retreat. But before we left, he took in as much information as possible. Augustus’ men arrived in nine vehicles. Our tech team was able to trace eight back to the Diablos compound. This is the last photo we have of the ninth before it disappeared.”
“Why would he take his own sons?” Hunter grunts as he starts up a soothing pattern against my thigh. “It makes no sense.”
My mind swirls, trying to piece the puzzle together. “The guys hate Gus,” I murmur, my brows furrowing. “They’ve beenworking against him for a long time. Trying to take him down. They said if he ever found out about their betrayal, he’d kill them.”
Oh, God. Is that what he’s doing right now? Has he already done it? What if we’re too late? My stomach twists painfully, and I bury my face in my hands to stifle another sob. I’m falling apart. I don’t think I’ll be able to take much more before I lose it completely.
“They’re alive, Isabella,” she vows. “They are far too valuable to him to risk right now. We believe that’s why they’ve been taken.”
“For what?” Hunter barks, and she winces, glancing away. “Just spit it out, Evelyn!”
I should tell him to relax, or admonish him for speaking to her in such a way, but right now, I can’t find it in me to care. More than that, I’m thankful for Hunter taking control when I can’t. He’s my oldest friend. I trust him to take care of me in all ways, even if it means being my voice.
“Many years ago, your grandfather made a deal with the Devil.” Her delicate throat bobs. “He was a greedy bastard. An asshole to everyone. But he truly hated Char. Didn’t see her as a child, but a pawn to further his wealth. He’d been desperate to strengthen his foreign ties, especially in South America. Augustus came along and offered him a deal. Your mother for ties to the Diaz Cartel.”
“He sold her?” I gasp at her sad nod. “How could he do that?”
I know nothing of my grandfather. Until this afternoon, I didn’t know I’d had one. But as the pieces come together, Gage and Maddox’s story from months ago ricochets through me. If I am Charlotte's daughter, then that means my grandfather was the head ofLe Milieuin San Francisco. He died of cancer before his eldest son took over. The son was killed. A year later, Charlotte’s second brother was also killed.
And then she was.
Am I next?
“She was promised to Augustus upon her twenty-first birthday, but her father died months before the wedding took place. Everything was passed to Charlotte and she broke the contract with Gus, marrying Miles instead. I believe that’s what started his obsession with getting her back. Not because of love or any type of affection, but because he felt as though he was owed her and all she came with.
“But your mother wanted nothing to do with him. Instead, she took her revenge and demoted him from the position he held by your grandfather's side. I’m pretty sure she would have exiled him if it hadn’t been for her friendship with his wife, Carmen, and her love for his small sons. Instead of being a confidant ofLe Milieu, he became just another member of the Circle. His voice was no longer any more powerful than the rest of ours.” She smirks. “It was extremely gratifying to watch.”
I can imagine it would be, but I don’t think I’d be happy with anything except watching a bullet fly through his skull for all the pain he’s caused.
There’s a bloodthirsty look I’ve never seen on sweet Evelyn’s face and for some reason, it makes me feel better about my own murderous thoughts.
“Why would he try to marry my mother if he already had a wife?”
Her lip curls. “Agustus had his sons with Carmen before they were married. She was one of many women on the side. He only married her later to solidify his standing in the Circle, to make himself look better. It had nothing to do with love. He would have left Carmen just as quickly as he’d married her if Charlotte would have agreed.”
Hunter’s head cocks to the side and I notice he’s idly rubbing his shoulder above his bandages. He must be in so much pain.
“Do you think he’s transferred his obsession with power over to Ella?” he asks, making me cringe. “Does he want to marry her?”
“That’s exactly what I think he wants. However, it’s not that simple. Gus would need much more than to put an ugly ring on your finger to gain access to the Les Beaux Voyous fortune. Not to mention the army he’d need to get through now that you’re safe.”
“And what does this have to do with the guys? They have their own wealth. Is he after that as well?”
She shrugs. “I have no doubt he’ll take everything he can from them before this is all over.”
I flinch as though I’ve been slapped, and my eyes cloud over. I don’t want them to lose everything they’ve worked so hard for. My guys started with absolutely nothing and worked their asses off to have legitimate businesses and a home they love. I don’t know what I’d do if I were the cause of them losing any of it.
“Gus is a horrendous human being, Ella. I’ve met a lot of people who’d serve this world better if they were never in it, so believe me when I say that Augustus Luna is worse than most of them combined. He will destroy everyone and everything in his way, if given the opportunity. But we’ve been watching him for a long time. We know his moves.”
“What do you mean?” Hunter asks.
