“Come on.” He drags me out of the room and into the hallway as Drew slams the safe-room door shut behind us, leaving Juliet inside.
Well. This is how I die.
Killed by the man I think is my own brother.
Dead.
By the time we reach the second floor, I’m shoved into what looks like an office and forced down into a chair. Drew steps forward with zip ties, securing my wrists, then my legs.
I am royally fucked.
They leave without a word, and the door slams shut behind them.
FOUR
MATEO
After the firefight ends, we all just stare at each other, trying to process what the hell just happened. I glance at Drew, then Gino. They both look physically okay.
But Gino’s face tells a different story.
He’s out for blood.
“How the fuck did they get here?” Gino demands.
“This isn’t Fort Knox,” I say.
“I know, but the rule is no one comes to each other’s houses.”
“What about the redhead?” Drew asks.
Before I can stop anything, Gino is already running downstairs. We’re right on his tail. He flings open the safe room door and rounds on Vanessa.
“Did you tell anyone where you were going today?” he yells.
“No,” Vanessa responds.
“Come on.” He pulls her up, gripping her arm as he drags her out of the safe room. Behind us, Drew slams the door shut. I can faintly hear Juliet pounding on it, trying to get it open.
Gino drags Vanessa up to his office. Drew forces her into a chair and zip-ties her wrists and legs without hesitation.
Then we walk out.
Downstairs, Gino heads straight for the bar and pours bourbon into four glasses, his hands steady even though everything else feels like it’s spiraling out of control.
“How long are you going to keep her up there? Or Juliet in the safe room?” I ask.
“Not long,” he says with a sigh. “I don’t think Vanessa had anything to do with this, but I need to be sure. As for Juliet, I just need her to stay there. Safe.”
“Yeah. Keep lying to yourself that you don’t like Juliet.” I roll my eyes at him.
“Asshole,” he mumbles. “Of course I like her. We’ve been friends for a decade.”
“Uh huh. So, are you doing this to teach Vanessa a lesson or something?”
“Oh, this is going to be good,” Drew mutters.
“Obviously. If she’s legit, she wouldn’t know the rule about showing up at someone’s house uninvited.”Gino replies.
