My heart throws itself into my throat, and I feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach. “I have to go. I can’t stay here.”
“You’re not getting close to that man. You’re not putting yourself in danger. Luca wouldn’t want that, and if something were to happen to you, he’d never forgive himself. We don’t know what shape he’s in, Ari. We just… we don’t know, and you have to stay here where it’s safe.”
There are tears in his eyes as he brushes past me. Anthony stops and cups my wet cheeks in his hands. “We’re bringing him back to you, Ari.”
“Bring him back to all of us,” I whisper. He kisses the top of my head and follows Dad.
Lil appears at my side and hooks her pinky around mine.
My mind spins, thinking of all the ways this could go wrong. It’s not even a guarantee that Fred is going to hand Luca over easily. And what’s going to stop him from coming back someday? He needs to not be a problem ever again. Under different circumstances, I would be there with my sniper rifle, taking the bastard out myself.
Fuck. I could take the bastard out.
I understand why Dad can’t deal with the thought of me being there.
I know Luca would sacrifice himself to keep me safe.
But I can’t stand by and not put my fucking skills to use.
Tugging on Lil’s hand, I drag her behind me.
“What are we doing, Ari?” she hisses.
Shaking my head, I don’t respond until we’re in her closet. “Do you still have the tracker app on your phone?”
“Of course. Parker hasn’t realized we hacked into it yet.” The confusion on her face changes to disbelief. “No. Ari, we can’t.”
“I have to, Lil. I’m not saying you have to go with me, but I need to know where they’re going.”
“You’re not going without me. When I say ride or die, I mean it.”
“You realize it’s definitely possible that tonight it’s not just ride, right?”
She nods, holding my gaze. “Yep. Let’s go.”
“Suit up, Robin,” I tell her.
“Why do you always get to be Batman?”
“Do you know how to drive our Batmobile?”
“…fuck. Fine, I’m Robin.” For the first time since Luca left the house, I smile. It’s small and bitter, like me.
After I grab the keys I have hidden, we head downstairs, but Mom and Becca are in the kitchen. “We’re going down to the range. I need to shoot something,” I tell them on our way through.
“Okay, sweetie, just let us know if you need anything.” Mom gives me a hug, and I feel like a bitch for lying to her. But I don’t feel bad enough to change my mind.
In the basement, I open the armory. Hannah is upstairs in Lil’s safe, but my second favorite rifle is here. “Your turn, Bailey,” I say as I grab the case.
Lil snags a bowling bag from the alley. “Albany, Cherry, Rhea, Anne… where’s Lorna?” I mutter as I load it with knives, handguns, and ammo. “Aha, there you are.”
“She can’t remember to eat breakfast, but hand her a weapon, and she can tell you its name.” Lil pulls a Glock down off the wall. “Who is this?”
“No clue, it’s Dad’s.” I take it from her, turning it over in my hand. “Hmmm. It’s nice, though. Feels like a Laura to me. She’s mine now.” I add her to the stash and zip up the bag.
We go out the hidden door and through the tunnel that takes us to the wall, then jump on the motorcycle and ride to thewaiting Maserati, stopping for the key stashed in the shitbox on our way. We didn’t bother leaving our phones or jewelry behind. Today’s the day our secret comes out, and as long as I get my husband back, I don’t give a shit.
Chapter 84
