The door closes after Seamus, and Moretti strides across the room, taking a seat in the other club chair.
“I’m telling you, I stabbed him like twenty times. There’s no way he’s alive. The gurgling sound alone…” Charlotte starts to shake in my arms, and I don’t have it in me to chastise her for speaking in front of Moretti. “He was done for.”
“All I can tell you is that McCarthy mentioned it took a year of healing before Blade was strong enough to start searching for you,” Cormac says softly. “He also said Blade would never be the same.”
“Huh,” Moretti says, making my skin crawl. “I wondered where the fourth guy ended up. I’m guessing he’s in that torture dungeon your father was so fond of.”
“Why are you here, Moretti?” Patrick growls, taking the words right out of my mouth.
“I was the last point of contact for the group of the Jacksonville Demons that were in Boston. You and Pierce weren’t the least bit discreet when you blew up that fucking hotel,” Moretti says, glancing at me and Charlotte. “Would you like to take her out of the room while we discuss business?”
“I’m staying,” Charlotte says, but it comes out muffled as she speaks against my skin.
Moretti cuts his eyes to Patrick.
My brother shrugs. “I’m not about to force her from the room.”
“That’s your call.” Moretti shakes his head. “I’ve been contacted by the Jacksonville Demons’ president. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I can confirm that Blade is alive, and he’s on the warpath.”
“Fucking great,” Patrick mutters. “Why give us a warning at all?”
Moretti chuckles. “For whatever reason, thisBladeseems to think I owe him because his men made a bad deal with Pierce. I told them to walk away. I warned them no one wins when they go up against Grim. They made their own choices. I also let him know that I had no hand in the explosion at the motel. As such, I owe them nothing. I explained that if he would like to secure my services, I could give him a price.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands on end, and I wonder if Moretti is here to let us know that he sold us out.
“There was some back-and-forth.” Moretti shrugs. “He made threats. I got annoyed. Do you know the one thing I hate more than having to deal with all of you?”
I’m fairly sure he means the other Boston families when he saysall of you.
“What?” Cormac asks.
“Being threatened,” Moretti says. “I really despise being told what to do.”
“Yeah, no one enjoys that,” Patrick says. “Can you get to the point?”
“He wants her.” Moretti nods at Charlotte. “And the kid.”
“That’s not fucking happening,” I growl, causing Charlotte to jolt.
“You know that. I know that.” Moretti chuckles. “Hedoesn’t know that. I’m here to warn you what’s coming. He and his menare already in town. They want to make the exchange tomorrow night. That gives us a bit of time to plan, but it’s less than I would like under the circumstances.”
“Us?” Cormac asks.
“I don’t stand for being threatened byanyone.” Moretti stands. “I’m not sure if I’ll need your help with any of the details, but I’ll be in touch. I’m going to set the meeting point at one of my warehouses to make it easier to facilitate the cleanup. It seems only fair that the three of you should chip in on the massacre.”
I exhale heavily.
Being aligned with him on anything doesn’t sit well with me.
Moretti nods to Charlotte. “She can come if she wants to make sure he stays dead this time, but you’ll need a team of men you trust to watch the boy. I might be a monster, but I draw the line at traumatizing children.”
Charlotte hyperventilates as soon as Moretti leaves the room. “I need to see Lukas.” It comes out broken and breathy, and it makes my chest tight to hear her so miserable.
“Not while you’re upset,” I tell her, kissing the side of her head.
Cormac comes over, squatting beside the chair I’m seated in. “I’m sorry if I made the wrong call by telling you. I just didn’t want there to be any secrets between us that would hurt if they came out.”
“I appreciate that.” Her whole body trembles, and I can’t watch much more of this.
