But then…
I grind my teeth, not wanting to think about after the way I left. Abandoned her.
Left her to die.
I glance at Nico, his eyes focused on the road. After we went home, I sent Nico back to check on Ava. I wanted to know… Hell, what did I want to know? Something. Anything. Perhapssomething insane, like a sign she was missing me. Or just the bare fact that she was doing all right.
Instead, he returned with a death certificate in his hand.“I’m sorry, boss. She died in a car accident a couple of weeks after we left. Skidded straight off the road in the rain. Nobody’s fault. Just one of those things.”
I never wanted to hit Nico before that moment. But when he called itjust one of those things, I thought about shattering his teeth.
Ava Ward was a special person. She had a special light in her eyes. Enthusiasm seeping through her every pore. She had the ability to stop time for a bastard like me who has only ever known how to go, go, go.
When we were together, it was lovemaking. Sure, it was filthy and hotter than sin. She made every inch of me blaze. But it was lovemaking, dammit. Something I’d never had before and will probably never have again.
I remember thinking, that night, damn, she’s a deep sleeper. And now she’s asleep forever.
I stare at the city, the towers, the grayness, and think about getting in and out of this city as quickly as possible.
“There won’t be much need for security,” I say. “The Irish, Hungarians, and the Russians know we’re here for the art auction, nothing else. They know we’re not making plays on their turf.”
Assuming, of course, westayat the auction and the surrounding area… assuming a certain mob boss doesn’t meet a girl and take her back to her place, which, it turns out, was Hungarian turf.That was the problem last time. That was why they – whoever exactly it was – did what they did.
“Our job is simple,” I finish.
Tony nods from the back seat, eager. He’s only a few years younger than me, in his mid-thirties, but sometimes my cousin seems much younger. Perhaps it’s his unchecked eagerness. “It’s a good plan, Rafe. The way you’re taking things… it’s legit. No more seedy shit. Nah, this is better. Blackmailing fools who deserve it, using the proceeds to buy art, real stuff we can funnel into legal enterprises?”
Nico grunts. “No offense, Tony, but when you talk like this, it’s like you’re wearing a wire.”
Tony’s face goes ghost-pale.
“Relax,” Nico says. “I’m fucking with you.”
I chuckle
. “He’s not wrong, cousin.”
Tony folds his arms and sulks. “Excusemefor trying to get a handle on the business.”
I wink at him in the rearview mirror. He smiles bashfully, turning his face away.
“Jokes aside,” I say. “You and the others will stay outside the auction. You’re only here at all on the very slight possibility that the mob presence here tries to pull some shit. I highly doubt they will. They never have before. Plus?—”
“They know who the fuck you are, boss,” Nico snarls, looking at me with that savage glint in his eyes.
I nod, gritting my teeth.
I’m the devil who scares the demons, the beast who scares the animals. I’m the piece of shit who abandoned a beautiful, innocent woman and left her to slide off a rain-slick road and die.
CHAPTER 3
AVA
Idrive slowly and carefully toward the auction. Ever since becoming a mother, my driving abilities have gone from regular to downright driver ’s-ed-tape-worthy. Theo cries for a few minutes, then settles down. Mom and Dad tell me I’m lucky; Theo cries far less than I did when I was his age. And I do feel lucky, for that, sure, and also for his very existence.
Mom and Dad are usually cool about taking care of their grandson. But tonight is their anniversary, hence the sitter, and I don’t want to disturb that… even if I know they’d cancel their plans for me. They deserve to have some time together to celebrate.
“This is a big night,” I murmur, pulling to a stop at a red light. “Mommy’s big night, Theo. I hope you can be a good boy for Auntie Cassie. If I can make some good purchases for the gallery, maybe Adrian will give me more responsibility. And you know what that could mean? A pay bump. And you know what that means, sweetie? That means more independence. We won’t have to rely on anyone one day. It’ll just be me and you, Grandad and Grandma.”
