She knew it too because she grew limper in my hold. “So tired.”
“Stay awake for me,duci.” From the state of her, I thought she might have a concussion.
“You handling me?” she slurred.
Reassured by her sass, I choked out, “Maybe.”
“Take her to the house in Brooklyn.”
“Well, I wasn’t taking her to mine,” I bit off, then I sought patience because Luc had helped me tonight and none of this was his fault. “What about the mess here?”
“Rory said she’s sent another forty men over to help us and had two dozen secure your lab.”
Cristu, I’d barely thought about the research I needed to protect.
“The police?—”
“Rory dealt with that too. Commissioner Kingston understands that we’ve had to postpone our meeting with him.” Luc glanced at Kitty, then over to Dante. “I doubt I could have shown the same restraint in your position,frate.”
“I’ll make him pay, but I want answers.”
“Did you hear what Dead To Me said about the Favaros? That this dump is part-funded by them?”
I shook my head.
With Kitty in my arms, my brain could function properly and the raid was already a blur.
The Favaros had once reigned among the five families of theFamiglia—the Italian faction. When Luc had taken over as Don after annihilating the Fieri family, he’d invited the Favaros to join our council as the only Italian house in the mix.
When the Favaros had snubbed his invitation by turning up late, he’d cast them out.
“I thought the bulk of them moved to Chicago.” I pressed my lips to Kitty’s temple. “In the aftermath of that mess with the Puglisis and Messinas.”
“I thought so too. We’re either out of the looporAurora’s managing this. Badly. But, now isn’t the time for this conversation. You have to get her home. She needs treatment.
“She’s a fighter, Stan. Look at what she did. Killed a man and took another down.” He gently patted my shoulder. “You’ve always needed someone who’d stand toe to toe with you. Seems like you’ve found her.”
“Am here, y’know. Can hear.”
My brother and I shared a weak grin, but I prodded, “Will you be all right?”
“Without my right-hand man?” He shot me a wink. “I can cope. Especially since Dead To Me’s intent on eradicating anything that moves as well as stealing their Rolexes. Now, get going.”
Grateful for the dismissal, I ducked my head out of the door to ensure the coast was clear. At the same time, the woman herself popped her own head out of another door and shot me a disapproving glance.
“I hope you’re taking her to her family.”
Kitty bucked in my hold. “No!”
I soothed her by rebuking, “She asked to come with me.”
Dead To Me’s eyes narrowed. “Isn’t that funny since she’s half-dead and unable to make a decision on her own behalf.”
“Who’s half-dead?” Kitty grunted. “I’m not half-dead. You’re half-dead!”
“Is she whispering?”
“She’s exhausted.”
