I don’t have to though, as the images seem to glitch before the grainy view shows two people rushing out of the house. Thank fuck.
“We got them.” Marcus’s voice comes over the line.
Hollis seems to deflate in his seat. “Any injuries?”
“Ten got hit,”Marcus replies.“But it doesn’t look serious. Roman is also hurt, but not life threatening. Headed to the ambulance now.”
Hollis makes a noise of distress and I look around my monitors to him. “Do I need to pull you?” I ask.
He doesn’t look away from his screen, his fingers flying across the keys—I’m assuming he’s pulling up the street cameras so he can track the journey the ambulance will take to get back here. “I’m fine.”
I don’t believe him, but I don’t have a death wish, like most people in this Family, so I don’t say anything. Turning my attention back to my work, I follow Hollis’s lead. “We need to get bodycams,” I comment. “This running in the dark thing is fucking stupid.”
“They’ll be coming out of your budget,” Carter says.
I make a face but don’t respond. If he wants to think I’ll be paying for anything…well, Antonio still owes Hol for thetrackers he stole, so there’s nothing to say I can’t make my new investment pay for my purchases as well. I can hide the transaction so not even Jude can find it.
“I’m going to go wait in the medical suite,” Carter announces. “Call if anything changes.”
“Of course,” Hollis assures him. “You should go too, Ignacio. I know Roman will want to see you.”
“What about you? He and Lio will want to see you, too,” Ignacio argues.
Hollis looks torn, so I speak up. “Go, Hol. I got this; I’ll let you know if anything happens, but the Senator is a coward, he won’t make another move tonight.”
All three of them stare at me, and if I were anyone else, their gazes would make me squirm. As it is, I have to clench my jaw to not snap at them. My…politeness only goes so far, and I’m quickly running out of it—I have been since Cecily and the Senator took what didn’t belong to them.
“I want to trust you?—”
“You can,” I snap. I meet Hollis’s eyes, noting how even his glasses can’t hide the exhaustion on his face. “I have never done anything that has proved me untrustworthy. Yes, I miscalculated, but everyone makes mistakes. I’ve learned from it, and it will never happen again. You don’t have to worry about Lio and Roman. I would never put them in danger willingly; they are far too valuable.”
“So Antonio is cannon fodder to you?” Ignacio says harshly. “Since you did put him in danger.”
“He was safe. Lachlan would have stepped in before it went too far.” Or one of the people on the inside, but I don’t say that. Whether anyone has put together just how deep this conspiracy goes, I don’t know. I’d rather they not think too hard about it, should it ruin what’s already been set in motion. “We need to move forward. Doc has already suggested bringing in a plasticsurgeon. When Antonio is ready, they can work on that. For now, Lio and Roman are on their way, and they need the people they love,”—I applaud myself for not shuddering at the L-word—“so get the fuck out.”
“Are you not one of their loved ones?” Carter asks. “Roman considers you his best friend, and Lio is also your friend, is he not?”
He’s my investment, there’s a difference.“I’ll see them afterwards. I doubt either will be concerned about me when they have their Daddy and their…whatever you and Roman are,” I say, gesturing to Ignacio.
Hollis types a few more things on his computer before locking it and pushing back from the desk. “You’ve made your point. Call ifanythingchanges,” he stresses.
“I will.”
He nods and keeps an eye on Ignacio as the man gets up from the chair he was sitting in. He’s moving better than he was at the beginning of his recovery, but there’s still a lot of work to do in his physical therapy in order to get back to where he was—if he even can reach that level again.
I know Roman won’t care, he just wants the other man whole and alive, but if Ignacio knows what’s good for him, he’ll do everything in his power to make sure he can protect Roman. The little shit might not need anyone riding to his rescue, but much like Lio, Roman is an asset I refuse to lose.
When the three of them leave the office, I breathe for what feels like the first time in hours. Who knew other people’s emotions were so fucking exhausting.
Sinking back into work, I keep an eye on the cameras, and the ambulance, and other cars’ GPS, while also getting started on searching for Senator Seán Fucking Dowing.
I don’t know how much time passes before someone walks into the office. It’s not Hollis or Ten—they’re the only two whowould ever dare to enter without knocking… Except, there’s one other who doesn’t care for decorum—unless I’m the one setting the rules.
“What is it?” I ask, making sure to keep any inflection from my voice.
“Roman and Lio are stable. They’re being given oxygen for the next twenty-four hours or so to combat the smoke inhalation. Roman is also being treated for missing toenails and trauma to his anus. Other than that, they’re not too badly off. Doc has them sedated, so they’ll be out until the morning at least, in case you want to see them.”
“And why would I do that?”
