“I’ll take the risk.”
God, my mom will be devastated. She needs me close.
I picture how completely lost she’ll be without my dad. My brother will have to fully step into his shoes, too.
Who is responsible for murdering my dad? I’d known he had problems with rival cartels, but he’s had those same problems my whole life. I can’t believe someone managed to kill him. It probably seems stupid, but a part of me had believed my dad was invincible. I’d never pictured a time when he might not be around.
Whoever has killed him will want my brothers dead, too. Xavier is in Spain, but my other brother, Leonardo, is with my mom, and a big part of the business. He’ll become their main target now, as they won’t want any of us left alive and capable of launching any kind of revenge attack. Letting people live means leaving loose ends, and that gets messy. They’ll want to wipe the slate clean, and that most likely includes me, too.
Jack releases a low growl from the back of his throat. “You might be willing to take the risk, but I’m not.”
I look up at him sharply. “Why do you care? I’m nothing to you.”
He hesitates then says, “You’re my daughter’s friend, and she’d kill me if I let anything happen to you.”
“Is that all I am, Jack? Just your daughter’s friend?”
Roman might overhear, but my grief has made me reckless. I hold Jack’s gaze, and he stares right back. Something is building between us, swelling and growing and taking on a life of its own. I know he can feel it justas keenly as I can. But if we give it breath and a heartbeat, it could just about destroy us all.
Movement to our left catches our attention. More figures rush down the long drive, and I note that Vani is one of them. Close behind are her three men, the guys known as the Vipers—Zane, massive and intimidating, and the twins, Saint and Lex. They’d never let her get far without being two steps behind, especially when things are precarious. They guard her with their lives.
She looks between us in confusion. “Dad? Camile? What’s going on?”
How did Vani even know we were here? Word gets around quickly at Verona Falls, it seems.
“What are you guys doing here?” Jack asks.
“Ophelia messaged me.” Vani juts her chin defiantly at her father. “She thought I ought to know you were here and there might be danger.”
“Goddamn it,” Roman mutters.
Jack tells his daughter as much as he knows, which isn’t a lot, since I hardly know anything either.
“Oh, my God, Camile,” she cries. “I’m so sorry.”
My friend drops to a crouch and wraps me in a hug. I feel too weak to even hug her back.
“Thanks,” I sniff.
“I’m taking her back to the compound,” Jack tells his daughter.
Vani straightens. “What? Why?”
“She’ll be safe there.”
“She’ll be safe here,” Vani argues. “We’ll all look out for her.”
He raises his brow. “Like you looked out for her when she went on that date with that guy?”
She plants her hands on her hips. “That was different.She’s not a prisoner, Dad. She’s allowed to date. We didn’t know there was any threat then.”
“Yeah, well, that guy is still out there, and he’ll know to look for Camile here. He’s got no chance getting into the compound.”
“Is that the only reason you want her there?” Vani lowers her voice, but I can still hear what she’s saying. There’s a slightly accusatory tone to her voice that I don’t want to think about too hard right now.
Jack takes her by the elbow and guides her away from me. He lowers his voice, but not so much that I can’t hear every word they’re saying.
“Fucking hell, Vani. Of course it is. Don’t start with me right now. We’re dealing with enough crap without you adding to it.”
