“We’re not here to cause trouble…today.” His eyes meet mine again, colder this time. “We’re just deliverin’ a message.”
He bends forward, bringing his face closer. “We know where Connor lives.”
My ribs tighten.
“We also know you live in the same building… pretty fucking cozy if you ask me.” He straightens. “That’ll make it easy to kill a few birds with one stone.”
My mind flashes to Connor’s apartment below the penthouse where Bronx and I live.
“We know about your husband’s family rule over this city,” the man adds. “But family loyalty only goes so far. Tell Connor we’re not going away.”
Behind them, I notice movement. One of the Viacava security men has finally picked up on the tension and is walking toward us through the crowd.
The two Irishmen see him too.
“What goes around comes around, Mrs. Viacava. Have anice day pretending to be someone you’re not.” His voice drops just low enough that only I hear the last words. “Bronx can’t keep a dead man alive for long.”
Then the two men melt back into the crowd just as the security detail closes in.
By the time the guards reach our table, the strangers have disappeared through the emergency exit.
“Everything okay?” one of the men asks.
I shake my head. “No. It’s far from fucking okay. Go after those bastards.”
Livvie grabs my wrist the second the guards back up.
“Do you know who he was?” she demands in a low voice. “What did your brother do?”
I exhale a steadying breath and reach for my phone. “I need to tell Bronx....”
The line connects on the second ring, and his husky voice has my pulse spiking.
“Missing me, wife?” he drawls. “I can be naked by?—”
“Bronx…we have a problem,” I say in a rush, glancing around the room at the faces who don’t seem that friendly anymore.
“What happened?” he replies, all traces of amusement gone from his voice.
“The Tribunal found us…they threatened Connor…all of us.”
“Go to the roof now, princess.” Bronx’s voice drops into something colder. “I’ll pick you up in the chopper. Keep Livvie close.”
“Okay.” I set the knife back on the table and rise to my feet. “Livvie, will you come with me for some freshair, please?”
She nods and pushes her chair back without a fuss.
As soon as we reach the corridor outside the function room, our security team moves into position. They ride the elevator to the top floor with us.
By the time we step outside, a black helicopter is already cutting through the sky toward the hotel we’re standing in.
My veins buzz, not just from the threat but from knowing Bronx just dropped everything.
For the first time since coming to New York, I’m not thinking about fighting him or hating the ring on my finger.
I’m counting on him…and I’m fucking glad he’s coming for me.
The rotor blades thunder louder as it closes the distance. Wind whips at my hair and tugs at Livvie’s floral dress as the aircraft descends, the powerful downdraft announcing his arrival.
