“Something’s going down on the waterfront,” I said.
“I guess that’s our answer,” Liam said.
“Let’s go,” I told them.
Minutes later, we were headed to the Boston Harbor. The Branningtons kept several boats at the port, mostly to import and export weapons in and out of the city, and a dock worker of ours had been injured when one of the vessels was set on fire. We had a few others there, and this reeked of the Sicilians.
They’d be after their pound of flesh for the loss of their men the night of the ambush, but an ever more terrifying thought crossed my mind. They knew we still had Aurora, and that night had done little to make them forget about her. She was still a pawn to them... Still a target, and the thought of anyone touching her outside of me had my blood boiling the entire drive to the port.
We arrived a short while later, and I could see the charred section of the destroyed boat, but the others closest to it appeared to be untouched. Still, I led the way as my two men followed me aboard the first one with our weapons drawn. Everything appeared to be in order, so without speaking, I simply nodded toward the other boats.
There would be nothing of any value found on them as we didn’t have a shipment scheduled to go out until later in the month. The damage to our property would hinder those plans somewhat, though. As I boarded one of the other vessels, goosebumps rose on my flesh. Someone was here. I could sense them, even though it was too dark to see them.
I slowly made my way farther inside, and my men remained just behind me as they stayed as quiet as me. For years, I’d been relegated to Boston to handle the shipping and nightclub businesses the Branningtons owned in these parts. We had several enemies to deal with over the years, so this sort of thing was nothing new for us.
A slight creaking sound caught my attention and I froze. Holding my arms out to my sides to keep my men back, I moved ever closer in the direction of the noise. Once on the aftdeck, I sensed the intruder before he did me. It didn’t stop him from trying to strike me. Turning swiftly, I struck the man hard enough with my fist to make him wobble on his feet.
He nearly fell but was able to maintain his balance until I struck him a second time. He fell on contact, but I allowed him to scramble back onto his feet. I then advanced on him as he steadily took a step back with each one I made in his direction until his back hit the short railing.
“Who sent you?” I demanded to know the moment I wrapped my hand around his throat. When he didn’t answer, I struck him again. “Did Leon send you?”
“Sei Morto,” was all that he said, but it was enough to answer his question.
I recognized the‘you’re dead’in Italian, and I delivered a few more blows to his face, then watched as he fell overboard and landed in the water with a loud plop. Liam and Conor watched me carefully, then lowered their weapons.
“We did a sweep and everything else is all clear,” Conor said to me.
“Let’s go. Barganella’s message was received. My response will be forthcoming.”
I had no idea how I intended to retaliate next, but I would figure that out soon. Tonight, I’d return to my place to keep an eye on Aurora. I wouldn’t allow anyone to take what was mine.
Swallowing down the insane notion that she could ever truly belong to me when she was already promised to another, I brushed past my men and exited the boat. When back on solid ground, I noticed that the knuckles on one hand were cracked open and bloody. And they hurt, but that was nothing new for me. I headed back to the car, then ultimately the condo with the other two in tow.
The condo was silent when we arrived back home, and I had no sooner washed my bloody fingers in the water when footsteps approached, and ones too soft to be from either of the other men.
“Zarren,” I heard, and both Liam and I turned at the sound of her soft voice.
“What is it, Bellezza?”
“My... ahh... father, or adopted father’s birthday is today. Whether I was in the States or somewhere else, he knows I’d always wish him a Happy Birthday.”
Liam muttered under his breath but looked at her with the same stone-cold look I’d usually give her. Not sure what it was, but I sensed some animosity from him toward her, which I needed to address soon. What would I actually say, though? Why would I actually say something, especially when she’d be gone soon enough?
I was the one to feel like growling, and for what I couldn’t even say. I closed my eyes for a second or two, then, seeing her expectant and hopeful face, I let out the breath I’d been holding inside. Looking to Liam, I cleared my throat. “Retrieve her cell.”
“Are you sure that’s wise? She could be trying to trick?—”
“Just do as I’ve fucking asked,” I said to him, and something flashed across his face before he turned soundlessly and left the room. I kept my eyes on him until he left, then turned my attention to Aurora. “I’ll be the one to do the typing, Bellezza.”
“I’m fully capable of?—”
“Should I ask Liam to get rid of the phone?” I asked just as he reappeared in the room.
“N-no,” she stammered. “You’ll need my fingerprint for the?—”
“On the contrary, you’ll need my fingerprint.” I grabbed the cell phone from Liam’s hand, then pressed my fingertip to it. To her horror, it opened. That shock quickly turned to anger.
“You updated my fingerprints on the Touch ID?”
