The vehicle shudders.
People shriek.
My pulse pounds as fragments of contorted metal clatter onto the car’s roof, sounding like staccato gunshots.
The earth beneath quivers, and I instinctively lower my head as another cascade of debris descends around us.
I seize Amara’s hand, drawing her to me and settling her on my lap. Feeling her tremble, I whisper, “Everything’s okay.”
“Fuck!” Dante yells.
The vehicle behind us is engulfed in flames with dense, acrid smoke that swirls skyward as people flee in panic, their cries cutting through the chaos.
Floating soot and the caustic odor of scorched tires fill the air, and only when the haze dissipates does the reality of what happened become clear.
“That was our car, Dante.” Lia gazes out of the bulletproof rear window at the mangled wreckage behind us. “Someone deliberately targeted us.”
“We should return home,” Cade suggests, looking between me and Dante.
“Absolutely not. Someone wanted to murder my wife and unborn children,” Dante seethes. “And that individual isn’t expecting seeing us at the wake. When I discover who’s responsible, we’ll be attending another funeral.”
He claims the ring from my palm and looks at it. “Nobody threatens my family.”
The sleek black limousine purrs as we weave through traffic, the speedometer climbing higher with each passing second. My jaw aches from clenching my teeth.
Someone tried to kill my son.
My daughter-in-law.
My unborn grandchildren.
Dante’s face is a mask of cold fury that mirrors my own. We’re heading to a wake I no longer give a damn about, but appearances must be maintained. Weakness cannot be shown.
And someone is going to pay.
At the hotel, I wait for everyone to get out of the car before I pull my phone from my pocket and dial a familiar number.
“Caleb.” His voice is clear on the other end.
“I need you at my house in twenty minutes.” My voice is tight, controlled, but barely.
“What’s happened?” The concern in his voice is immediate.
“Someone just tried to kill Dante, Rafe, Cade, and Lia. Blew up their fucking car right after Helena’s funeral.” I watch Amara as she talks to her sisters. Her arms wrapped around her body. “Amara’s on her way home. She’s had a shock. She’ll need you.”
“Christ, Dom. Is everyone—”
“Everyone’s alive. For now.” I cut him off. “I’m sending Amara and Milly home. I need to handle this...situation.”
“I’ll be there.”
No questions.
No hesitation.
This is why Caleb has always been my friend, even when I don’t deserve it.
“Thank you.” I disconnect the call.
