Page 85 of Bobby

Maybe Bobby is right not to trust the Strays. I’d rather trust them than Trevor, though, and I’m not sure what that says about me.

Or if I care.

Chapter 30—Bobby

“Are you sure this is wise?” I ask as I look through the weapons Danny has laid out for us to pick through.

We parked in a hangar, and his team got to work setting out what we had available. We brought a small arsenal with us when we left New York, and from the looks of it, we plan to use everything. Even if that means one of us or more aren’t walking out of this alive.

“What?” Liam asks as he looks up and sees me staring right at him.

“Mason,” I growl. Not because of who it is—only because of the situation. I want to leave more men here to protect my girl, but she asked me to get her daughters, and I won’t deny her that request. Still, I have several men staying behind. Liam was the one who said Mason was staying as well.

“What? Because he’s a psychopath?” The man smiles as he twirls a blade in the air before catching it on the hilt, weighing the balance in his hand, and then pocketing it. I’ve got a feeling we won’t be seeing that one again. Liam already has his own weapons on him, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t snooping for something else.

“That’s part of it,” Tommy mutters as he picks up his own set of knives.

Liam rolls his eyes at both of us. “Trust me, Mason has his demons in check. Well, today he does. Mostly.” I raise an eyebrow, and the guy actually laughs in my face. “Relax. He knows not to harm your girl. Besides, you want him watching Willow and not going in with us.”

“Why?” Marco’s question is blunt and forceful. He might not have feelings for Willow like I do, but he cares for her in his own way.

Liam snorts. “He’s psychotic. Clinically so. It’s not just a word for him. It is him. Alexander doesn’t even let him go out and play most nights like he wants to. We keep him as contained as we can and only let him out when we want a complete bloodbath. And if he does go in with us, that’s what it’ll be. And he won’t see the girls. He won’t see any of us. He’ll just kill until there’s no one left standing.”

“Really? You’re saying he’d even kill you? His brother?” Tommy asks with an eye roll as if he doesn’t believe him. And he doesn’t use the term brother loosely. The Strays are known for protecting each other. All four of them. They’re closer than blood, bonded together by battles during disturbed childhoods and molded by the pain and revenge they share in creating what they are today.

It’s one of the main reasons they’re so feared, as well as respected, by many groups. Not just the House of Leone.

Liam’s smile fades, and any joy deflates from his entire being. “We don’t chance it.” He holds a dead-eyed look for a second before he shakes out of it and smiles. “But he’s good at watching your girl. He knows how to protect someone. He’s more likely to kill her and himself before he’ll let either of them get taken.”

“Oh, I feel better,” Tommy deadpans before adding another Glock to his shoulder holster and sauntering off.

“Keep him away from Willow,” I growl. I feel the same way as Tommy. But unlike him, I’m not able to joke about it.

I turn and tell one of our men to stay behind, just to be sure, then continue to gear up with Marco at my side.

Liam just smirks and leaves, so it’s the two of us left at the table with only a few selections remaining to choose from.

“You know what I want,” I say to Marco out of the side of my mouth so those who are still close by won’t hear.

“Yes, sir.” His reply is instant.

The girls’ safety comes before my own. Today, at least.

Danny will kick me and Marco off this extraction if he gets even a sniff of what we’re talking about. But Marco and I have an unspoken understanding. I think we both agreed on it after the night we had ramen with Willow and the girls. Ivy and Lily are special, and they should be treated as such. Which means their lives come before mine.

This is the first time I’ve ever felt that Marco would question his loyalty toward me for another. And I don’t fault him for it. Though when we get out of this, I will need to make sure I have a good team willing to step in to protect each of my girls like Marco does with me. His loyalty can sway today, though just today. Next time, it will be another’s responsibility to die for them and Marco to die for me.

It’s the way of our world, and everyone who comes into our world understands that.

Willow doesn’t. Not yet. But she will. Because once I get the girls back and we’re all together again, I’ll explain it to her. She hasn’t run away from me yet. It gives me hope that she understands my life enough to continue with me.

Because if I didn’t make it clear before, this solidifies it.

Willow is mine. My girl. I’ve claimed her before too many men in the famiglia in the last twelve hours for her not to be.

And her girls are now mine too.

Mama is going to be thrilled.