Fractured Vows, page 8
Unlike the one she yanked out from under Konnor when she announced my sister was pregnant with his brother’s child.
A bridge with many exits indeed.
“Young … man.” I pause, refocusing on what would get Roman to my side of the void. “Your sister is effervescent. Beautiful. Powerful. All the things that both attract and terrify men around the globe. More the latter,” I muse.
The corner of Roman’s mouth quirks.
“And she is also my wife. And while I understand her need to retain her independence, I live every second in terror that some asshole has killed the woman I love because I’m not able to be there to prevent it.” I lay out my pain openly.
Roman watches me through curious eyes, and I wonder what he sees. The reflection of himself in twenty years? A man who had everything and lost it because, as Thalia pointed out, my ego didn’t have room for two? Or just a broken soul who reflects my pain in his own way.
The kid stares at me for a moment, then taps his chest and points upstairs. I glance over his head at Dom who shrugs with his hands out.
Roman wanders his fingers along his arm and slaps his hand. Thalia lets out a laugh but when I glanced at her for aid, her face blanks and she stares at the window behind me.
Fucking fabulous.
Looks like I’m going this one alone then.
“You want to go up top and…” Fall off the building? I don’t get that last bit at all.
Roman’s smile widens and he nods once.
“You’ll go upstairs to look at your sister’s room?” Why would he need to do that? “I was always shit at charades,” I grumble.
“He wants to stay upstairs and help you mend your relationship with his sister, but also he’s looking forward to seeing you fall on your face in the attempt,” Thalia adds with a sugary-sweet smile in my direction.
Dom turns a laugh into a cough through his fist while I stare at the boy across from me. The Hernandez family has some weird fucking sense of humor. I shrug. “Me too, Roman. Let me show you the rooms taken, then you can go exploring and pick whichever one you like.” I count in my head. “There’s at least twelve free. Pick whatever.”
Roman Hernandez smiles, stands, and grabs the coat Dom holds out to him, waiting for me to lead him up the stairs. I shake my head, bemused. Surely this day can’t get any weirder.
Until Thalia’s voice ripples up to the next story where she rips Dom a new one for not being able to interpret the boy’s intentions.
My steps are a little faster in the attempt to avoid her before she latches her claws into me, too. I’m fond of her, but not like Dom. He can have her.
****
While the kid explores, I make a much-needed call to my frenemy.
“Rafe,” Konnor’s Irish lilt greets me. “Tell me something I don’t know about my family. Maybe I can repay the favor.”
Good to know you’re grasping at straws the way I was when Willow ran from me.
My chest aches like a whiny bitch but I lost my motherfucking wife, for Christ’s sake. I am allowed to grieve. Because I’m starting to wonder if I will ever actually get her back.
It’s been more than a week. Ten days of ongoing hell.
“Maybe. Do you know where my sister is?” I try to keep my voice easy, but the strain is evident in my last words.
“No. Do you know where my little brother is?” Konnor’s voice echoes the plaintive note in my own.
I hadn’t just lost one woman, I lost two. The last two female members of my family I actually care about.
“Who do we have to kill to get our lives back?” I murmur.
Konnor laughs. “Looks like we had the rug ripped out from under us. But I can think of a few ways to cut off the snake’s head without hurting anyone.”
“Yeah,” I ask warily, pouring myself a glass of whiskey.
“The docks.”
I pause with my glass halfway to my mouth. “No.”
“It’s a brilliant plan.” Konnor shifts on his end of the line, leather squeaking as I imagine him leaning forward. “We take control of the docks. You and me, the giants. Cut off the income, the outgoings. A little power play, but more like herding cats into an alley and setting the ground alight.”
“You sound positively gleeful.”
“I always love a good plan with an element of surprise.”
How long before he then rips that rug out from under my feet?
But then, we are rivals for a reason. I’d be a fool to underestimate him, even before I get my people back.
“My answer is no. That won’t win me my wife.”
“How so?” Konnor snaps. “She’ll have no income, no way to move product. We take her drugs, we take her transport, we corner her. Problem solved.”
“Your problem solved, not mine,” I counter. Konnor’s silence speaks volumes. “My wife took those accounts and gave me what I have of the docks. There’s trusts and contracts and a slice for her brother…”—shit, I shouldn’t have said that—“and if I fuck with that, I lose her. Guaranteed. This is about her claiming a slice for herself, Konnor. If I take that from her…” I kiss my fingers, blowing our future away with a puff of breath, even though he can’t see it.
“Fair enough,” Konnor grumbles. “But it was a good plan.”
“It was a great plan,” I agree. “We could take out the Korean faction for shits and giggles? Give ourselves an early Christmas present, perhaps?” Keeping Konnor happy comes secondary to my wife, and only her. If she runs to him again … there are enough unfriendlies in his household I might lose her or Regina forever.
Or the baby.
Regina, I knew, was pregnant. Willow and I…
I squeeze the phone in my hand so hard the glass cracks.
“I know you’re worried about her,” Konnor says softly. “Rafe, I have another call. I will talk to you later.”
He hangs up, leaving me with an empty room, and no more idea what to do about my wife than before. Because in this game, it’s not my move anymore. It’s hers.
****
Which is how I end up across the road from the Hernandez house, lying on my stomach with a pair of binoculars pinned to my face trained on the door. One phone call, my wife to my healer, and we came running like so many well-trained dogs. Or feral ones.
Dom lies next to me, breathing softly. Even that sound irritates the shit out of me.
“Can you be quieter?” I ask. “I don’t remember you forgetting how to scope a place out.”
“That’s because he’s deaf in one ear,” Thalia pipes up from her place curled along Dom’s other side, lying on her back, and studying the sky.
Bringing a healer with me seemed like a good idea, right up until now.
“He is?” I shoot Dom a look as her words process. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Dom opens his mouth but Thalia’s words seem to come out of it. “Maybe you’re deaf, too. I can test you,” she offers.
“Maybe later.”
I strain to sweep the binos across the windows opposite, but every one of them is painted black. “You said she was coming out.”
“Fucking stalker,” Dom grumps, flexing his shoulders. “We’re too old for this shit, Boss.”
I turn over an idea that sprang to mind after my not-talk with Roman. “I want you to head up the Hernandez operation after I get Willow back.”
I don’t have to look at him to know his face is full of incredulity.
“The fuck is wrong with you? She wants out because you’re controlling and now you want to take away the foothold she’s gained? I should have let Thalia punch you.”
I grin. “To hold it in place for Roman and train him to lead his people.”
“Oh.” Dom tips his head to one side on my periphery while I strain to find my wife behind the imposing building. “That’s probably a good idea.”
“Why me?” Thalia pipes up again, way too loud. Dom shushes her.
“Because you can communicate with him. I have a doctor. I’m not sure they do. And I trust both of you to keep the kid alive.” Keeping Roman happy gets me back in Willow’s good graces.
Happy wife, happy life, and all that fucked-up jazz.
Spin it any direction, I’ll do what it takes to get her back.
Two cars enter the street at opposite ends. I take in the car Willow was in and swing my attention back the other way, not recognizing the drivers.
“I thought you said she was inside,” I rasp at Dom. “She’s going to get herself fucking killed.”
Another car pulls into the street behind the one opposite Willow’s, and I recognize Konnor.
“Fucking bastard,” I mutter under my breath. “We need to get down there.”
“You need to stay here. Both of you.” Dom gives my back a hard tap and pats Thalia on the head. “Do you understand me?”
I glare at him. Thalia shoots him the bird.
Dom stalks away, muttering curses under his breath.
“So sweet,” Thalia calls after him, her voice cracking with so much use.
She had been nonverbal for a while, like Roman, but came back to us when Dom made some fairly romantic, bloody gestures, and promised her things I wasn’t sure we could actually get. But it kept her on our side of the line, and I couldn’t afford to lose anyone else. My last thought before Dom steps out of the building we perch on, just as gunfire rings out.
Willow sits frozen in the passenger seat of her car for a too-long moment. The window splits in slow motion, like I’m watching a Guy Ritchie film, waiting for the final moment. Spiderwebs appear in the glass, and Diego’s hand slaps her head down. Blood spurts, but she isn’t in the bullet’s way. It pierces his arm instead, and his mouth opens in a curse I can’t hear.
The car swings around in a one eighty, and roars away. That is enough to move my feet, but before I get anywhere, Dom reappears, puffing like hell.
“We have to go,” he says in a strained voice. I only realize belatedly he holds a hand to his ribs. Thalia darts between us, lifting his hand away.
Blood glistens darkly against his black shirt, but his eyes never leave mine. “I know where Singleton is.” Thalia jerks back, the name of the man who trafficked her dying unspoken on her lips. Dom’s attention was fixed on me, though he slides a hand behind her neck, holding the tiny healer in place. “She’s safe, Rafe. But I have to follow this lead now. If you stay, those bastards down there will end you, and her.”
“That’s a shitty choice,” I grouse. “I don’t care if I die for her.”
Dom’s eyes glow. “You will if they kill her after. Diego has her and he’s loyal, Boss. Let her go for now.”
I close my eyes, and follow him off the rooftop away from my wife without knowing her fate a second time. Halfway along the fire escape, I freeze, yanking out my cracked phone, and send a message her way.
Rafe: I know what happened. Tell me you’re okay.
The moment I send the message I know I worded the demand wrong but fuck it, I’m desperate. What if a stray bullet tore through her fragile body? Willow might be strong inside, but she’s still human. Mortal. And that terrifies me.
When Dom turns back, gesturing me to follow, my feet move me along like an automaton along for the ride. I check my phone every few seconds, but she never reads the message, and she never responds.
I haven’t felt more helpless in my fucking life.
Chapter Twelve
Lorentzian Chaos
Willow
Regina is wailing like a banshee in the back seat and Diego has lost all the color from his skin leaving only a sheen of sweat behind. Speeding away from my home once more, I thought it was only a shoulder wound but that can’t be all. I can see the blood pooling around him in the seat and dripping to the floorboard.
My phone rings loudly and I answer it before putting it between my shoulder and chin. With my other hand I grab the steering wheel as Diego starts to veer off the road. I have no idea if anyone is following us but I do know we can’t stop driving.
“What the fuck?” Konnor roars down the line.
“Don’t scream at me, you prick,” I snap. “I have enough problems without having to put up with your shit.”
“What just happened, Willow? Whose toes have you been stepping on?” He acts like I didn’t even say a word.
My eyes drift to the back seat where Regina has finally stopped screaming and is now quietly sobbing instead. Fuck.
“Kon…” my voice cracks.
“Fuck, Willow,” he says hoarsely. “I didn’t mean to yell at you.”
A sob breaks free at his words and I end the call, dropping my phone between the seats. My heart is racing as I stare back into the vacant gaze of Devon Hennie. He must have caught a stray bullet. Double fuck. Taking a deep breath I center myself. I don’t have the luxury of mourning Devon right now so I tucked it away for later, when I will sit crying in the bath.
Pulling the car off the road, I wait a minute to make sure we aren’t going to be ambushed before jumping out. Rounding the car I keep my eyes and ears peeled for anything out of the ordinary. Luckily we aren’t in a heavily trafficked area or I would have a lot of explaining to do.
Diego groans when I shove at his shoulder.
“Slide over. I need to get us the fuck out of here,” I explain when he grips the steering wheel.
Glossy eyes stare at me before he does as he is told. Fuck my life. Everything is falling to shit and I don’t know which way to turn. I can’t call Konnor because he is going to blame me for Devon’s death. I can’t call Rafe because he will lord this over me forever.
Gunning the engine, I head in the direction of the docks. I know that only a handful of my people will be there at this time on a Sunday, and I should be able to slip past them or send them on their way. But I am still going to need help.
“Regina,” I call out. When she doesn’t reply, I do it again. Louder.
“Yes,” she whimpers.
“I need you to find my phone. I dropped it.”
“I can’t,” she mumbles.
“If you don’t, whoever shot at us is going to find us and finish what they started. I need to call someone to help us. And Diego is hurt.” I know my tone is harsher than she needs right now but I don’t have the time or inclination to baby her at the moment.
I hear her moving around and a moment later she holds out the mobile device for me.
“Pull up Luca’s number and then hand it to me.”
She doesn’t speak as she does what I tell her. I listen to the ringing as I wait for him to answer. Just as I am about to give up hope that he will answer, his voice fills my ear.
“Willow?”
“I need your help,” I say without preamble.
“Okay. Where are you and what do I need to bring with me?” He doesn’t hesitate at all and I am more grateful than words can express.
“I’m almost at the docks so I’ll meet you there. If you know a doctor that would be great.” I know he wants to ask me questions but he holds back. “And don’t tell Rafe.”
I end the phone call and concentrate on the road. The last thing we need is to get into a damn accident as well. Wouldn’t that just be perfect?
The universe must finally be on my side. When we finally make it to the warehouse on the docks there are only two men there, keeping guard, and both are handpicked by Diego so they know better than to cross either of us. The moment the vehicle comes to a standstill inside the cavernous building I am out and moving around to the passenger side door.
“Ma’am,” the larger of the two men calls out. “Are you okay?”
“Fine. Help me lift Diego out,” I reply, cursing beneath my breath.
The men gently push me aside and lift Diego out. His body is limp and for a moment I fear that he is dead before a groan slips from between his lips. We may not be best friends like Dom and my husband but I have an appreciation for his skill and the blunt honesty with which he handles me. He is slowly becoming one of my favorite people and I would hate for anything to happen to him.
“Over there.” I point to a large table that I assume will be used to cut the drugs we are shipping in even though the warehouse is currently empty. “I have someone coming.”
“He is going to be pissed,” the other man says. “He hates being taken care of almost as much as he hates being told what to do.”
I can’t help but laugh at the other man’s assessment. Diego is a difficult man but as long as he is alive I couldn’t give two shits about his sour mood.
Once Diego is settled I make my way back to the car to see to Regina. This is a fuckup of epic proportions and I have no idea how the fuck I am going to get ahead of the fallout but I need to make sure she is okay. I still need to get her to a doctor as well but it has shifted down a little on my ever-growing list of priorities and all the shit I still need to do.
Opening the back door, my gaze connects with her. I see the overwhelming sadness and grief in her gaze and must swallow back my own feelings at the situation. I briefly wonder if she is in danger of having a miscarriage with all the stress that continues to get heaped onto her. And whether she has even considered that?
“Come on.” I hold out a hand to her and help her slide out from beneath the body of her dead lover.
Once she is out of the car she wraps her arms around my body as sobs wrack her frame once more. I allow her a moment for grief to overwhelm her before pushing her away. Holding her shoulders I wait until she is fully focused on me.
“I’m sorry,” I say, a weak-ass apology for everything that has gone wrong in her life today.
“I want to be angry with you but I know this wasn’t what you wanted,” she replies, taking a deep breath. “Devon told me about you.”
I nod, appreciating the fact that at least she isn’t holding this against me. I can’t say the same for the Hennie clan when they find out what has happened. I watch her square her shoulders and gather herself. She is a Gallo, after all, and the weakness that has been at the forefront today isn’t normal for her. Perhaps it’s the pregnancy hormones?
