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A murmur of agreement rises through the room.
“In the meantime, our businesses will continue to operate in the shadows.” I straighten my back and let my gaze sweep over the room, daring anyone to defy me. “It won’t be long before those bastards are begging for another ceasefire.”
But I’m not going to give it to them. I’m not going to stop until they are on their hands and knees begging for leniency.
“Where the hell is Donahue? We agreed that you’d bring me his head on a silver platter.” I direct my words to Lorenzo, who has the common sense to look ashamed as he lowers his gaze. “I want his balls, Lorenzo. He needs to be made an example of after what he did.”
“There’s no sign of him or Lilian.”
I sweep everything on the table onto the floor, sending sheets of paper and a few cups and plates flying in every direction. Shards of glass are everywhere, but no one moves or says anything. I’m breathing heavily as I flip the table over, unable to keep my rage in check. Eventually, it’s Tristan who steps forward and places a hand on my arm.
But it’s the sound of Isabella’s voice that stops me from doing something stupid.
I release a deep breath and give everyone a withering look. “Tomorrow, everyone better be here with better news. The Blackthornes will not be made a mockery of.”
One by one, they trickle out of the room, leaving me alone with Tristan.
I give him a pointed look, and he exits, passing Isabella on his way past. She pokes her head in, sees me, and scrambles back out. When I step out of the room, Isabella is in the kitchen with Anita, their heads bent together in conversation. Her hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, and she has her feet stuffed into a pair of slippers that are two sizes too big.
But she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And when she offers me a hesitant smile, my chest hurts.
An hour later, after Isabella has cleaned her plate, I insist on carrying her back upstairs. She offers no resistance as I set her down on the mattress and climb in next to her. When I pull her to me, she stiffens. I press kisses to the back of her neck and run my fingers down her back, but Isabella doesn’t react.
By the time she drifts off, the knots in my stomach have increased, and the bile in the back of my throat is worse. Slowly, I withdraw from Isabella and pad into the bathroom in my shorts. After splashing cold water on my face, I lift my gaze up to the mirror.
Wild, bloodshot eyes stare back at me. I frown and release the sink.
Isabella is whimpering and crying out in her sleep. I sit on the edge of the bed and pull her to me. She keeps muttering and thrashing until I kiss the back of her neck. Abruptly, she goes slack, and her breath hitches in her throat.
“Carter?”
“Hmm?”
“Did you find Rich’s body?” She twists to face me, and even by the pale light of the moon, I can see the terror and fear written all over her face. “It should’ve been in the driveway.”
“There was no body in the driveway, dove. He’s probably gone into hiding again. Fucking rat.”
Isabella sniffs and shakes her head. “He wouldn’t have been able to make it far, but maybe I’m remembering it wrong. There was so much going on… We were standing closer to the neighbors, where he parked the car. I don’t know… Why can’t I remember?”
I freeze, and my heart jumps into my throat. “Why is it so important for you to remember? It doesn’t matter where you were before you drove off, does it?”
“It does.”
Ice settles in my veins. “Why?”
“Because I shot him,” Isabella whispers, her voice catching toward the end. “I… I didn’t mean to kill him, Carter. I swear.”
My heart is pounding in my ears now. “What are you talking about?”
Isabella’s eyes find mine in the dark, and they are wide and unfocused. “I didn’t mean to. He kept trying to make me go with him, and I thought he was going to hurt me and the baby.”
I place both hands on her shoulders and hold her gaze. “Are you sure?”
“I saw his body.” Isabella’s voice is growing smaller with each word. She wraps her arms around herself as she shivers. “I had to pat his pockets for the keys. The blood, Carter… there was so much blood.”
I taste bile in the back of my throat. “Did you check for a pulse?”
Isabella’s eyes widen further, and she shakes her head. “No, I… he wasn’t moving. Did you hear what I said?”
