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“My kiddo came home for the weekend. Plus, we have the latest episode of Survivor to watch.” I tip my head to the side and smile at her. “I love you.” I brush my hand against her face and think of everything she’ll be able to do once I get her free.
Franci has been my focus for so long, protecting her and keeping her secret. I worry that if my father or his men find out about her, they will expose her, which would allow the men we hide from to find us. They found me in Chicago, but I won’t let that happen again. That’s why I’m going on the offensive and I’m attacking them now. I’ll make her safe even if it kills me. She didn’t deserve to be put into this situation. I was the one who led the team to her family’s home. I didn’t know they were going to attack them. I just said it would be a strategic place to hide out because it was close to where our target was, and they weren’t involved in the war. True innocents. I didn’t know that Roger’s team would expose that family to torture for days. That I would regret every decision I made up to that point.
It's my greatest regret, and my penance is to give myself for her safety. That’s what a mother does for her child, and even if Franclynn isn’t of my body, she is mine. Her mother gave her to me with her dying breath.
When she leaves the room, I turn to my brother. “Gray, I adopted her six years ago. She was the only survivor of a brutal attack.” I don’t give him all the details. “For her safety, I’ve kept her a secret.” I move around the bar until I’m standing next to him. “Only Babushka knew. She found out because I needed her help.” Again, I don’t give him more. He doesn’t need to know what happened. He and Andrei would paint the streets with the blood of the men who attacked me if they knew. Exposing us more with their revenge. What I do is shadowed and hidden. What my brother’s would do is make a statement for Roger crossing the Bratva. I doubt my father would do anything though. He hasn’t cared for me ever. Like my mother said before she died, I’m a means to an end for him.
My brother pulls me into his arms and holds me for a moment. “We’ll see you both for dinner tomorrow night.”
“No.” I shake my head against his chest.
“Yes. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.” His arms flex as he holds me tighter to him. My thoughts flash to Leif for a brief moment. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to endure a hug from my own brother. I miss what Leif did to my body, but I can’t go there.
“Gray, I have special training going on tomorrow and won’t be done until at least five. I’m sure Franci has studying to do.”
“No, I don’t.” Franci returns to the kitchen, and I turn to look at her. “I’m all caught up. I thought we could hang out,” she says as she steps closer to us.
I move from Gray to her. “Franci, I’m sorry. I had this set up months in advance. It was the only time I could get all the team together to do this specialized training. I promise you can come next door and hang out while I’m working.”
“Or she can come hang out with Erika and me,” Gray offers. “It’s about time I got to know my niece.” He smiles at her, and she’s like every woman who meets him, smitten.
Gray doesn’t know about Franci’s security issues. But when she looks at me with hope in her eyes and her hands folded together in prayer, I give in.
“Okay. On one condition.” I hold up my finger. “You’ll have a team.”
“Thought you had the guys doing training.” She smirks at me.
“I’ll call in a favor.” I raise my brow, challenging her.
“Fine.”
I watch as her body changes, and I wonder what’s going on. I’ve only called in this favor one other time when I had to go after Bart and my men were all busy. I know Gambit didn’t approach her. He told me he sent a couple of his men. So I don’t understand what’s happening, but a prickle down my spine has me wondering. I’ll have to talk to Gambit next time I meet with him. Gambit is a friend of mine from a unit I used to be a part of. I was shocked to find he’d settled here, but it was nice to see him again. He truly is one of my oldest friends.
“What do I need to know?” Gray asks with concern written all over his face.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow. Now get out of here so Franci and I can have some dinner and girl talk.” I chuckle and move to my cell on the counter to send a message.
Me
Rogue here. Can you please send a team tomorrow to follow that package I have?
Gambit
3
Me
Yeah. I’ll text the address it will be going to later. Have them here at 0800.
Gambit
K
When I look up from my phone, I find only Franci standing there.
I serve up our plates and spend the evening with her. We watch our show, and when she falls asleep, she’s cuddling against me, something she hasn’t done in a long time. I need to find out what’s going on with my girl. Monday when I get back to the office, I’m pulling all her surveillance footage and finding out.
Seven
