I open my eyes again. "What?"
"If he makes a move…" His voice drops. Dark. Final. "You end it."
A slow breath fills my lungs. There it is. The line. The compromise. I can live with that.
"Yeah," I concede quietly. "That I can do."
We shift back to business.
"I'll set the meeting," Massimo says. "And get the others together. We move fast."
"Always do."
The call ends. I lower the phone slowly. For a second, I just stand there. Then I look through the glass again. At her. Audra. Massimo wants control. The Collector wants chaos. The cartel wants blood.
And her?
My gaze darkens. She's going to want revenge. I can already see it. And something tells me keeping her safe is about to get a hell of a lot harder.
When I step back inside, both women look at me. Everything in me sharpens again. Focus. Control. Possession.
"They're not done," I state simply.
Her chin lifts. "I didn't think they were."
No fear. Just that same cold resolve. Fuck. This is going to get complicated.
Just after midnightthe next day…
"Audra!"
My eyes snap open.
"Audra! Audra!"
I bolt upright, heart slamming against my ribs. "Mom?"
I'm already out of bed before I'm fully awake, stumbling toward the door.
"Audra—!" Her voice breaks.
Panic slices through me. I rush into the hallway and find her leaning against the wall. Her face is pale. Too pale. Her right arm jerks uncontrollably.
"Mom?"
She slides. I catch her just before she hits the floor. Her weight collapses into me.
"Stroke…" she slurs. "I'm having a stroke…"
Ice floods my veins.
"No. No, no—look at me." My hands cup her face. "Mom, look at me. Can you smile?"
Her lips form a clown's mask, but both ends rise.
"Blink. Can you blink?"
She does. But slow. Too slow. A door slams open behind me. I don't have to turn. I feel him.
