“I’ve been working for the Armenians since I got out a year ago,” Hilt started as he ran a hand over his short hair anxiously. “I don’t like it, but Dev got us into some shit when we were inside, and this was the only way out of it. A few months ago we got sent over this high priority job from the British side of the family. They wanted us to grab this woman. She was said to be high value….important to Adamian – the leader over here. Dev and I…we try to stay away from that stuff, and deal with the drugs and weapons only. I’m not pretending we’re good guys but we were raised better than to put hands on women and kids.”
“It was me though, right? Adamian wanted me? Do you know how he found out who I was?” I asked.
“No. Not then anyway. We didn’t even know why he wanted you, but we knew we couldn’t let him get hold of you. Dev covered for me while I went looking for you, only I couldn’t find you. Your apartment was empty and when I went toJewels, everyone said you’d just disappeared. I worried they’d already gotten to you, but then word spread about three of our guys going missing after trying to Grab you atJewels. When I did some digging, I found out some suspicious British guys had been sniffing around, and when I followed that trail, I found out who you really are. I left a way for you to contact me in case you needed help, but I figured you were probably pretty safe with the Italian mob.”
“That’s not…” I tried to cut in, as Arran spoke at the same time.
“Nae such thing as the ‘mob’ around here anymore, Italian, or otherwise,” he stated flatly, like he thought Hilt might be acop. Hilt looked up as a large group of people erupted onto the platform, then back to me.
“Listen, I need to give you the cliff notes and get the fuck out of here. I know about the Russians taking you and killing your sister for the docks, but that’s not what Adamian wants. His operation has solid trade routes already. Adamian is coming foryou, Cara.”
“Why? How does he even know I’m his kid?”
“Your Mom,” Hilt said, and I swear my heart stopped dead as his words hit me like a MAC truck.
“Tell us,” Arran urged as he pulled me even closer and held me tightly.
“I didn’t know any of this until I was brought here with a dozen other guys, all to back up the family here. Cara’s Mom called Adamian a while back, telling him he had a kid, and asking him for money for her. She wanted to sell Cara to him, but Adamian wasn’t interested then. He told her where to go. He didn’t need an heir, especially not a girl. He already had his successor all lined up to take over – Daniel. I don’t know how he met the kid, but he raised him from his early teens, taught him everything about the business and basically groomed him to take over.”
“Why does any of this matter?” I cried.
“Because things changed. Adamian collapsed at a family function about a month ago. He was rushed to hospital and ultimately diagnosed with terminal cancer. As soon as his cousin, Yuri, found out about this, he started preparing to take Adamian’s place as head of the family, which was a surprise to everyone, but especially Adamian. By all accounts Yuri is a liability and probably the last person Adamian would hand thereins to. But he is blood kin, and that matters to these old syndicates.”
“Hilt, what does any of this have to do with me?” I pushed. My heart was beating too fast and I felt like my skin was crawling. I just wanted to get back home where I’d feel safe enough for my adrenaline to stop.
“You’re blood kin,” Arran spoke up.
“Yeah,” Hilt nodded. “If Adamian can get his hands on Cara and marry her off to Daniel before he dies, he’ll get what he wants. Namely, Daniel running the family and Yuri pushed out with his tail between his legs.”
“He can’t just make me marry someone. He’s insane!”
“He could, Cara, if he threatened the right things. Your brother, or your friends. Adamian is very resourceful when it comes to getting what he wants.”
“So he brought you and a dozen others over here from the US? Why? What’s his plan now?” Arran asked.
“I don’t know for sure, but I did catch a glimpse of blueprints the other day. My guess is they’re planning a raid on either a house or a business, wherever Cara will be. You need to get her away from here and some place secure. If Daniel gets his hands on her…it just can’t happen. That fucker gives me the creeps just walking past. He’s a sick fucker from what I’ve heard.”
“We need to know what they’re plannin’” Arran ground out, clearly angry at the new threat.When would it ever end?
“I’ve given you all I can. If they knew I was doing this, me and my brother would be dead. I gotta go.”
Hilt glanced all around him again, then bypassed us to get gone fast.
“Hilt!” I called after him.
I didn’t think he’d actually turn back, but he did, walking backwards as his eyes met mine.
“Thank you,” I told him.
He had risked everything for me that night, and he had no reason to do that. He hadn’t even known me that well, but he’d done it anyway. His brother too. I owed them so much more than I could ever repay.
CHAPTER 12
CARA
Arran didn’t speak a word to me as he ushered me back through the crowded station and out to the car. He helped me into the backseat and buckled my seatbelt again, but then there was just silence. I was pretty sure I knew what he was angry about.
By the time we walked back through the front door at home, I had twenty missed calls from Cal on my cell, so I was in no way surprised to find him waiting for us in the entrance hall, sat on the bottom step on the stairs, with his leg stretched out before him.
