“Most likely,” Arran nodded. “Adamian wants Cara.”
“He knows who she is then?”
“Yeah. Hilt heard that Isabella called the man himself and tried to sell Cara to him,” Arran laid out plainly, and I couldn’t help but flinch at those words. There was no love lost between my Mum and I, that was for sure, but to try and sell me to a criminal? All while I worked like hell to care for her in my own way.
“She’s gone now. You’ve got us,” Cal uttered so quietly I was sure only I had heard.
“Fucking bitch!” Rafe growled, slamming his hand down on the table so loud and hard it shook every dish and beverage on there.
“What does Adamian want with Cara now? Surely it’s been months since Isabella rang him with the truth?” Dio forged on.
I lowered my head against Cal, not wanting to look at Rafe and the stress I knew this was all causing him. He didn’t deserve any of this. He deserved a good, easy, stress free life, more than anyone.
“Short version – an heir to marry the man he wants to take over the family. Adamian has cancer. Terminal. I dinnae ken how long he’s got, but the only way to promote his protégé, who isnae a blood relative, is to have him marry Cara, who is blood.”
“That’s not happening,” Rafe snapped. “Tesorino, look at me,” he added, and I did, lifting my head to meet his eyes. “It is not happening. No one will take you from us ever again.”
“Damn right. We need to find out details on this raid. When and where,” Dio added.
“Hilt willnae help us anymore. I asked, but the guy said it’s too dangerous. As far as he’s concerned, he did his good deed,” Arran explained.
“Then we don’t give him a fucking choice!” Dio bit out with pure rage. When I looked to him his fists were clenched on the table top, his jaw set, his shoulders rigid. He was livid.
“No!” I argued. “Nothing happens to Hilt. He didn’t have to warn me, didn’t have to come look for me, but he did. He doesn’t know details anyway. He’d have given them to us if he did.”
“Cara…” Dio tried, but I cut him off fast.
“No! I mean it! Leave Hilt alone! Whatever or whoever he is, all he has ever done is try to help me! Without him training me to fight, I’d likely be dead by now.” I cried.
“Fine,” Rafe gave in. “Like you said, he probably told you all he knew anyway. He’s off limits, Dar.”
Dio nodded in acknowledgement, but he also looked pissed about it.
“I’ll need to dig into this. Speak to some of my contacts. In the meantime we’ll need to step up security here. From now on, youcannot leave this house,Gioia. I know that’s a shitty thing to tell you, but until I get this cleared up, I need you safe. We can do that here. Do you understand?” Rafe asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “I’ll stay put, but I want to know what’s going on, Rafe. Don’t keep things from me, please.”
“I’ll keep you updated, sweetheart. You have my word.”
Everyone picked up cutlery and started to eat around me as the conversation seemed to come to its natural pause. There was nothing else to say right then. Rafe would give orders I was sure, to try and find out what he could, but not right then, and we had no other news to share on the topic.
“Ye’ve no’ eaten a bite, lass,” Arran gently reminded me as he looked to my still full plate, his own before him already empty.
“I’m not hungry.”
“It’s cold now anyway. Can you make her some tea with honey for her throat, and see if Terza has any of the lemon drizzle cake left over from yesterday? You never turn down sweet things, do you, beautiful?” Cal teased as he gave the arm around me a squeeze.
“I’ll no’ be long,” Arran promised as he gathered his and Cal’s empty plates, and my full one and headed into the kitchen.
“Are you not eating,Piccola?” Dio asked, and when I looked over he was watching us intently.
I shook my head, but looked away from his intense eyes quickly. I couldn’t stand his scrutiny when what I had to tell him and Rafe still hung unspoken.
“Her throat’s raw from getting upset earlier. Arran’s getting her some tea and cake,” Cal spoke for me.
Quiet descended again and Rafe and Dio ate their meals. No one was speaking, but I was kind of grateful for that. At least they weren’t asking me any questions either.
I spent the time with my head resting against Cal’s chest, my eyes closed and my hand still wrapped tightly around his wrist, trying to steady my emotions with the calming rhythm of his pulse against my finger.
