“Maybe,” Kellan said. “We’ll always have our memories of our time spent there, but most importantly we have our little devil back with us.”
“I don’t think I’m ready to give up on them just yet.” I smiled at my guys, beyond grateful that despite the pain I caused, they never truly gave up on me.
“Then we’ll keep them.” Merrick pressed a kiss to my cheek as I felt the weight of their attention settle on the bear still resting on my lap.
My stomach twisted nervously as I released their hands and picked up the toy. “How can something this cute be the source of so much dread?”
“To be fair, it’s not the bear’s fault,” Kellan teased.
“True,” I said, grasping the edges of the Velcro. The air turned thick with anticipation as I tore it open and grasped the edge of the page.
“The paper looks different at least,” I said, infusing a spark of hope into my tone. “Still not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
“Me either,” Merrick said, and Kellan nodded.
Spade shrugged. “The only thing this will determine is whether or not we get to kill him.” I could tell by the gleam in his eyes that he was really hoping he’d get to take him out. He’d probably pretend it was Tommaso he was torturing.
I couldn’t help the laugh that tore from my lips, his reassurance helping to ease away some of the tension thrumming through my chest.
The paper was thicker than the piece of printer paper Francine wrote on, the color a darker beige, and I could only imagine how much it cost. It was just like the Barones to go over the top on something like paper.
I steeled myself as I opened the page, letting everyone get a good look at it as I read.
Dearest Francine,
It warms my heart more than you can ever know that you kept my treasured toy for so many years. Every time I stepped foot in this town, I wanted to visit you, but I couldn’t let my father think he had any leverage over me. I’ve been keeping an eye on you, though, ensuring that none of my father’s men went too far, and that your grandson was safe.
I know you won’t be the only one reading this letter, though, so I will cut what I want to say short until we meet again.
Giana. I am trusting Francine by even writing this letter. You suffered for years, and while I kept an eye on you too, I am sorry that I couldn’t intervene. If I had, Tommaso would have kept you even more restricted than you already were out of fear that I was interested in taking what he considered his. And while I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to kill us all, I’m hoping this gesture was a sign of cooperation.
If so, you can meet me in the place we both share, where some of our fondest memories took place in the suffocating desolation of this damned town. I will be there in twenty-four hours. I might not be like my brother, but I won’t take kindly to an attack, and I won’t go down as easily as my father’s men.
Sincerely,
E
“E?” Merrick asked.
“I think it’s for Enzo,” I said as Kellan took the paper from me, rereading it to himself. “That’s what Francine called him.”
“He means the ice cream shop, right?”
“Unless he was sneaking into the firehouse, that was the only other place we went that felt like home because of Francine.” I nodded, sinking back into his arms. “We’ll have to bring this to Francine tomorrow. I know she’ll want to read it right away.”
“It would feel wrong not to.” Kellan tucked the page into his pocket.
“He didn’t really give anything away in the letter.” I stifled a yawn, blinking my eyes in an attempt to stay awake.
“No, he didn’t.” Spade frowned, rubbing a palm up my thigh.
“He probably wanted to cover his ass in case you gave the letter to Angelo.” Merrick’s fingers tangled through my hair, and sleep lingered at the edge of my mind, every comforting touch lulling me under its seductive spell.
“Like he said, he’s not sure if you want him dead. What better way to get back at Angelo than to force him to kill his only surviving son?” Kellan’s thumb ran over my knuckles, and I nestled into Merrick’s chest, unable to keep my eyes open.
“Makes sense,” I said, sinking into the comforting warmth of all their hands on me as exhaustion finally claimed me.
Heatlickedacrossmyskin as the flames drew near, the malevolent orange and red flickers of light threatening to consume me whole. My fingers gripped tiles, attempting to propel me forward, but I couldn’t get a firm hold. I tried again, and again, desperately trying to get out of the fire’s path, but it was no use. It closed in, not caring that it was filling my throat with smoke as it consumed all the oxygen in the room.
