I know exactly where the brothers and Alyissa are. We’ve trapped them in New York City. All the families know the deal.
If anyone aids Alyissa or those two assholes, their entire family will be wiped off the map with them. They can’t move outside the five boroughs without running into my men, one of the crews, or one of the other families.
Everyone has been ordered to bring them to me on sight. I have a torture room ready. They bring them in; I’m going to put them through all nine circles of hell.
“Rico,” Oni calls as she enters the gym and turns down the music.
I rack the bar and sit up. Sweat is dripping down my face and chest. Oni walks over and hands me a towel.
“Babe, you’re pushing too hard. Come chill with me.”
“Not yet. I still have a few more sets and I want to hit the treadmill.”
“Rico, come on. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”
“I love you, Oni, but I’m not going to stop pushing until I make this right.”
She cups my face in both hands and straddles my lap. I settle my arms around her waist and look into her eyes. This woman is so fucking strong.
“I love you too,” she says. “Believe me, I want them dead as much as you do. It’s going to happen. We’re going to make that happen together, like we do everything else.”
“We should have been together when they took you. I’m never going to forgive myself. I need to do this. I need to get back to a hundred percent so this can be handled.”
“Rico, this isn’t your fault. You have to forgive yourself. There’s something I should have told you before we even left for that trip. You might be angry with me when you find out, but you should know.”
“Tell me. I’m not going to be angry. Just talk to me.”
“You know how you kept asking me what was going on?”
“Yeah, something was off. I knew something was bothering you. That’s why I planned the trip.”
“Well, Emory had reached out and asked me to meet up with her. When I did, she told me Lorcan and Mason were coming after me.”
I groan. I can’t believe she’s just telling me this. I asked her if someone was fucking with her. She told me it was nothing.
“Listen, I hadn’t brushed it off. I told you I was fine because I had it under control. At first, I didn’t know if it was a credible threat.
“Then, I didn’t care either way. I planned to put them down the day you surprised me with the trip?—”
“Why didn’t you tell me then?”
She gives me a pointed look. “If I would have told you once we arrived at the island, you would have canceled our trip and come back here to put them down yourself.
“I was going to tell you when we got back. Who knew Romano was funding their operation? I wouldn’t have thought that in a million years.
“They didn’t have the money to follow us, so I wasn’t pressed about it. My mistake. It will never happen again.”
“Underestimating our enemies or not telling me what the heck is going on?”
“Both. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m still not blaming you for this. They took something from us. I should have protected you, and I didn’t. That’s still on me, no matter what.”
“Yeah, but Rico?—”
“When this is over, maybe I’ll be able to forgive myself.”
“Fine, but can I ask you for something?”
