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“Your family is the best,” Ivie whispers.
“They love you,” Nadia says with a shrug. “Was Papa angry?”
“Livid,” Annika confirms. “And very concerned. We all have been. We’re just relieved that she’s safe.”
Tired hugs are exchanged. Once outside, I pull Rocco and Carmine aside.
“I would rather be at my place. I can protect her better there.”
“I know,” Carmine says. “We’re going to stick close for a few days, just in case.”
“I’ll be around, as well,” Rocco says and gestures to the two additional vehicles on the street. “I had these delivered. Figured we’d go our separate ways.”
“Appreciate it,” I reply with a nod. “I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
“Same here,” Carmine says, and the three of us go to our separate vehicles to drive away.
“How did these cars get here?” Ivie asks after she buckles up.
“Rocco had them delivered.”
She frowns at me as I back out of the driveway. “How?”
“We have people, Ivie. In every major city of this country, and several around the world. All we have to do is make a phone call, and certain things happen.”
She chews her lip and then frowns when she realizes that I’m headed right for her house.
“How do you know where I live?”
“I dropped you off there one night, remember?”
“I’m surprised you remember.”
I have an excellent memory when it comes to things I want.
“Are you mad at me for not going with you?” she asks.
“Yes.” The answer is short and simple. “I’m frustrated because it would be easier to keep you safe at my home. I feel blind this way. But I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to do, so we’ll try it your way.”
She blows out a raspberry through her lips and then lets out a gasp of surprise when I turn into her driveway.
“My door is open,” she says. “I know I didn’t leave it like that when I left for work yesterday.”
“Stay here. Lock the doors.”
I jump out of the car and immediately pull my sidearm from its holster. Before rushing inside, I make a quick loop around the house to see if I can detect any movement.
From out here, it looks empty.
When I make my way back to the front door, I ease it open farther and step inside, raising my weapon when a figure walks across the living room and snaps on the light.
“For fuck’s sake, Ivie, I told you to wait outside.”
But she’s not listening to me. Her eyes are trained on the destruction in her home. The place has been ransacked, turned over and destroyed.
“Oh my God,” she breathes.
“Stay with me,” I order her, my voice sharp. “Do you hear me? Ivie.”
“I hear you.” She slips her hand into mine, and I lead her through the house, to each room, with my weapon drawn in case anyone is still here.
“We’re alone,” I say at last when we’re standing in her bedroom.
She slips her hand from mine and hurries over to her closet. I follow her over and see her stumble over clothes, then peel back the carpet in a corner, open a hidden spot on the floor, and pull out a small box.
“They didn’t take it,” she breathes in relief. “My mother’s wedding ring. It’s the only thing I have from her, and I could never replace it.”
She hugs the box to her chest and allows her gaze to roam over the mess.
“I guess you’re getting your way,” she says at last.
“It’s not a competition.” I take her hand and pull her to her feet. “Honey, I just want you to be as safe as possible.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like that’ll be here. I’ll try to pull some things together and be ready in a few minutes.”
I nod and step out of the room so I can text my brothers, letting them know about the change of plans. I also call my father to keep him posted. We’ve been feeding him information since all of this began.
When these assholes took Ivie, they pissed off two powerful mafia families in the process.
They’re fucked.
“I’m ready.” Ivie has a small suitcase that’s seen better days, a tote filled to the brim, and a purse, which she retrieved from Annika earlier. “The bastards ruined my Louis Vuitton handbag. It was a gift.”
“It can be replaced.”
“Do you know how much those things cost?” she demands. “Anyway. It’s just a purse. But it pissed me off. I’m taking the few valuable things I have with me, some clothes and toiletries, and that’s about it.”
“That’s all you’ll need,” I assure her. I can feel the sadness and despair radiating off her as we walk through her little house to the front door. She locks it as I put her bags in the car, and then we’re off again. “We have a bit of a drive ahead of us.”
