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“I think you should have a snack bar in your new house. With ice cream.”
“That’s a great idea.”
Izzy and I snuggle up and eat our feelings away. I try to concentrate on the Disney movie she picked, but I can’t help that feeling of dread. The fear that the two most important people to me are in the hands of a psycho. I need them to be okay. I need them to come back.
I try every calming technique I’ve ever taught my students in health and well-being class. I take deep breaths. I count forwards and backwards. I think of happy memories—except, when I do, they all include either Reilly or Theo. Which brings me back to why I’m stressed in the first place. It’s been an hour. Surely, they’ve gotten to them by now. Why the hell hasn’t anyone called?
I keep checking my phone, keep waiting for it to ring. I’d even settle for a text message telling me everything’s okay and that they’re on their way home. Izzy reaches out and holds my hand. I should be the one soothing her here. She’s being strong, and I’m nothing but a mess.
“Do you think my mama and Neo will get married?” she questions… out of nowhere.
“I’m not sure. Why do you ask?”
“Well, Mama hasn’t had a boyfriend before. And Neo makes her smile. So I like him.”
“He’s a good one.”
“I think I’d like him to be my papa. If they get married, he’ll be my stepdad. But do you think he’ll let me call him Papa?”
“I’m not sure, Izzy, but I’ll shoot him for you if he doesn’t.” I smile.
“Okay, deal. I’ll ask him when he comes home,” she says. Let’s hope he does come home, because I’d love to see the look on his face when she asks him. “I told Mama we should move to America.”
“Oh, and what did she say?”
“She said Nonno would miss us too much.”
“Yeah, he probably would.”
Half an hour later, the door to the movie room opens and an armed guard enters. “Ma’am, thought you’d want to know they’re heading up the drive now.”
“Thank you.” I grab Izzy’s hand and we walk out to the foyer, just as the front doors open and a heap of bodies pile in. The moment I see Reilly and Bray, I run to my sister. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Rye. I’m so sorry.” I hug her as tight as I possibly can.
“This wasn’t your fault, Hol. And I’m okay. I’m fine,” she says, wiping the tears off my face.
I step back and my eyes land on Neo. He’s covered in bruises… blood. I look around the crowd but I don’t see Theo. “Where’s my husband? Where is he?” I ask, panicked.
Why can’t I see him? Why isn’t he here?
ChapterTwenty-Seven
It only takes a minute for the realization to sink in. That’s not Holly. Relief washes over me before a different kind of dread takes over. Holly would never forgive me if anything were to happen to her sister. She won’t be able to look at me and not blame me. I can’t live in a world where Holly hates or resents me.
“Dov'è lei?” I ask Angelica.Where is she?
I get hit across the head. “English, fucker.”
“Sicura,” she responds before they can stop her.Safe.One word is all it takes to set me at ease.
I glance towards Neo out of the corner of my eye. My fingers are holding the rope around my wrists at the moment. I just need two minutes, and I’ll have all these Irish fucks laid out. Neo has been oddly quiet since Noah Kelly (AKA The Clover) walked in with the girls. He’s staring at the gun currently pointed at Angelica’s head. When I look at her, she just smirks before offering a curious wink. I have a feeling this isn’t the first time she’s been in a situation like this.
“I’m going to enjoy watching you all burn in hell, you fucking Irish scum,” Angelica hisses.
“Shut your fucking mouth.” Kelly pushes her forward. “Before I have one of my men do it for you. Go sit over there and watch. It’ll be your turn soon enough.”
Reilly’s eyes widen. She’s panicked. Her face pales at what she fears is about to happen to her. I wait until Angelica is sitting on the floor; she nods at me subtly.
“You know, for a man who’s about to watch his wife get used every which way possible, you’re quiet, Theo. I thought the infamous Theo Valentino had more fight in him. A disappointment is what you are,” Kelly grunts before grabbing Reilly around the waist.
