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“Please stay away from those people.”
“I gotta go.” There was a stretch of silence, and I thought he’d hung up. “Thanks, Holly. I know I’ve been a pain. All you’ve ever tried to do was help me.”
“Jason . . .”
But he was already gone. I stared at the phone for the longest time. Maybe he’d finally had the wake-up call I’d been hoping for. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d heard him be almost humble.
Valentina topped off my tea. “Do you want Donato to find him?”
“I-I don’t know.” I slumped down in the chair. Was I supposed to say yes? “He sounded okay. I think somehow that was his way of apologizing,” I said, still shell-shocked from the whole bizarre conversation. “It’s the first time he hasn’t demanded anything from me in a long time.”
She touched my knee. “Sometimes we don’t give ourselves permission, but I’m going to do it for you. It’s okay to put your son and your own happiness first.”
It was as if the woman had been living inside my head. Since Jason had been born, I’d felt responsible for him. Over the years, I’d toughened up, learned to stand up to him and say no, but it wasn’t easy. Hearing Valentina say that made something click into place.
My shoulders dropped. Jason had seemed clear-headed and grateful. I’d never be able to stop worrying about him and wishing he’d be an active part of our lives, but I’d done the best I could. He seemed to finally recognize that. Now I had peace.
“I am.”
And I would. Carlos was my priority too. I thought I’d be able to feel what was happening with him because of our connection, like I’d always heard twins had. But all I felt was fear I was about to lose the happiness I’d only just found.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Carlos
“Sandoval isn’t here.”
I’d made it to the rendezvous point with one of Donato’s men outside a nearby warehouse. The briefing wasn’t necessarily a surprise, but nonetheless irritating.
I checked the time. Five minutes until we were supposed to meet.
“Signs of anyone else?” I asked in a low voice.
“A man and a child are inside. Six stationed around the perimeter.”
My heart lurched. A child? Had they found Holly and Gabriel?
“Identity?” I sounded unsteady but couldn’t find it in me to care. If Gabriel was in that building, I was going in now.
“Child unknown. Other subject, Nicanor Rosca.”
Fuck.
Two enemies united in force. My odds just turned worse.
And there was a child involved. My conscience wouldn’t allow for that. This was no place for the innocent.
“Clear the path. I’m going in.”
“Sir.”
I ignored the protest and slid farther into the shadows with one mission. To remove the child from the situation. A part of me, the young boy from long ago, was desperate to save another from the same fate.
All I could think about was if it were Gabriel as I moved closer to the target. I stepped over a body clad in all black fifty yards from the warehouse. One of Rosca’s guards that I couldn’t say I was all that sorry to see gone.
I hesitated when I reached the entrance Daniel had suggested I use. When had life stopped being precious to me?
That wasn’t the real question. When had it started?
