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No. I couldn’t reconcile that. He would never give up power, not while he was still alive, and the voice had definitely been my father’s, strange as it had sounded. I’d have to put all the pieces together when I got there.
I texted Rhys, not wanting to go down to the kitchen to face him and his brothers. I knew they would try to convince me not to go, but if that fear in my father’s voice was genuine, either the situation with Arturo had become critical or something had happened to my stepmother or one of my other brothers, and he’d lost control of the situation. If my father was the one luring me into a trap, he was working with Franco, and I would deal with him accordingly.
I was stuffing necessities into a duffel bag when my door banged open, and Rhys stormed into my room.
“What the hell are you doing?”
I turned away, not wanting to look him in the eye. “I told you. My father asked me to come home.”
“Have you talked to X?”
“Not yet. I’m going to call him on the way to the airport.”
Rhys grabbed my arm, trying to make me face him. “Call him now. Something is wrong.”
“I know.”
He narrowed his eyes. He looked as angry as he had the first time he’d been forced to admit how much he wanted me. I longed to grab hold of him, throw him down on the mattress, and make him admit to wanting me over and over, but if I touched him, I would lose all my resolve. “What do you mean you know?”
“My dad’s voice was… off, and he said things he would never say.”
“See? You need to wait like X said.”
“No. It’s time for me to see this through. Even if it’s a trap, it’s time for me to take charge.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. If it’s a trap, then you absolutely need to stay.”
“Not if it’s Franco baiting the trap and the consequence of me not going is Arturo dying.”
Rhys shook his head. “X has sent in his best men. They have narrowed down Arturo’s location.”
“They think they have. We can’t be sure of anything except that my father says he wants me home.”
“He says he wants you home, but yesterday he told you to stay away because you’d be in too much danger there.”
“I’m not afraid of danger.” I was afraid of my heart breaking if I never saw Rhys again, but I was never meant to be someone who had a steady relationship.
“Don’t go.” His voice was softer now. I heard the pain in it, and I wanted to give in.
“I have to. No one says no to my dad.”
Rhys blew out a long breath. “Then stall or say someone is watching you. Say whatever you have to.”
I shook my head. “I can’t risk things getting worse because I didn’t act. My father summoned me, and I have to go.”
“No, you don’t. I… I don’t want you to go.”
“Why, Rhys? Why is that?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, and I have a bad feeling about this too. Something isn’t right.”
“Why do you care? Wouldn’t it be easier without me around here?”
He blew out a long breath. “I’d never find anyone else like you.”
“You mean someone who can truly satisfy you?”
“No. Yes. Fuck.”
