AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The funny thing is, Rhys,” I start, taking a single step closer to him, “you’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.” I turn suddenly and walk toward the windows overlooking the deck. I can see Michael near the railing smoking, and on the opposite side, I see Phoenix and Alice close together. Every so often, he touches her cheek, and she smiles at him, and my heart warms. “The thing is, I wasn’t watching her just because I was obsessed with her.”
Rhys’ laugh is both disbelieving and mocking. “You and I both know—”
I move before he can anticipate me, and I think he believes I’m not as quick on my feet anymore, which is why I get my fingers around his throat before he can stop me. I know exactly where to press to make him feel like I’m cutting off his air without actually doing it, and his cheeks turn red.
“You and I both know,” I say, spitting his words back at him, “that the problem with men like you is that you can’t see past your own assumptions. You think I don’t know what’s going on in the Romano ranks? You don’t think I knew exactly what happened when I put Guido down on his knees and destroyed his faith?” I lean in close, letting my spit hit his chin. “You don’t think Iplannedit.”
Rhys remains limp—a smart move, considering my temper, and I release him just enough that his head will spin. I can feel the weakness in his knees as he tries to brace himself against the wall.
“The thing is, you got so far in your head believing that I was blind to what’s going on around me all because I didn’t share my information with you.” I sigh softly and shake my head. “And your sorry little ego let you down. If you’d come to me before acting like a fool, before betraying me—”
“I—”
I squeeze harder. “—I might have let you in on what I’ve set in motion. But instead, you thought you knew better. You thought I was the sort of man you could ask forgiveness from instead of permission. But I’m not. Am I?”
He attempts to swallow against my hand, attempts to speak, but he can’t, so he shakes his head.
“Sadly for you, you’ve made your bed. There’s nothing I can do about that. But if you cooperate, you might leave with your heart still beating. Your boys, however…” I trail off with a sigh.
“Where are they?” he manages to get out once I loosen my grip just a little.
“In Ari’s playroom,” I tell him, and I watch the horror flood his face. “Before you try to bargain with me, don’t. I don’t give a shit that you managed to turn my own blood against me. They’re useful for one thing and one thing only: information.”
He bows his head, and his chin hits my wrist, and I can feel the defeat settle into his bones. He knows now—he won’t walk away from this unscarred. I still don’t know if I’ll allow him to live.
Dropping my hand, I take a step back. “You can check your phone now, if you’d like, but there won’t be much point. Any device you have on you—including your burner—is bricked.”
He scrambles into his pocket to verify, and then his shoulders sag. He looks back up at me. “We’re family, Kane. I was trying to protect you.”
“Yes,” I respond easily, “we are family. And that means something to me. It always has—unlike with Romano. I don’t know if you’re fucking Leo or what other hold he has on you, but I hope you realize what you just lost because of him.”
The rest of the color drains from his face. “He doesn’t want to hurt her.”
He’s lucky I need him for more information, so I don’t reach for my gun to end him right here and now just for that. Either Rhys has no idea what every single one of those bastards put Alice through for her entire life, or he doesn’t care.
But I suppose it doesn’t matter. I think by the time Ari’s through with him, it will be difficult for him to ever speak another word again.
The bridge door opens and two men walk in. Rhys stares at me, his gaze pleading, but the time for mercy is long since over. “Hold him in the brig,” I tell them, and they get their arms around him without much of a fuss.
Rhys only slows when they approach the door, and he looks back over his shoulder. “He might not be as clever as you are, but he’s reckless. Doing this is a mistake.”
I don’t think he’s wrong. I just don’t think he understands the nature of the crown I carry on my head. I’m not reckless because I don’t need to be. Romano will never win because, just like I destroyed his faith, I will destroy everything else he’s ever held dear.
* * *
There’sa buzz aboard the ship, and I know it’s because Rhys has disappeared, but no one’s brave enough to say anything to me, and I’m fine with it. They’re all waiting for some sort of announcement, and it’ll happen, but not until my boys have returned, and I’m still waiting on their message that Rhys’ four men are secured.
I miss them in the same way I miss my leg—I’m functional but off-balance. From the bridge deck, I can still see Alice and Phoenix standing together. He doesn’t hold her the way I know he wants her to, but his blindness offers him the chance to keep a hand on her without people asking too many questions.
Alice and I must appear united once we make the announcement. Once we’re wed, we can go as public as we want with the boys, but there are too many fractures to take the risk right now. I know that James and Phoenix have worked tirelessly to uncover anyone who might be working with anyone from the Romano or Ricci family, but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something we’re missing. I know whoever else is involved, they’ll exploit any perceived weakness.
And it’s driving me mad.
It’s my own fault, of course. I’ve been caught up with running this empire from the safety of my little manor while sending James and Ari off to do the dirty work. That ends today, but it doesn’t erase the mistake. The only thing I can do is let it work for me. They think I’ve weakened myself. They think I’ve surrounded myself with weak men.
And I have no doubt they think I must have gotten into bed with Romano and made some kind of deal for Alice.
In the coming months, I can only hope that the ones ready to turn traitor will make a move because it won’t take me long to clean house, and my boys deserve an easy task after all of this. That thought makes me smile, and just as I start heading toward the stairs to take me down to the lower deck, my phone buzzes.
