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“I couldn’t come back, I was in too deep and Dad had no idea I was a wanted man. I didn’t want to bring that type of heat to you or him, so Bishop offered me a job and I took it. Why do you think I could never fly to OKC? I would have been flagged at the airport and thrown in jail for the rest of my life. There is a reason why I don’t travel commercial, Clare.”
“But you went to Russia and Miami,” I protest. He lulls his head to the side and pins me with aare you stupidlook.
“I flew on Bishop’s private jet. Every time I leave the country it’s a risk, but it’s one I’m willing to take after everything Bish has done for me.”
“What has he done for you?” I can’t disguise the anger in my voice.
“He gave me a chance to be more than I was. I was a dumb kid who got caught and would have ended up in prison for hacking. B gave me a place where I belonged. They aren’t just my bosses, they are my friends.” I snort, he’s out of his mind if he thinks that. “It may not seem like it but they are. I would go to war for each of them. King is my best friend and has asked me to be his daughter’s godfather. I’m sorry I left you, Clare, but I had to do this. I never felt like I belonged but being with this family I finally feel like I do, ya know?” All the air drains from my lungs, I know exactly what he means.
“I get it. Rook has this way of making me feel like I don’t need a place to call home, I just need him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m mad at you and him for lying to me but I kind of get it. If I had of known—”
“You would have tried to stop me?” I nod and he laughs but there is no humor to it. “You couldn’t have stopped me. I needed to do this. My only regret is that you were dragged into this, all I ever wanted was to keep you safe, Clare. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you and Dad when you needed me most. And I’m so fucking sorry you went through losing Dad on your own.” The lump forms in my throat again as I fight back tears.
“It’s okay,” I choke out.
“No, it isn’t. I should have been there for you both. I tried to pay Dad’s medical bills the other day only to find out that Rook Murdoch already took care of it.” A thought hits me and I gasp as I reach for his hand and clasp it in mine.
“Him paying the bill, does that mean you will have to work for them or do something bad because of that?” This time when he laughs there is humor to it, and I scowl at him as I wait for his laughter to die off.
“No. Rook doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to, and believe me the money he paid is nothing to them. They own New York, Clare. Soon, Bishop will take over Miami from Anthony Bennett and one day his son will run it as well. They are the first family in history to ever rule over two separate cities. Bish is ambitious and won’t stop until his family runs the whole of the US.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Bishop, King, Knight, Gage, Rook and even Carlina never loved anyone, not even their own parents, only each other. Except everything changed and Bishop wasn’t willing to settle anymore when he got Kiara back. It drove him to want to ensure her safety. King fell in love and it made him want to help Bishop more to ensure the safety of his daughter. Same goes for Knight, Rook, Gage and Car. Well, Vincent will never allow anything to happen to his wife.”
“Why?” I ask, a look of respect overcomes Luka’s features.
“Bishop, Gage, King and Knight all changed because they fell in love. They will not stop until they rule this country and ensure the safety of their wives and children. But, Carlina ran from her brothers wanting her freedom only to be kidnapped by Vincent.” I gasp and wait for him to continue. “Carlina fell in love with the number one assassin in the world. Vincent is known as theBloodhound. He can track any person, anywhere and never misses a kill shot until Carlina.” Warmth spreads through me at hearing their love story. “No one will ever get close enough to Car to ever touch her and because of that, her brothers have accepted Vincent as family. This family is loyal to a fault and now, their baby brother has gone and fallen in love.”
I shake my head denying his claim. “He doesn’t love me. If he did, he wouldn’t have lied and kept his distance.” Luka squeezes my hand and shakes his head.
“Rook has been in love with you for years, Clare. When you ran with Dad you didn’t see him. He changed, he went from being carefree and drunk on life to this shell of a man that hid behind his humor and football. You know why he pushed so hard to excel in football even though his father hated it?” I shake my head. “He did that because he thought if he got drafted he would finally be good enough for you. He had always planned to come for you, Clare-bear, you just beat him to the punch.” My eyes fill with tears.
“I-I can’t, Luka. I love him, I’ve always loved him, but I can’t sit by and watch as he kills people.”
“Then let him go, Clare, walk away now and never come back. I’ll give you the money you need but you can never return to the US or make contact with me. He let you go once and I can tell you now, he won’t let you go again without a fight.”
I frown at him. “What are you saying?”
“You want out of this life and away from Rook, then now is youronlychance while he deals with his past. You want to leave, I’ll get you a new identity but you need to go far away. Go to New Zealand and start a life there but you can never come back and you will never be Clare Santiago again.”
“You would do that for me?” I ask. He smiles sadly as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side.
“If I believed it’s what you really wanted, yes.” I tense beside him. “But you and I both know that you won’t go because when you love someone you never give up on them. Look at me, I treated you like shit and you still love me. Rook’s father hurt you and still you never blamed Rook for that.”
“What do I do?” I whisper.
“Rook was drowning before you came back. He never spoke to anyone when he came back, until you broke into the house and he saw you. You’ve brought him back from the brink of no return, Clare. You run, you will destroy him and believe me, if you do that, it won’t just be Rook hunting you. His siblings and fuck even the girls would hunt you down. The guys may seem scary but believe me they’re a fucking picnic compared to their girls, they are fucking crazy.” We both chuckle at that. I can tell they are bad bitches and would never allow anyone to hurt their family.
“What do I do then? I’m not like the others, Luka. I can’t go around hurting people.” His hold on me tightens.
“They don’t go around killing people, Clare, they only do it if they have to. Like, Bishop and the others stopped the biggest sex trade operation in the world and rescued Rook at the same time. Bish is working with the Bratva and both of them together are making sure no one tries to start up another skin trade. Anya owns and runs shelters in Russia for women. Koby and Ally are opening some here in the US. They may do fucked-up things but they balance it out with the good. Rook has to do this, he is only doing this—”
“Because of the deadline,” I cut in, sounding bitter even to my own ears.
“No. Rook is doing this so he can finally let go of his past and not allow it to keep dragging him down. He is doing this foryou, Clare.” I pull away from him and search his gaze for a meaning but can’t find one.
“Why would he do this forme?”
