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It feels strange talking to him about this, especially since within the week, Gio Benedetto will cease to exist, but I nod. “Not for long. All is in place to take him down.”
“Do you need any assistance?”
I look my former best friend in the eye and wonder if he would have been a better ally than the men Jane has lined up. Even so, I’m certain there’s no getting out of it now, so I shake my head. “No, I’ve got it covered.”
His brow furrows. “Fair enough.” He hands over a card. “Have my number just in case you need help out of a bind.”
I take the card, despite feeling certain I won’t need to use it. “Thanks,” I say, slipping it into the inside pocket of my jacket.
“You didn’t answer me. How’s married life?” He arches a brow. “Do you still intend to include your wife and the rest of her family in your plan?”
I shake my head. “No, just Gio.”
Cathal smiles. “Glad to hear it. Especially since I hope to marry Nina one day.”
“I thought you were going to steer clear of her?”
Cathal swirls the contents of his glass around and then takes a sip. “I tried.” He shakes his head. “Believe me, I tried, but she’s just too…” He trails off. “Addictive.”
I laugh. “I know the feeling.”
“So you’re falling for your wife?” he asks.
I nod in response, as it’s the truth and I have no reason to lie to him.
“That’s a huge turn around, considering I got the sense you had intended to kill her.”
Shame coils through me as it was my intention to kill innocent people who weren’t directly involved in Aiden’s death. And yet, if I hadn’t walked this path, then I’d never have met her.
“All things happen for a reason,” I say simply.
“I’ll drink to that. What do you want?”
“A scotch on the rocks.”
Cathal calls over the bartender and orders my drink, who pours it. “To finding love in the most unlikely of places,” he says, lifting his glass up.
I clink mine against his. “Cheers.”
We both drink and silence settles between us, and it feels like nothing has changed between us. In a way, I wish that were true. How simple my life would have been if Gio Benedetto hadn’t struck down Aiden. The question is, would I have found Bella?
Something deep down tells me that no matter what, we would have found each other.
* * *
I sitat the kitchen island, gripping a full glass of ice-cold scotch in my hands. The surrounding air seems to crackle with tension as Bella walks into the kitchen. Her eyes flicker to mine before settling on the amber liquid in my hand.
“You started early, huh?”
I clench my teeth together, willing myself to remain calm. “Needed something after my meeting this afternoon.”
The corner of her mouth twitches, and I know that she’s intrigued. “What kind of meeting was it?”
I pat the stool next to me, silently asking her to join me. She hesitates for a moment before taking a seat, her gaze never leaving my face. I take in a deep breath and finally let out what I’ve been avoiding addressing with her lately. “Jane and I met with some men who are going to help shut down the pedophile ring.”
Bella’s throat bobs as she gulps, her fear apparent. “When? When do you plan on making a move?”
My grip tightens around the glass in my hand, though my voice remains surprisingly steady when I answer. “We are striking next week—but you need to understand that there won’t be any mercy shown to him; not after everything he has done.”
