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Ernesto shakes his head. “Every single one of our contacts has gone dark. There’s talk about them being too afraid of being dragged into this war.”
I scowl. “Fucking cowards. Up the price of the bounty.”
Ernesto gives me a pointed look. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Won’t it look strange that the Blackthornes are increasing the bounty for Donahue when the head of the family is lying in a hospital bed?”
I’m out of my seat and giving Ernesto my most menacing look. “If I want your opinion, I’ll fucking ask for it. Just do what you’re told.”
Otherwise, we are going to have a problem on our hands.
Confined in a space together isn’t how I want to plot the next phase of my plan, but I know that Ernesto means well. And I can’t stay in a safe house by myself, not if I hope to stay one step ahead of the enemy. Ernesto, Paul, and I need to take turns watching the house until it’s safe for me to go back out into the world.
With a frown, I head to the nearest bathroom and slam the door shut.
I can taste the anger and feel it pump through my veins. So I rip off my clothes and throw them into a heap on the tile floor.
In the shower, I think of Isabella, of her soft, sensual mouth and the way her skin tastes in the morning. I picture her in the bathroom with me, stark naked and already wet for me. Then I bring my head to rest against the wall and clench my hands into fists.
I see her with her hair matted to her forehead and a shy smile etched onto her features.
Goddamn it.
Am I having withdrawal symptoms?
It’s been ten days since I last laid eyes on her, and in that time, although I’ve had my hands full, I’ve been riled up and filled with too much pent-up frustration. Whenever I think of her, I’m filled with the urge to drive to the mansion, kick the door down, and bend her over the nearest surface.
But I know I can’t do that yet.
Steam fills the room as I touch myself and imagine Isabella’s fingers instead. I see her on her knees in front of me, then pressed between me and the wall. My movements grow faster and more impatient. I press my lips together, and when I finally picture myself buried deep inside of Isabella, I explode.
I wait until my body is no longer jerking and shaking before I clean myself off.
After wrapping a towel around myself, I go into the bathroom and pull the bag out from under the bed. When I go back to the main room, Ernesto is watching the security feed on his camera, a furrow between his brows. “There’s a few other people on the street.”
I wave his comment away and rummage through the fridge. “The place was swept and secured before we got here. We need to preserve our energy for those fucking bastards.”
Ernesto sets his phone down and nods. “Okay.”
A short while later, Paul knocks on the backdoor, three consecutive knocks, and a low whistle. I check the feed for a few moments before unlocking the door. His hair is matted to his forehead, and he smells like sweat, but Tristan’s brother is a sight for sore eyes.
He gives me a grim smile when he kicks the door shut behind him. “It worked. I wanted to wait long enough to make sure the Natoris and Philipses bought it. Rumor has it they’re already planning how to break into the hospital to kill you.”
“Make sure the others put up a good fight,” I instruct before sliding the lock into place and ensuring the rest of the security system is secure. “To the outside world, it needs to look like I’m the one who’s been compromised.”
“Consider it done, boss.”
“What about that inside man of yours?”
“He’s re-surfaced. When he thought they were onto him, he had to lay low, but he’s back and ready to help.”
“You better make damn fucking sure that he hasn’t turned on us, or it’s going to be your head on a silver platter.”
Paul nods. “Of course.”
“Donahue needs to find out the news. It’s the only way he’ll come out of hiding.”
And a man like Donahue, who has been playing the long game all along, will want to make sure of the news himself. With all his grand plans and all his scheming, he’s not going to leave it up to chance or the rumor mill. Word of my incapacitation should be enough to have him racing back to the city.
And then I’ll make sure he has the kind of welcome he deserves. The welcome I’ve been planning for three weeks.
