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He swallows slightly, taken aback by the hostility I want him to feel.
Ineedhim to feel.
“What is it, then? Are you loyal or not?”
He gives me a brief glance before looking to Tristan and Lorenze next. When no one bails him out, he finally drops his head in defeat. I let go of his shirt and nudge him back a step, catching my breath as I relish in my victory.
I’m not four steps away from him when he announces, “I’m out.”
I try not to react, but in some ways, it is a bitter admission. “Alright. Then you’re out.”
I hear Nicolas walk away, Tristan and Lorenzo exchanging similar looks. They watch me, waiting for me to follow and beg him to stay, but we all know that’s never going to happen. I’m done being pushed around in this family, and I won’t let some punk tell me how to run the empire I built.
And it’s a fucking empire all the same.
“I’m calling Rich. You two go get a damn car or call Ernesto.”
They disperse, and I catch my breath after that encounter. I didn’t think he’d actually quit, but I’ll never beg anyone to stay. They can leave as they wish. It’s not my problem anymore.
The phone rings twice before it picks up. “Hello?”
“It’s Carter.”
There’s a shuffling noise and what sounds like a door closing through the line. “Carter? You alright? Isabella is here. She’s safe, and she told me everything that happened.”
I bite my already bloodied tongue. She doesn’t need to be telling this prick anything, but I’ll punish her later for it. She learned last time that she’s mine, but maybe this is a lesson that needs to be retaught a few times until it’s drilled in.
“I’m coming to get her now. Where the fuck are you?”
He clears his throat slightly. “Tell me something first.”
“Where is she, Rich? I’ll burn this city down until I find her.”
“I’m not keeping her from you, dammit. I just have a question, Carter.”
Maybe it’s my furious stubbornness or the way I can’t live without her beside me, but I choke on my reply and spit a bit of blood onto the sidewalk. “What is your question?”
“Did Killian actually set you up?”
“It seems that way. Cops have turned on me. I can no longer expect the police department to turn a blind eye when it comes to me. They’ll be looking for a reason to book me that isn’t self-defense. Why?”
“Would they come after Isabella to do that? I mean, Jacob knew your weak spot. Now, everyone else does, too. Killian might not be a murderer, but he’s dangerous, Carter. He could get her in trouble for something of your doing, and she’d be thrown in jail.”
I am angrier than ever before. “You trying to tell me how to protect her?”
“No, never, Carter. I’m trying to help you.”
Ernesto’s SUV pulls up, and I’m thankful he must have been nearby, waiting for our release. I climb into the front seat, the other guys in the back, and he waits to hear an address for me to give.
I just don’t know where I’m going yet.
“I will protect her just fine.”
“Carter, those cops are still dirty. Killian might… I don’t know. I don’t want to say it. But it’s clear she needs help. You might consider having her stay in one of my safehouses.”
“She’s not staying with you. She’s coming home with me, dammit!”
He clears his throat. “We need to talk, Carter.”
