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“What would you have done differently?” Vince asks. “Brought her to Miami? Put her in the middle of all this? Hired bodyguards to watch her every move or locked her up somewhere? Are you ready to answer the questions she would have had if you’d done that? Are you ready to tell her who you really are?”
Am I ready to lose her?
Because that’s what will happen when she inevitably finds out the truth. I am not a good man. And isn’t that the way of the world? Choose the good guy. He’ll never break your heart. I’m the bad guy. I’ll ruin you.
“You did everything you needed to do,” Vince says in my silence. “Except for wait.”
Fuck that.
“I waited.” The venom burning my veins seeps into my voice. “And he sent a man to threaten her.” If I hadn’t found Nathan and killed him, there’s no telling what he would’ve done to Makenna—because Morano told him to. “I’m done waiting. This ends now.” This lion is ready to roar.
My phone vibrates against my thigh with a text from an unknown number, but I recognize the area code. It’s Morano.
When I open the message, the world falls silent. The darkness edges in closer, squeezing my chest. The cracks around my heart burst wide open and rage pours out.
There’s an image of Makenna at Pour, a screenshot from the security camera. She’s sitting at the bar next to Eva fucking Mason. Behind her, I see two of Morano’s guys. One of them has his suit jacket pulled to the side, revealing his gun. And Aria Morano, Sylvester’s sister, stands in the corner, staring up at the camera with a grin on her face.
It’s a threat. A message that mirrors the envelope Eva delivered to me. The bullet casing. The grave.They were for Makenna.Eva’s been in on it the whole time. She’ll die a special death for that. My vengeance doesn’t discriminate. Its target is justice, and I hit my mark every time.
A text follows:
Too bad my sister has to leave your city. She was just making new friends.
I quickly show the image to Vince, then call Jaxon back.
He answers. “You find her?”
“She’s at Pour.”
“Morano’s Pour?”
How many other fucking Pours does he know?
“Get the fuck there. Right now.”
“Cal—”
No.
No more excuses. Morano crossed a line. He’s on the wrong side of the battlefield. “If I could get there myself I would. I can’t even send Gio without raising a flag. She trusts you, Jaxon. She’ll leave with you.” I motion to the driver to start driving again.
He pulls back onto the road leading into the airport. Vince blows out a sigh, then smirks to himself, probably proud that I’ve decided not to kill Morano… today.
“I can’t just show up and ask her to leave. I’ll look like a fucking stalker,” Jaxon says.
“You’re a smart guy. You’ll think of something.”
“What about the restaurant?”
“Fuck the restaurant. Tell everyone to leave. Lock the doors.” My heart races as the tarmac comes into view. Bright white lights line the runway and red and green flashes on the wings of our private jet. “It’s a twenty-minute drive. I want you there in ten.” I end the call.
I don’t text Morano back. I don’t need words or pictures to remind him who’s the predator and who’s the prey. I only need five minutes and a sharp blade.
2
Makenna
I’m surrounded by warm wood, blue-gray walls, the scent of vanilla and cedar. Two men in suits are standing at the bar behind us, sipping on whiskey and watching my every move. Three other men are sitting at a round table, heavily engaged in a hushed conversation. Other than that, we’re the only people in this place.
