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“You have to kill me or they’re going to kill Lenny.” The words came out distorted as the heaving sobs shook my body.
“You know we can protect him. Give me an address.”
I didn’t think twice about giving up the name of the shithole motel we’d been staying at. “Topless Cougar Motel.”
Jude walked to the door, speaking to someone before returning. “They’ll get him. He’ll be safe.”
“Nobody is safe from them.”
He crouched in front of me, keeping close but not touching me. “Gladius is a bunch of old dudes who think they rule the world when all they rule is their own dicks. And not even them, in most cases.”
I snapped my head up. The torrent of tears stopped at the surprise of hearing him say their name. “You know who I work for?”
“Until tonight, I didn’t knowyouworked for them. But it all makes so much more sense now. Why the shooter led us to your apartment. Why I couldn’t find him.”
“As long as I’m alive, Lenny will never be safe.”
Jude scoffed. “Bullshit. You think we got to the top of the food chain by being nice guys? Let them come for us. I can’t wait to show them what we’re made of. Nobody threatens my family and gets away with it.”
“I’m not part of your family.”
“Semantics. You really think I’d leave you and Lenny to fend for yourselves? You really are clueless.”
I ran the tip of my tongue over my dry lips. Jude’s attention snapped to them. Pulling myself up so I was sitting on my legs, I took a deep, shuddering breath in. “You’ll help us?”
“I hate bullies. So yes, I’ll help you.” He stepped up behind me, cutting the zip ties with a snap. “And for some reason, I can’t seem to make myself hate you.”
The last part was tacked on in a low voice.
I massaged my wrists, then pushed up to standing, looking over my shoulder. “I’m so sorry.”
He nodded at me, his expression giving nothing away. “Let’s get downstairs to let everyone know what’s going on.”
Stunned that he was offering his help, I woodenly followed him to the kitchen. It was crowded, people sitting and standing all around the large space.
The hum of conversation came to an abrupt halt as soon as they caught sight of us.
“Stop being weird,” Jude growled, guiding me farther into the crowded room. “Ariel obviously wasn’t going to shoot Dad.”
Liam glared at me. “At least the second time she wasn’t.”
Looking around at the hostile faces, I knew this was my only chance. Which meant I had to make sure they knew I wouldn’t make another attempt on their patriarch’s life.
Walking up to Constantine and Alethea, I inclined my head. “I know what I’ve done is unforgivable. But I’m so fucking sorry. There’s nothing I can say that would make it okay. But I’ll do anything to prove to you that you can trust me.”
Althea didn’t meet my gaze, her white-knuckled grip on her husband’s hand the only sign she’d heard me.
Constantine cleared his throat. “I’ve killed men for lesser offenses. But since Jude thinks you’re worth keeping alive, I’ll trust my son. For now.”
The unspoken threat was loud and clear. He wouldn’t hesitate to end me if I stepped out of line.
A commotion at the door drew my attention. Lenny came barreling through, clutching his backpack in front of him, only wearing one shoe.
“What the hell happened to your other shoe? I just bought those.”
His head snapped my way as soon as I spoke, and he sprinted for me, not stopping when he crashed into me, his backpack dropping to the floor as his arms wound around me.
I returned his embrace, burying my head in his hair. He’d soon be taller than me. The little child I read bedtime stories to was long gone.
