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“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Kane asked as we pulled up outside the private hospital and parked.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “Is anyone ever ready for any of what happened to us tonight?”
The answer was no.
No one was.
Nor would they believe us if we told them. I inhaled a heavy breath as the door cracked open and Hunter climbed out. We had no idea what the hell we were walking into. Still, I climbed out, closed the door behind me, and waited for us to gather ourselves before we strode for the automatic double doors.
Two bodyguards waited in the foyer, standing against the far wall, eyeing everyone who walked in. Hunter glanced their way, those dark eyes taking in every inch before one gave a nod, allowing us to head to the elevators.
“Can I help you?” The receptionist rose from behind the desk.
“Not really, no,” Helene answered and kept walking.
She stopped at the elevators, then stepped inside as the doors opened. I pressed the button as soon as we were inside and waited for the doors to close. There was no touching, no careful smile, nothing but silence as we rose.
The moment the doors opened, we were faced by bodyguards. Two waited, holding us back as we stepped out, until a deep rumble came from further down the hallway. “Let them through.”
Helene pushed past, striding toward the room where Lazarus Rossi and his wife stood outside the door, waiting.
“Rossi,” I said, no more than a step behind.
Those piercing blue eyes missed nothing as he looked from me to my brothers. “Cruz.”
The Banks boys were inside the room, Tobias pacing around the foot of the bed. The backs of the other two pressed against the glass in front of us. I couldn’t quite see the small figure on the bed, but I knew it wasn’t good.
“Can I…can I go in?” Helene asked, but it wasn’t the Stidda Mafia Prince she looked at. It was his wife, Ka, a stunning redhead.
“I think they’ve been waiting,” Kat answered and stepped forward. “She’s asked about you.”
Helene gave a nod and headed for the door.
“Only her,” Lazarus murmured quietly.
I knew an order when I heard one. The last person I was prepared to take one from was the goddamn Mafia. But tonight wasn’t a night for a damn pissing contest. One careful nod and I met Helene’s gaze. “We’re right here. Take as long as you need.”
She tried to swallow, those damn muscles of her throat working hard to force the lump down. Christ, the sight of it hurt as I watched her walk to the door, then still for a second before she pushed through.
The hallway was filled with silence, each of us riveted on the sight of Tobias turning to watch Helene move around the bed to her sister.
“If you need protection,” Lazarus turned his gaze to mine. “Consider it yours.”
“We don’t,” I answered as Hunter’s cell went beep. “But thanks.”
My brother glanced at the message, then shook his head. “Now, if you get any information on where Hale and my sister are hiding, that I’d be interested in.”
“Don’t worry.” He stared into that room. “If I do, then I’ll let you know where you can collect the bodies.”
“Oh, don’t worry. There’s nothing left to collect. She can be buried by the state under Jane Doe for all we care. We just want them dead.”
Movement came from inside the room. Helene collapsed, her arms wrapped around her sister. My chest tightened at the sight. There wasn’t a goddamn thing I wouldn’t do to protect that woman from the vile filth of this…
“The New Order.” I glanced at Lazarus Rossi. “What do you know about it?”
He scowled, then shook his head. “What is it?”
