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I should shoot him. Nothing serious, perhaps a bullet to the knee. Just to remind him of who is really in charge here. The man grates on my fucking nerves.
A knock at the hotel room door draws us out of the argument. Who the hell could that be? Diego unfolds his long, athletic frame from the deep-burgundy chair before making his way across the plush carpet to open the door. He stares at the person on the other end, not moving an inch, his entire body rigid.
I don’t have time for any distractions today. I have to get my plans in order before moving on to this next step. What I have planned is dangerous and the slightest deviation or mistake could end in more deaths than I am comfortable with.
Standing, I make my way over to him but before I get there, Regina slips beneath his arm and barrels her way toward me, Devon Hennie following closely behind.
Fuck.
She is crying hysterically and Devon is as white as a sheet. It takes me a moment to extract myself from her iron grip—who knew someone so small could be so strong—before I lead them both to the ugly suede sofa in the seating area. All the while, Diego follows us with his eyes, his hand on his gun.
“Relax, they’re not a threat,” I say softly. Turning my attention to them I ask the question that is on both our minds. “What are you doing here, Regina?”
“I didn’t know who else to turn to!” she cries out. “Rafe found out about the baby and he is on the warpath.”
“Shit,” Diego and I say in unison.
“I need your help,” she pleads with tear-stained cheeks. “We need to get out of the country.”
“Why not ask Konnor?” Diego asks, watching Devon carefully.
“He doesn’t…” Devon starts but I cut him off with a raised hand.
“He does. I told him.”
“You had no fucking right!” Devon jumps up and rushes me, his face turning a mottled red in his burst of anger.
He doesn’t get far before Diego has him pinned to the ground. I lower myself onto my haunches and stare at his enraged face. Grabbing his chin I tilt his head until his gaze is fully focused on me.
“I did. Regina is my family, whether I like it or not. I knew both Rafe and Konnor well enough to know how each of them would react. I chose the lesser explosive man to tell first. Now, you can act like a fucking grownup or you can tuck tail and go back to your damn brother, I don’t care. But Regina stays with me until I can figure this out. Are we clear?”
Devon glares for a moment, weighing his options before nodding. I wonder if he remembers all the ass kickings I gave him as a child.
Standing, I face a shell-shocked Regina. “You can’t leave the country. There is a war brewing and if you get caught up in it you’ll be used as leverage,” I say calmly after taking my seat.
Diego releases Devon to stand behind my chair, ever vigilant.
“I’m not part of that,” Regina says softly.
A harsh laugh escapes me. “Believe whatever you want, Regina. You’re carrying a baby that can unite the Cyprus and Irish families. They would be unstoppable, and anyone with half a brain cell would try to kill you as soon as possible.”
“And you?” Devon asks, anger coating his words.
I tilt my head, studying the boy who is playing at being a man. Konnor and his mother have both sheltered him too much. He is too soft for this life even though he likes to pretend otherwise.
“I’m not on anyone’s side but my own,” I say honestly.
Regina pales as if I slapped her, the enormity of her fuckup finally settling into place.
“What happened to you?” she whispers. “This is not the Willow I know.”
“You don’t know me. None of you ever did. But this is the person I was sculpted into by the men in my life. My father, my uncle, Rafe, and even Armand fucking Gallo. They have all had a hand in transforming me into who I am today,” I hiss. “Grow the fuck up, Regina. This is who we are.”
Diego hands me a tumbler filled with clear fluid. Iced Grey Goose vodka.
“The fucking cops are finally gone,” Diego murmurs in my ear. “We need to head back. I have the upper hand in your protection when we are there.”
I slam the drink back without a blink before continuing like he hasn’t said a word. “Have you seen a physician?”
