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When both shake their heads, I pull up the one number I didn’t want to call and make sure we will be met back at the Hernandez house now that the cops have dissipated. I was hoping to have more things set in place so I didn’t have to go this route. But my husband fucked me over when he bombarded me a week ago and invited the police into my home.
Fucking Rafe.
“Time to head home, little sheep. Come along.” I beckon them with a crook’d finger as I stand.
****
The drive home is arduous and strained. Everyone in the vehicle knows this isn’t a friendly visit. Devon and Regina came to me for help and I will help them. But I won’t do it out of the goodness of my own heart or in the way they want me to. I currently hold the upper hand over Rafe and Konnor, and I need to make sure it plays out my way.
Diego drives as I glare at the lovebirds in the back seat.
“I have Devon with me,” I say, once Konnor answers his phone.
“Hello, Willow,” he drawls in that damn Irish lilt. “Yes, I am well. It’s nice to hear from you.”
“Cut the shit,” I say, staring at his younger brother. “He showed up with Regina asking me to help them leave the country.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I hear his chair scrape across the tiles in the background.
“You need to retrieve your lost puppy. I can’t care for both.”
Konnor laughs loudly while Regina starts crying once more. “And where would I find my misplaced property?”
“I’m heading home.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
Devon glares at me after I end the call. “How could you do this? We used to be friends. Regina says you’re a good person.”
“I am.”
“Then how do you explain what you just did? Rafe and Konnor will never allow me to see her again!”
“Konnor loves you and wants to keep you alive. Let me deal with Rafe,” I reply. “Seeing the two of you together, in my house, will be enough to have him shooting first and asking questions later.”
After a long moment of silence, Devon speaks, “I love her, Willow. I know everyone is going to think we’re just young and stupid, making mistakes along the way. But that’s not true.”
“What is the truth?” I ask.
Devon stares at Regina the way Rafe looks at me in private. “She is everything. She is all I have ever wanted since I was fifteen years old. I’m going to marry her one day, and then we will leave this life, this bloodshed and bullshit, in the rearview mirror.”
“I hope you’re right.”
We pull up outside of my family residence but I wait until Diego rounds the car to open my door. I learned that much from Rafe. Hearing a vehicle approach I turn to see Konnor and Seamus approach in his car. Finally, everything is falling into place. Once I hand off Devon and make sure Regina and the baby are both healthy, I will call Rafe and try to talk to him.
But as they say, we make plans and God laughs.
Konnor and Seamus are still inside their vehicle when the gunfire erupts.
Chapter Eleven
In Whom We Trust
Rafe
I sit across from the young man with Willow’s eyes and say nothing. Because, as it turns out, neither does he. But the kid sees everything. Just because he’s silent doesn’t mean he is stupid.
Roman Hernandez is nonverbal from trauma, just like Willow promised me when I doubted her honesty. I sweep a hand across my head, letting out a long, shuddering breath.
