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Braden looked at Adriana. “Your father has a lot of debts to settle with my men. I think they’ll let him live. But the mole in your father’s inner circle is going to kill him if we don’t get to him first.”
“What?” Adriana looked confused.
“Your father pissed off the boy’s family who he killed the other day,” I said.
“Jared?”
“That’s the one,” Braden said. “We’ve been looking to gain favor with your father, and this came up. We told Brody. But we also want Frank dead, so…”
“I convinced them to let him live,” I said. “But whoever’s wanting to kill him is already there.”
Adriana sat silently. Finally, after some thought she asked, “this Jared kid my dad killed, he had a friend in dad’s inner circle?”
“Apparently,” I said. “I wouldn’t have known until I talked to Braden.”
“Full disclosure,” Braden said. “We got nothing against you kid, but your father…he’s the worst. We called Brody to see if he’d help us get rid of him.”
“And I talked them out of it,” I said.
“How do I know my dad will live? I can’t trust this man, and right now I don’t trust you,” Adriana said. The words stung, but I didn’t blame her. I had dumped her to protect her, but I knew she was very able to take care of herself. My willful woman was mine, and I couldn’t just pawn her away like she was just a meaningless fling.
Another man stepped forward.
“Adriana, let me introduce you to my second hand man, Carlo,” I said.
Carlo shook her hand, and spoke for me.
“Adriana, I sent one of my men down there. Chris. He’s personally in charge of making sure your father is ok—“
“We need to go back,” she pleaded. She sounded rushed, and I could feel the tension in her voice.
Carlo balked at her words, and I shrugged.
“What exactly do you think we’ll accomplish if we go back?” I asked. Then I put my arms on her shoulders, and looked her in the eye. “It’s too dangerous—“ Suddenly, I felt the red hot sting of her hand slapping my face.
“My father’s in danger,” she said. I was surprised at how quick she was to slap me, but given the circumstances, I understood. And oddly liked it.This family is nuts about protecting each other.
Carlo came forward. “I’ll take you Adriana so that you can see…”
“No,” I said. “Adriana: me, you, and Carlo will go close to the compound. When the fighting is done, I’ll personally see to it that you get taken to your father. If he needs anything, he’ll get it.”
“And if he’s dead?” She asked.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said. “Carlo told me he had his best man on that job.”
“And my men are paid off,” Braden Reed said. “A Reed keeps his word.”
“All a man has is his word,” I said to Adriana. She nodded.
“So, you’ll take me to him?” She asked.
“Yes, and we’ll protect you too,” I said. Carlo nodded, and Braden unfolded his arms.
“I’ll join you three,” Braden said.
“Can we trust him?” Adriana asked me.
I looked at Braden. I nodded at Adriana.
