As I pulled the rolls from the oven, I blatantly eavesdropped on the tense conversation coming from the living room. Rafe and Jax had turned the television on low, but their voices rose above the white noise of the news.
“This is seriously whacked,” Jax said. “It’s risky, might even get us killed…but it could work.”
“Assuming he hasn’t already cleared the tunnel.”
“Doubtful. He thinks he’s invincible.” Jax scowled. “He’s got so many guys in his pocket, I’m surprised he has room for anything else. But that does present a problem. We can’t call in the cops to catch those assholes when they leave the tunnel.”
Rafe jerked his hand out. “Give me your cell.”
“What?”
“Your cell,” he said. “I know you have one.”
Jax dug into his pocket. “Who’re you calling?”
“Lyle Fucking Lewis. You said Nik’s body is out there somewhere in the woods, right?”
“They’ve got a dumping spot, but I don’t know where it is.”
“Lyle was going to marry Nikki. I don’t trust him to spit right, but he’s always had a weak spot for her. Hopefully he’ll be good for something besides wasting space in the sheriff’s station.”
“You’re twisted, man, calling in your enemy as the cavalry.”
“I don’t see what choice we have. There’s no telling how many cops your father has on his payroll, but I doubt he’s got the sheriff of Dante’s Pass in his fucking pocket. And like I said, Lyle has a personal stake in this—he just doesn’t know it yet.”
Rafe dialed information before stepping outside to make the call.
Chili simmered on the stovetop. Cook dinner, he’d said. He had a monster to take down and slaves to free.
How was this our life?
My belly in knots, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stomach the food, so I dished up two bowls and carried them to the table. “Food’s ready.”
Jax scraped a chair across the floor and sat down. He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and pulled out a pocketknife to slice it. My attention lingered on that knife, on the blade slicing through the proverbial forbidden fruit.
I envied that apple.
Rafe entered the room, startling me from my fixation on the knife, though the image stuck to my brain like crazy glue. He joined Jax at the table.
“You get him on the phone?”
Sliding the cell across the table, Rafe nodded.
“That must have been an interesting conversation.”
“Kept it short and anonymous. I told him I had info on Nikki, and if he wanted to know more, he’d better wait for a call tomorrow and have some of his guys ready ‘cause something’s going down.” Rafe absently pulled the bowl of chili closer. “Trust me. He’ll be on his toes waiting.”
I set the rolls on the table, and a chill traveled down my spine at the mention of Nikki. She’d been Rafe’s girlfriend at one point, and now she was dead.
Because of my lie.
I went to move away, but Rafe grabbed my arm.
“Aren’t you eating?” His gaze swerved between the food and me.
“I’m not hungry.”
Shaking his head, Jax let out a low whistle. “She’s anorexic, man.”
“What?” Rafe bolted upright, and I shrank back, pulling from his grasp. His expression softened, and he reached out a hand. “C’mere. I’m not gonna hurt you. I was just caught off guard and…”
“Angry with me.”
He grabbed me around the waist and sat back down, planting my ass on his lap. “Why would you do that to yourself?”
“I didn’t,” I said, but Jax snorted. I shot him a glare. “You think you know all about me, but you don’t.”
He held his hands up. “If you say so.”
I returned my attention to Rafe. “After what happened with Zach, my dad admitted he’d manipulated me into believing I had a problem with anorexia. Some people stress-eat. I do the opposite.”
“Why would he do that?”
“To protect Zach, I guess. He made me think I was sick so he could shut me away in a treatment center.”
Rafe pushed his bowl away. “I’m not eating until you do. How’s that for manipulation?”
“I told you, I don’t—”
“Your father is an ass. He probably did play you, but that doesn’t change the fact that you need to eat. You’re not starving yourself under my watch.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve said that before, haven’t I?”
“Sort of, yeah.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “That’s why I made you eat off the floor.”
My breath caught in my throat. His memories were slowly trickling in, and the idea of him regaining those missing years excited and scared me in equal amounts. I slid from his lap. “I’ll fix myself a bowl.”
“Good girl.” He smacked my ass. Hard.
I peeked over my shoulder, expecting to find a teasing grin curving his mouth. Instead I found the glint of dark temptation dilating his pupils. His green eyes were a deep jade. I recognized that look. I hadn’t seen it in a while, but that right there was the guy who’d bent me backwards on the island. The man who’d promised pain, indefinite imprisonment, and a thirst for my tears.
Swallowing hard, I scooped some chili into a bowl as he and Jax returned to debating the best way to break into Lucas’ estate without setting off the alarms.
On my way back to the table, the image of my father’s face on TV froze me. The newscaster’s lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I moved across the room and flipped up the volume.
“…was arrested on charges of corporate conspiracy and embezzlement. Authorities say De Luca—”
“That’s another example of the old man’s power,” Jax said, pointing toward the TV. “He learned De Luca paid off a judge in your trial, so he went after him too. He’s been planning his downfall from the beginning.”
I stared in shock at the image of my father’s face. “That’s why Lucas wormed his way into the business, got on my dad’s good side…wanted to marry me? To Ruin us?”
Jax didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to.
Rafe cursed under his breath. “Abbott’s arrest is the only good thing that came out of this.” He crossed the space between us and tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Your father can’t hurt you anymore, and once I find Zach, he won’t be a threat either.” His mouth formed a determined line.
“No.” The idea of Rafe going after my brother terrified me. The moment Zach shot him replayed in my mind. Rafe had lost his memory because of what happened that night. We’d both lost so much. “Let’s just get far away from here. I don’t want you going after Zach.”
I didn’t want him going after Jax’s father either, but I understood why they needed to do it. Those women were still prisoners, their whole lives spreading before them, just out of reach because sick and perverted men saw them as nothing more than possessions.
“Where’s this coming from?” Rafe asked. “After everything that happened, you know as well as I do that Zach won’t give up. Don’t you want him to pay for what he did?” He narrowed his eyes. “Or is it something more? You feel something for him?”
“No!” I blinked, fighting tears. “He shot you. I just…I can’t—”
The newscaster’s voice interrupted, and we both focused our attention on the TV at the mention of Mason Vineyards.
“A devastating fire broke out at Mason Vineyards early this morning. It’s not clear yet if the fire was accidental, according to Deputy Fire Chief Stanton, who says his department is still investigating. There were no reported deaths from the fire…”
The bowl of chili slipped from my fingers and cracked at my feet. Rafe sank into the chair and buried his head in his hands. Jax shut off the TV, and the silence that tore through the room disturbed me on such a deep level, I wanted to scream just to break it. I lowered to my haunches and placed my hands on his knees.
“I’m sorry.”
He looked up, his eyes tired and defeated. “They already burned the island, and now the vineyard. Perrone is systematically destroying my family’s legacy.” My hands fell away as he stood.
He began pacing, but Jax gripped his shoulder. “And tomorrow, we’re gonna destroy my legacy.”