Ryder just had to get to his house. It would only take a minute or two, but everything he needed was there. This was risky, though. Matteo knew where he lived, knew Lorenzo had been sent and never came back. He might have people waiting for him here. If it was anything else, he wouldn’t bother. But Ryder had more than ten thousand dollars inside. They would need that. Pia had grabbed some money from her dad’s room, but they needed all they could get. He’d also grab his other guns, some ammo, and the bag of clothes he kept packed and ready to go at all times.

 

Pia was clutching his hand so tight. It hurt like hell. Somewhere along the last few days, with all the beatings he’d taken and all the fights he’d been in, his hand had been smashed. It ached just to open and close it, and since that was his dominant hand, he’d been using it to hold a gun and pull the trigger. But after all they’d been through, and now that he finally had her with him, touching him, he’d take whatever pain there was in this world if it meant she was touching him.

 

“How much money did you grab?” he asked.

 

She mercifully released his hand to dig in her pockets. She pulled out wads of cash. Thick stacks of hundred-dollar bills. “Looks like twenty thousand dollars. Thought he kept more than that.” She looked upset at this.

 

“Hey, babe, this is perfect. That’s a lot of money. Plenty for us to get away. And if we have to rob a bank on the way, we will.”

 

Her eyes went wide and her mouth popped open in shock.

 

“I’m kidding, Pia. We’re stopping at my house because I have some cash there, too, and some other things.”

 

“Are we staying there long?”

 

“No. I’m going to run in and out. It might not be safe.”

 

“Oh.”

 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

 

“Nothing really. I’m just starving and I need a shower.”

 

“We’ll get a hotel as soon as it’s safe to stop. I’ll try to grab something when I run in, okay?”

 

She nodded. He pulled up to his house. He wasn’t sure what to do. He was so used to looking out for himself only. Taking care of someone else was new. Was it safer to leave her here? What if someone showed up and they took her again? No, she had to come in. But what if someone was in there, waiting?

 

His stomach clenched and clenched again. Finally, he settled on something that seemed okay.

 

“I’m giving you my gun. It’s already loaded and chambered. All you have to do it pull the trigger, okay?”

 

She nodded and gingerly took the gun. He positioned her fingers on it properly. “Like this. Anyone comes and tries to hurt you, aim at their chest.”

 

“Isn’t the head better?”

 

“It’s much harder to hit.” He kissed her and got out of the car, then locked the doors.

 

He ran into the house, dashing through the rooms with his other gun in his hand in case someone was there. Maybe they were all at Matteo’s? Or if someone was here, maybe they’d been called and sent back to Matteo’s when they knew Ryder was there instead.

 

He hit the bedroom first. He grabbed the duffel bag from the closet and opened the zipper, then shoved the cash from the box in the back of the closet inside the bag. He tossed in his other bottle of pain pills, a few boxes of ammo, and went to the bathroom. He pulled out every Band-Aid and ointment he had that might help them. Then he went to the kitchen. He didn’t usually keep much food around, but he had some chips and Pop Tarts. He threw them in the bag and ran out the front door.

 

He let the door slam behind him and bolted for the car. When he saw it, Pia wasn’t in it. His chest constricted and the sudden panic was there again. Had someone come for them? Had someone taken her?

 

“Pia!” he shouted, and ripped the door open.

 

She scooted up from where she had been hiding on the floor in front of the seat. He sat behind the wheel hard, putting his hand to his face, shaking.

 

“Jesus,” he said.

 

“I’m sorry. I thought it would be safer if no one saw me.”

 

Then he saw that she was crying.

 

“No, you’re right, it was,” he said. He closed the car door and made sure they were all locked. Then he reached for her. “Come here.”

 

She awkwardly slid over the center console and leaned into him.

 

“You scared the fuck out of me,” he said.

 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

 

“I may not be able to let you out of my sight for a while.”

 

“I’m okay with that.”

 

He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her. It felt like it had been ages since their lips met. He wanted more. He wanted to devour her right there. But they had to get moving.

 

“We need to go,” he said.

 

She slid back into her seat. He started the car and took off. She was still crying, weeping silently and wiping at her eyes.

 

“What’s going on?” he asked.

 

She could barely talk through her tears, which seemed to worsen as she tried to explain. “It was just so awful. Ryder, he tried to make me kill our baby. He sent this doctor and he had these pills and he was just so mean and cruel to me.”

 

“The doctor was?”

 

“No, my father. He called me horrible names and said the worst things. But the worst part is, as much as I wanted him dead, I’m sad he’s gone. I can’t believe my father is really dead.” She was sobbing too hard to continue.

 

“I’m sorry,” he said. “There was no other way, I—”

 

“No, I’m not sad he’s dead,” she said. “I mean, I’m sad he’s dead, but my dad, not my father.” She shook her head and tried to calm herself. “I mean, the man I thought he was. The man I thought my father was. I miss that man, but he never existed. It was all a lie. I don’t miss the man you killed, who was going to kill me because I’m having your baby. Not at all.”

 

“I understand.” Ryder took her hand and kissed it.

 

She still breathed in jagged breaths, but calmed some eventually. “I’m so glad you came. I wasn’t sure what to think after I last saw you, but I thought, the way you wouldn’t kiss me? I don’t know if I was just reading too much into it, but I thought since I said, ‘Kiss me goodbye,’ and you didn’t, that it was your way of saying it wasn’t really goodbye. But then it took so long, I didn’t know.”

 

He looked over at her and smiled. “I’m glad you got that. I didn’t know any other way to tell you the truth. That it was never over and I’d never end it. But they were listening and watching, so that was all I could do.”

 

“I’m glad you did it, because it was the thing that kept me going the last few days.”

 

“You really doubted me that much? You really thought I would end things like that?”

 

She hung her head. “I wasn’t sure,” she whispered. “At first, I thought there was no way you’d end things or that what you said about not caring was true. Not after all the time we’d had together. But then I thought, why would you want me? Just a spoiled little daddy’s girl and you’re so tough and strong and sexy that you could have anyone, so—”

 

He started to laugh, but had to cut it off when the pain was too much. “You think I can have anyone I want?”

 

She shrugged. “Have you looked in the mirror lately?”

 

He gave her a crooked smile. “Well, you’re the only one I want.”

 

“You’re the only one I want. You and some food.”

 

“Look in the bag.”

 

She unzipped the bag and took out the chips and Pop Tarts, then consumed the entire package of both.

 

“Did he starve you?” Ryder asked, concerned, the flare of anger in his chest again.

 

“No. I couldn’t eat. It was stupid, but I kept getting sick. Uh-oh.”

 

He looked over at her and her face seemed to be green. She put her hand to her mouth. He immediately pulled over, slamming the breaks hard to stop the car. She pulled open the door and stuck her head out to puke.

 

When she was done, she wiped her mouth with her hand.

 

“Maybe eat a little slower,” he said.

 

She nodded, sweat breaking out across her forehead as she lay back against the seat. They were in bad shape, both of them. He needed to find a place for them to crash and recover, but also needed to make sure they were far enough away. They’d only been driving a short time.

 

“Hang in there a little while, okay, babe? I have to get us to some place safe. Then we’ll get food and take showers, and sleep for a few days.”

 

“Sounds perfect.”

 

She sat back and closed her eyes. He drove as fast as he could and an hour later, decided they had gone far enough.

 

He pulled into a little motel and left Pia sleeping in the car with the doors locked. He parked so he could see the car from the motel’s office. This place looked old enough and run down enough that they wouldn’t have much security, if at all. He didn’t see any cameras or anything.

 

“I need a room for two. One night,” he said. Though they needed a few days to recover, they wouldn’t stay in one place.

 

He handed the guy cash and gave him a fake name. He then moved the car, finding a spot in the shadows, and parking so that his license plate faced the building. They’d need to get a new car.

 

He unlocked the motel room, then came back to get Pia. She stirred when he picked her up.

 

“Are we there?”

 

“We are,” he whispered.

 

He set her on the bed before going back to retrieve his things from the car. They’d need to get her clothing and whatever she needed, too. She’d run out without so much as shoes on her feet.

 

“You know,” she said softly. “I had a whole bag packed and everything. Clothes, makeup, jewelry, things I wanted to take with me. Wish I had grabbed it.” She yawned and stretched. “Oh well. It’s just stuff.”

 

He slid into bed behind her and wrapped her tight in his arms. “Right. We’ll go buy all that stuff again. It’ll be okay. This is what’s important. This right here.”

 

She turned in his arms so she could kiss him. He was raging hard in seconds, but he noticed her lips had stopped moving.

 

“Pia,” he said.

 

She murmured.

 

“Did you just fall asleep kissing me?”

 

“Hmm?” She didn’t open her eyes. She was too exhausted.

 

He laughed softly and closed his eyes, letting his tired, aching body drift off to sleep.

 

***

 

Ryder blinked in the morning light. Pia was curled against his side and his body was stiff and achy. But in slightly less pain. He was on guard, though. Something had woken him up.

 

He listened, his ears piqued. This was a motel. It likely had been someone in another room slamming a door or shouting or doing something loud. Or a car door. He heard voices outside their door.

 

His heart raced and he slowly climbed out of bed, trying not to wake Pia. She stirred when he moved away from her and murmured his name.

 

“Shh,” he whispered. “Sleep.”

 

She nestled back into the covers and he picked up his gun. He went to the door and looked out the peephole. He saw Sergio and another guy out there, looking around his car. Shit. They’d found them. And he liked Sergio. He didn’t want to kill him. But now he had no choice. He had to kill them and they had to run. Get away from there as quickly as possible before more could come.

 

He put his hand to the knob, but Sergio approached his door. “Ryder? Are you in there? I’m not armed. Just need to talk to you.”

 

Right. Why in the world would he be unarmed and want to talk?

 

Pia sat up in bed. “What’s going on?” She rubbed her eyes and squinted in the light.

 

He held his finger to his lips to signal for her to be quiet. She took in the gun, his position, heard the voices outside. Her eyes widened and she looked afraid. She pulled the covers to her chin and starting shaking her head.

 

He waved to get her attention. When she looked at him, he pointed to the bathroom and gestured for her to go, then put his finger back to his lips. He didn’t want there to be any sound coming from this room.

 

“Ryder? It’s Sergio. I’m not here for the reason you think, man. I know this is your car.” Sergio was walking along the row of rooms. Maybe he thought Ryder hadn’t parked in front of his room. He had, only because he was carrying Pia in and he’d thought they were safe here. “I’m going to call your phone so we can talk.”

 

Ryder glanced across the room to where his phone sat on the bedside table. It was on silent, but he saw the screen light up with Sergio’s name and number. It rang several times, then he heard Sergio’s voice. But after a second, he got into the car he came in and Ryder couldn’t hear what he was saying. His phone beeped with a voice mail.

 

He walked over and picked up the phone. Returning so he could watch out the peephole again, he listened to the message.

 

“Ryder, it’s Sergio. I’m at this motel and your car is here, so I’m assuming you’re here. I put a tracker on your car. It’s behind the back tire. I’m telling you this because I want you to know we’re not here to kill you.” He chuckled. “Man, how do you convince a hitman that you haven’t come to kill him? Well, here’s the thing. A lot of people are dead. A lot of bosses are dead. In fact, I’m the temporary boss. Turns out, since you killed Matteo and Lorenzo, the current Carelli boss is…you. I know that sounds nuts, and we even checked the bylaws. When the boss and second and third in command are dead, the boss becomes the next male kin. But there isn’t any, since there’s only Pia. In that case it goes to her husband or to whoever killed the top guys, and, well, you killed them all and you’re with Pia, so it’s still you either way. So, congratulations? You’re now a mob boss. There’s quite a lot of chaos and disarray, so we could use some direction. Call me back or something.”

 

Ryder hit end and put the phone down. Nothing in him had triggered the sense that Sergio was lying. He seemed to actually be telling the truth. But how could that be? Sergio was still sitting in his car, waiting.

 

He went to the bathroom door. “Pia?” he whispered, then opened the door slowly.

 

She was huddled in the corner of the tub, looking scared half to death.

 

“They found us?” she asked.

 

“Listen to this message.” He handed her his phone.

 

He studied her carefully while her face went through several expressions. Horror, then shock, then something that looked like realization. She handed the phone back to him.

 

“Does that sound right to you?” he asked.

 

“Well, he’s right that there are no more male relatives if you killed everyone. And if we’re together, that would make you the new head of the family. I think what he’s saying is right. Not that I know much about mob stuff.”

 

“You know plenty. You’ve grown up in this world.” He sat down, tapping his gun against his knee. “I don’t know if I can trust this.”

 

“But, if you’re the boss, what does that mean?”

 

“Everything. We wouldn’t have to run or hide, we could go home to your father’s house. It’s yours now, I guess. We take over and run everything your father did.”

 

“And have all his money?”

 

Ryder nodded, still in shock at this possibility. How in the world could a kid from the ghetto who grew up selling drugs and playing with guns now run a mob family? He was barely even Italian. Would it now be the Saxon family instead of the Carelli family? He knew enough of the inner workings to know that he didn’t know everything. He was Matteo’s top guy, but top only as far as outside of the family went. He wasn’t blood, so there was only so far up the line he could go. And he’d gone all the way. Now that the family was dead, and Pia was with the only remaining heir, was it really up to them? And Pia couldn’t be the boss because she was a woman? That seemed like a mob thing to do.

 

How could he know for sure that Sergio was telling the truth? “Stay in here, okay? I’m going to talk to Sergio.”

 

He kissed her before closing the door behind him.

 

He picked up his phone and sent Sergio a text. Get out of your car. Take off your shirt and pants and turn around. Both of you.

 

He watched out the peephole as Sergio and the other guy did what he asked. They stood in the parking lot in their boxers, looking toward the motel. Ryder opened the door a crack and stuck his gun out enough for Sergio to see it.

 

“Get over here,” Ryder said.

 

They approached with their hands up. “Good to see you, man,” Sergio said.

 

Ryder opened the door enough to let them in and kept his gun on them as he closed the door. “Who is this?” He pointed to the other guy with his gun.

 

“He’s mine,” Sergio said. “Vinny.”

 

Vinny nodded at Ryder.

 

“Why are you here?” Ryder asked.

 

“Did you get my message? You’re the new boss. We came to tell you and bring you home before you took off.”

 

“Who all is dead?”

 

“Well, you did a thorough job.” Sergio chuckled. “Matteo and Lorenzo, Tony, Carlo, Luca.” He continued naming guys who were less important, but he was right. Ryder hadn’t even thought about it, but he’d shot the entire family at one point or another during the last few days. Most of them and the lower guys had been killed when they chased after them before they climbed down the balcony.

 

“Who’s left?”

 

Sergio gave another list, this one about equal to the list of the dead. He had wiped out half of them. “They’re trying to clear the bodies and clean and fix stuff.”

 

“Any heat?” They were good at having the police on their side, but on occasion, someone would get arrested. Matteo always bailed them out, though.

 

“Not from the cops. But you did kill the boss of another family. I’m sure there’ll be retaliation.”

 

Ryder expected that. He knew little about Solano’s family. But he knew they wouldn’t just let their boss be killed and do nothing about it.

 

“Where’s Pia?” Sergio asked. “Is she okay?”

 

“She’s fine. Okay, here’s what I want you to do. Finish the cleanup. Make sure the house is perfect. You know where to take the bodies. Make sure they are all burned. Get our best guys on watch. I need you to do intel on the Solano family. Find out who’s in charge, and what they plan to do. Kill anyone you have to. We’re not going to make an appearance yet, but I will direct my orders to you, since you’re now my second in command. We’re going to go somewhere else to spend at least a few days away to get some rest and recover while you find out the Solano situation.”

 

“You got it, boss.” Sergio pulled his mouth into a half smile. “I believe this is yours now.” He held out his hand. On it sat a large gold ring. Matteo’s ring.

 

Ryder slipped it on his hand. Sergio reached out, took his hand, and kissed his ring.

 

“That totally creeps me out,” Ryder said.

 

Sergio shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to get used to it.”

 

Ryder narrowed his eyes. “We’ll see. I’ll probably have you retrieve some things from the house to bring to us. No one knows our location, got it?”

 

Sergio nodded. Vinny knelt in front of Ryder and kissed the ring. Ryder shook his head.

 

“I may have to change the rule about the ring kissing thing,” Ryder said.

 

“You can do whatever you want now, boss,” Sergio said.

 

“Get to work. I’ll contact you when I need something.”

 

Sergio and Vinny stood. Sergio clapped his hand on Ryder’s shoulder. “For what it’s worth, old friend, I’m glad you’re alive, and I’m happy to be working for you. I think a lot of guys feel the same. You’re one of us.” Sergio put a black device in Ryder’s hand. The tracking device on Ryder’s car. He’d been in such a hurry he hadn’t thought to check for anything like that in the last few days. He would need some serious rest and refocusing. Too many things were slipping.

 

“Thanks,” Ryder said. He watched them walk out to their car, get dressed, and take off.

 

When they were gone, he went back to the bathroom. “We’re heading out.”

 

“Are we going home?” she asked.

 

“Not yet.” He helped her to her feet and took her into his arms. “We’re going to get the nicest hotel room around, spend a few days there resting and recovering, and then we’ll figure out what we’re going to do.”

 

She breathed deep into his chest. “Can we sell the house?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Too many bad memories. I want to build a new house and start over.”

 

“One with a balcony off the master bedroom?” he asked.

 

“And a Jacuzzi tub. And maybe one of those body jet shower things. And a playroom for the kids. Oh! Maybe a bowling alley and a trampoline.”

 

He kissed her forehead and smoothed back her hair. “Sure thing. We’ll make it whatever you want.”