Chapter 20

I was furious. Neil actually had the balls to come into the house. I thought for sure everyone was overreacting; that there was no way in hell he’d actually break in. Now, I stood staring at the man who had given me years of nightmares. I crossed the room slowly, making sure Achilles had stripped him of all weapons. I wanted to kick him while he was down. I wanted him to feel the kind of pain I was in. Not just from the truck hitting me, but from him hitting me and choking me.

“Jax…” Rebel began.

I lifted my hand in the air to stop him and sat cross-legged in front of Neil. He leaned his head to the side and snorted.

“Once they take you out of this house, I’m never going to think of you again. But you will think of me for the rest of your life, Neil.”

“You’re not going to kill me?” he snarled.

“I won’t, no. That’s not who I am. Whatever happens with you is up to them. You see, I don’t care anymore. You’re not human, Neil. How sad is it that you thought of me so much, you chased me all the way across the country? That’s obsession. You never loved me. You controlled me. You put the people I love in harm’s way and I can’t have that.” I stood slowly and looked down on him. “You’re pathetic.”

“Fuck you, you little shit! When I get loose —”

“Oh, Mr. Cambridge. That won’t be happening.”

I stepped back as the head of the Italian mob strode into the room and crouched beside Neil.

“Oh fuck,” Neil whispered.

“Yes, fuck indeed. You’re going on a little trip, Cambridge. A few of my men have mastered torture and they fully intend to play with you.”

“Wait! Don’t! Please, Mr. Santorno,” Neil begged.

“How about Rikers? Doesn’t that sound like fun?” Deo clapped his hands and bounced on the balls of his feet. “Imagine all the fun you’ll have playing with all the guys you put in prison!”

“Decisions, decisions.” Rebel shook his head.

“Just kill me,” Neil whispered.

“That’s too easy,” I found myself saying. All the men in the room looked at me and I shrugged. “Well? It is. He should have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life.”

“Rikers it is.” Deo grinned.

“Get that piece of shit out of my house,” Grandpa snarled.

Achilles and Axel pulled Neil to his feet and I stood in front of him.

“You hit me with a truck and I’m still here. Next time I see you, I’m putting a bullet between your eyes.”

“You won’t be seeing him again.” Axel winked.

They left with him and I slumped onto the sofa. Deo came to my side and Rebel took Grandpa to the kitchen to make coffee. Axel called the rest of the guys and they began arriving. I stared at the wall as they filed into the kitchen, leaving Deo and me alone.

“So, now what?” I asked softly.

“Now I go back to New York and become alive again. Shouldn’t take much. FBI put me into protective custody, they should be able to give me back my old identity.”

“You were an electrician?” I glanced over at him.

“He didn’t cut any wires. I just flipped the breaker back on.”

“There’s blood on the floor.” I blinked.

“Are you okay?” Deo lifted my chin, searching my eyes.

“I think so. Did that just happen?”

“Yep.” Deo eyed me closely. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Why do I feel like I’m in a bad Lifetime movie?”

Deo bristled. “There are no bad Lifetime movies.”

Rebel came back and looked from me to Deo. “Everything okay?”

I shook my head at Deo and faced Rebel. “There’s blood on the floor.” I pointed at it.

“I got this.” Jinx came out with a mop.

Rebel crouched in front of me and took my hands. I glanced into his eyes and saw the worry.

“I’m fine. I think. Maybe adrenaline or something?”

“How about some tea?” Gareth came in with a cup and offered it to me. “We made coffee but I think you’re already pumped up enough.” Gareth took the seat on the other side of me, shaking his head. “That guy was a fucking nut job. Did he really think we weren’t prepared for him?”

“Cambridge doesn’t think that way — he’s smarter than everyone else, remember? He’s a narcissist,” Deo explained.

“How’s Grandpa?” I blurted.

“He’s telling the tale of his ass shot in the kitchen.”

“I’m tired,” I said, not even realizing I’d said it aloud.

“Why don’t I take him to the room? Can you guys take care of Grandpa?” Rebel asked Gareth.

“No worries. We got this.”

Rebel helped me up and Deo stood in front of me. He pulled me into a hug and I relaxed against him.

“It’s over,” he murmured into my ear.

Yes. Yes it was.

I woke up to Rebel rubbing my back in slow circles. I made a small noise and he chuckled in my ear.

“Good morning. How did you sleep?”

“Like a rock,” I answered, rolling over to face him. “What happens now?”

“Now we go to your house and have breakfast with your mom and dad.”

“Where’s Grandpa?”

“Ransom and Sal took him to the nursing home. He wanted to visit Mabel.”

“I’ll bet.”

Rebel eyed me nervously. “Look, I’ll understand if you want to be in your house with your mom and dad. You haven’t seen her in so long and you just got him back into your life. I don’t want to monopolize your time.”

“Don’t even. Besides, I’ve talked to Dad, and as soon as I’m back one hundred percent, he and I are going to spend some serious time together. Also, he doesn’t have to go back any time soon.”

Rebel arched his brows.

“He’s still in love with Mom, so he’s going to work on getting her back. She never got over him, anyway. I could hear her crying at night sometimes. I knew she still loved him. She had to do what she did to protect me.”

“Funny how your mom knew what it was to be a parent. My grandmother always said once you had a child, nothing was about you anymore. Your child comes first no matter what. Too bad my mother didn’t learn that lesson.”

I cupped his cheek and smiled. “She missed out on knowing one hell of a man.”

Rebel leaned over, brushing his lips against mine. I’m embarrassed to admit that I nearly swooned. He had a way about him that made my stomach do flips and my heart race. He was definitely the man for me. I opened my eyes and Rebel was smiling down at me.

“Yeah, yeah. I know you love it when I get all girlie when you kiss me.”

“It’s great for my ego.” He wiggled his brows. “Now get up and let’s get you ready.”

“I’m not an invalid, ya know.”

“Yes, I do know that.”

“Then why put me in the closet last night? You taught me how to shoot.” I paused. “Well, somewhat. I know how to take care of myself.” Rebel gently pushed on my side and I yelped. He arched his brows and I sighed in frustration. “Okay, I get it.”

“Do you? You’re not in any shape to take on anyone, least of all a psychopath like Cambridge. I meant it last night when I said I couldn’t lose you, okay? Not when I’ve finally allowed myself to care for someone.”

“Aw, you care for me?”

“You know how I feel.” Rebel nuzzled my nose. “Now get up. You look like a troll.”

“Excuse me?”

“Your hair.” Rebel snorted.

“Great.”