Marco insists on taking the lead as he quickly picks the basement lock and we file into the dark space. I can make out what looks to be some old furniture, but otherwise, the space appears unfinished. One of Marco’s guys brings out a small flashlight and does a quick search of the area, making sure there’s no one here before we move toward the staircase in the center of the room. “This feels off,” Tony murmurs behind me, and I incline my head in agreement. The unease of earlier is becoming progressively stronger.

Marco doesn’t seem to share our sentiments as he approaches the first step confidently. We reach a door at the top of the landing, and he turns. “Follow my lead and everyone stay low.” I see the glint of his gun in the shadowy light. My own feels cool and unusually heavy in my grip, but also comforting. I’m an expert marksman—something else I can thank Victor for. He believed in being prepared for all eventualities in life. Marco opens the door silently, and one by one, we step into a wide hallway. He motions toward the right, indicting where we’ll check first. We make our way steadily through three large bedrooms and a bathroom before we reach what looks like the foyer. Then almost as if we’ve stepped on a hornet’s nest, shapes begin pouring from every direction. Warnings are shouted and blows are exchanged, but strangely, no one attempts to fire their gun. In fact, Marco and his crew appear to have holstered theirs in favor of hand-to-hand combat. Fuck it. I need to blow off some steam. Tony and I follow suit, and even though we’re massively outnumbered, we still manage to inflict considerable damage on Wrenn’s crew before a shot is fired, freezing everyone in his place.

“Welcome to the party, gentlemen,” purrs an amused voice that I heard only hours earlier. “I must say, it took you long enough.” Hunter Wrenn strolls into view, looking absolutely thrilled at our arrival. He pauses before me. “Good of you to bring some friends along, Jacks. How about we make ourselves comfortable?” He barely spares a glance at Tony and the rest of the Moretti men as he motions for his guys to escort us into a nearby room. At first, there seems to be no one else here, but then I see movement, and my heart surges as I recognize Jade. Thank God, she’s alive. The other woman I assume is Jacey. I’ve seen her a few times in passing over the years but never for more than a moment. She’s thinner than Jade—tiny and waif-like. They share the same blond hair and bone structure—but there’s a hard weariness about Jacey that says she’s seen far too much in her life. At present, she and Jade are holding hands and staring at us with varying degrees of surprise and anxiety. I see Jacey dart a glance in her father’s direction before straightening and dropping Jade’s hand. Jacey was instrumental in Jade’s kidnapping, so I feel absolutely nothing but revulsion toward her.

Not giving a damn what Hunter thinks, I wipe what is no doubt a trickle of blood from my lip from the melee in the foyer and ask Jade gently, “Are you all right, piccolo uccello?””

Her eyes are huge as she nods. “I’m good. Are… you?” Her voice breaks before she finishes her question, and I know that I’m probably banged up. Although I’ve had worse.

Hunter clicks his tongue. “So touching. Obviously, my daughter took after her mother in more ways than one.” He spreads out his hands before him. “You give them every advantage, yet they still prefer slumming.” He points at Jacey. “This one has potential. She’s almost as ruthless as I am. But she’s a woman, so I’m afraid she’s already reached the top of her potential. There are things in life that only men are capable of.” Jacey’s jerks as if struck physically, but she keeps her mouth shut. Waves of resentment emanate from her, yet Hunter appears to be the only one utterly oblivious to it.

The gun in my holster is burning a fucking hole through me as I long to grab it and put an end to this arrogant motherfucker. But first, I want some answers. Patience, then he’s all yours. I put my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels as if considering his words. “Your parenting skills are illuminating. However, I’m curious as to how you’ve come to be in April Chester’s house. Or is it Monique Chandler? Frankly, it’s hard to keep up with who she is these days.” From the fisting of his hands, he didn’t expect me to get that connection. He’s grappling for a plausible explanation, while trying to figure out exactly how much I know. His mouth moves, but no words are uttered. Fool.

I survey the room as I’m awaiting his response and almost smile when I see Marco appearing so relaxed that he almost looks bored. Looks can be deceiving, though. I know without a doubt that he’s aware of everything, right down to the smallest detail. Beside me, Tony doesn’t seem concerned about our predicament either. Fuck, maybe I’m losing my edge. Although I’m in no way panicking, my mind is racing as I try to formulate an escape route for Jade. I don’t give a fuck about myself, but I need to know she’ll be safe should anything happen to me. I know without asking that Tony will ensure that. Hunter forces out a laugh as he crosses the room to a bar and pours a large measure of amber liquid in a glass. He tosses it back in one swallow and grimaces. Then he repeats the process once more before facing me. “That’s an interesting story,” he begins. “You see, I saw the news coverage when that crazy girl almost killed your daughter. I didn’t think much of it other than disappointment, of course, that she didn’t succeed.” There’s no malice in his tone, just a simple statement of fact. Regardless, I want to tear him apart with my fucking hands. Tony touches my arm in warning, sensing the rage simmering inside me.

“How disappointing for you,” I snap out, hating this fucker more than I ever thought possible.

“Indeed,” he agrees, and I half expect him to thank me for my understanding. That would be an epic mistake on his part. “So, anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, I felt a certain kinship with the lovely Monique, as she prefers to be called. I sent her a letter explaining that I had been unfortunate enough to fall victim to you. We began corresponding on a regular basis, and I’ve also paid her quite a few visits. That part was tougher, though, as you never know who’s watching.” He shakes his head. “Monique feels considerable hatred toward your daughter and son-in-law. So being the gentleman I am, I offered my assistance.”

I’m still processing his revelations when Tony says coldly, “This bullshit was never about revenge, was it? It’s been two decades… You never cared about your wife’s death. You got the sudden desire to go after Lee when you met Monique.”

Both Jade and her sister gasp as they stare at their father in confusion. The final pieces are almost clicking neatly into place. This wasn’t vengeance for Jasmine’s death. It was for Monique. Hunter’s eyes are locked on Tony’s now, and I see the exact moment he puts it together. “The bastard son,” he hisses. “What an unexpected bonus. Never believed I’d have Anthony Moretti at my mercy.” He rubs his hands together in glee. He points at two large men a few feet away. “Cuff this one. I don’t want him getting away.” Just when I think this can’t possibly get any weirder, Wrenn’s men, except for two, turn in a move so smooth it almost appears scripted. Their guns are suddenly pointed at Wrenn, who stares at them in confusion. “Wh-what are you fools doing? I’ll have your fucking heads for this. Do as I say!”

Marco steps forward with a lazy grin on his face. “These are Moretti men, asshole. We had people infiltrate your organization months ago. Long before we knew all this shit. You’ve been helping yourself to things that don’t belong to you. Guns, contracts, job sites.” He pauses for a moment to let it sink in. “You’re done, Wrenn.”

Wrenn’s gaze swings wildly around the room before landing on Tony once again. “Hell yes, I stole from you and your family. And you know what, you little punk? I’d do it again. Your father dared to take what wasn’t his, so I’m simply returning the favor. If not for the fact that there’s always goons shadowing your every move, I’d have gone after you first instead of Jacks. Everyone was always so fucking impressed with his brilliance. Made me look like a laughing stock when he yanked Wrenn Wear out from under me.” He shakes his head as if he hadn’t meant to reveal that much, before once again focusing on Tony. “Be grateful it’s just money and not your fucking wife,” he sneers.

Tony smirks at the older man, which seems to infuriate him. If he thought the son of Draco Moretti would bow down to him, he’s sadly mistaken. “Don’t blame me because you couldn’t satisfy your woman.” Nice. Not many guys can ignore that bait, and Wrenn will be no exception.

But what happens next is something I never expected. Again, time appears to almost stand still as Wrenn’s face turns molten red. He moves to the center of the room directly in front of Tony as he speaks in a near shout. “You think you’re so fucking smart, boy. Well, you don’t know shit.” He gives Tony a smile that is pure evil before dropping his bombshell. “Wanna know what happens to people who cross me, Moretti? They die—whenever and wherever I want it to happen. And as you can see, I have plenty of patience when need be. Although I must admit, I’d grown tired of the pace of this piece of payback. I even had Jenkins toss some crumbs at Jacks to speed the process along. He certainly didn’t seem to be putting it together on his own. Possibly because he was too busy playing the besotted fool with my daughter.” Tony has the audacity to yawn, which damn near has me smiling, despite the sting I feel at the reminder of Jenkins’ deception. That is, until I meet Jade’s tearful gaze and see the fear lurking there. I attempt to offer her comfort without words, and hope that some of my confidence eases her.

Tony makes a show of checking his watch. “If you don’t mind, Wrenn, I need to wrap this up. I’ve got a business to run, and frankly, I’m bored with you.”

Wrenn nearly convulses he’s so filled with fury. “I killed the fucking Moretti king and his whore. Still bored, you fucking piece of shit?” The room has gone deathly quiet. Tony’s fully focused on Wrenn now, and a muscle clenches in his jaw. This is the moment I knew was coming. The specifics aren’t there, but I recognize it just the same. Tony will kill Hunter Wrenn to avenge his father, and I must let him. Moretti men surround us. They’ll expect the son to exact retribution. It’s the way of the family. I take a few steps back, signifying without words that I understand what must be done. Wrenn’s two men have been disarmed and are no longer a threat. Jade stands next to her sister, looking as if she understands far more than I imagine. She too realizes what will transpire. And although a silent tear trickles down her cheek, she makes no sound. She’s so fucking strong that I’m in awe of her. If I wasn’t already in love with her, I would be for this moment alone. This beautiful woman who stares down death without flinching or hiding away. Jacey appears to be in some kind of trance. Her eyes are huge on her stricken face as she stares at her father. I know Jade is hurting, but I believe that her father’s confession has hit Jacey the hardest. Possibly because she has more of a relationship with her father than Jade does.

“Exactly how did you kill my father?” Tony asks, injecting just the right amount of skepticism in his voice. Wrenn wants the younger man to be impressed, and he’s more likely to continue talking if he thinks Tony doesn’t believe him.

Wrenn chuckles, appearing absurdly proud of himself. “I gave that junky who killed him some premium coke for a fucking month. He was good and addicted. So I let him run dry for a few days, then told him that if he killed Draco, he’d be set for life. Wasn’t too hard,” Wrenn brags. “Your father was a man of routine. So he simply followed him around for a while and waited until he had the kill shot.” Shrugging, he adds, “I’m not going to lie, taking out Victor Falco was an unexpected bonus. I might have even let the bum live for a while, but that was never an issue. I knew all along he’d be taken care of by the Morettis, and he was. Hell, it was almost too easy. And to think I assumed he’d be the difficult one, and Jasmine would be simple. I had that shit backward.” He rolls his eyes in exasperation. “Do you have any idea how many people I had to pay off to ensure the reports stated she died in that car accident? The fucking coroner was a greedy bastard. I couldn’t exactly hide the bullet hole in her forehead, but if she’d simply disappeared, I wouldn’t have inherited all her holdings. It’s a damn shame that my old man was so infatuated with my wife that he left her more in his will than he did his own son.” Releasing a long-suffering sigh, he adds, “But it all worked out in the end.” He looks away from Tony and focuses on me. “And Monique? I imagine by now she’s one less drain on the prison system. Certainly couldn’t leave that crazy bitch to run around spreading rumors, now could I?”

It’s so quiet. Everyone appears to be waiting with bated breath for something to happen. Then it does. There’s a loud boom that literally shakes the windows. “Oh my God, Jacey,” Jade croaks out drawing all eyes in their direction. Jacey stands there with her thin frame shaking, yet the gun in her hand remains remarkably steady as stares at her father. He’s gasping and flailing about. I hear a gurgling sound. She’s punctured one of his lungs.

“Fuck,” Tony hisses. Somehow Wrenn remains on his feet as he swings around to stare at his daughter in disbelief. Seemingly without blinking, Jacey pulls the trigger once more, and her father falls forward, twitching a few times before there is nothing more.

Jacey calmly places the gun in the chair next to her and smooths down her hair. She walks forward and stands over her father before shocking the room even more by spitting on him. “That’s for my mother, you fucking evil bastard. I won’t let you hurt us anymore.” And with that, her eyes roll back in her head, and she pitches straight into Tony’s arms.

A loaded silence descends for several moments as we all attempt to process what happened. Marco steps forward and lowers his large frame to check Wrenn for a pulse. He shakes his head when he gets up before looking over to where Tony is holding Jacey in his arms. “That was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ll marry that girl tomorrow if she says the word.” Even though he says nothing in reply, I don’t miss the way that Tony’s arms tighten protectively around Jacey as he cradles her gently against him.

Jade launches herself across the space and barrels into my chest. I breathe easy for the first time in hours. She’s back where she belongs. She lets me hold her for a moment, before she pulls back and studies her sister in concern. “What’s going to happen to her, Lee? Will she go to prison? It was self-defense, right?”

Jade was raised by an evil man, but she’s still immune to the ways of a family like the Morettis. There’s no way to shield her from it, because she’s seen too much tonight. Tony, who has been staring at Jacey’s face as if in a trance, appears to hear the questions and nods to Marco. “Take care of this. Whatever you think is best. But nothing touches her,” he adds as he stares once more at Jade’s sister.

“My fucking pleasure,” Marco answers easily. He huddles around his men, speaking with low undertones. Tony strides from the room, not bothering to look back, and I put an arm around Jade and follow him. She doesn’t need to see any more. As it is, Jacey may never recover from what she’s done. But regardless, they’ll need each other in the days ahead.

At some point, Tony’s Land Rover was brought around near the door. He stops next to the Mercedes and glances inside before tossing me his keys. “I’ll drive her car. No use leaving it here for the guys to get home. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow.”

I open the passenger door of Jacey’s car so he can deposit her inside. She’s awake now, but makes no protests at being cared for by a stranger. She simply stares straight ahead, saying nothing while he fastens her seat belt. “Um, where are you taking my sister?” Jade glances from Tony back to Jacey. The worry is evident in her eyes as well as helplessness. She’s never had a close relationship with her sibling, and I don’t think she knows how to comfort the other woman.

“She’ll be safe,” he replies. “Lee knows where to find me.” Without anything further, Tony walks around and gets in the driver’s seat. The car roars to life, and we watch until his taillights disappear in the distance.

I help Jade into Tony’s SUV, then follow suit. I hold her hand on the way home, hoping it’ll give her a small measure of comfort after all she’s been through. We don’t speak until we’re settled on my sofa. She’s sitting sideways across my lap with her head against my chest as I gently stroke her back and drop kisses onto the top of her head. I gave her Advil as soon as we arrived, hoping to alleviate the headache she’s complained of. I tried to convince her to see a doctor, considering she lost consciousness after the blow earlier, but she refused. In the end, I made her promise to tell me if she had any other symptoms that might indicate a concussion. When my phone rings, I bite back a curse, just wanting some quiet time with my woman. But it’s Luc. “Hey, did Pete call you?” I contacted my brother on the way home to let him know we were okay. I was vague, not wanting to go into details over the phone. Tomorrow is soon enough for that. I also asked him to update Lucian as well.

“Yeah, he did. I assume we’ll get together soon.” When I agree, he pauses. “I received a call from Woodbridge Correctional. Monique was killed today in an altercation with another prisoner.”

I sigh, shaking my head. “I see,” I say simply. “Maybe there is some justice in the world after all.”

“My sentiments exactly,” he says. “Anyway, just thought you should know. Do you or Jade need anything tonight? Happy to help out in any way that I can.”

I smile at his thoughtfulness. “Thanks, Luc, but we’re good. Just take care of my daughter and granddaughter.”

“Always,” he says adamantly. I end the call and lay my head against the cushions, feeling the stress begin to drain out of me.

I must have dozed off at some point because movement beside me has me jerking awake. I look around groggily to see a grinning Jade staring at me with Rufus sitting in her lap. He stretches his paws up, and they land on my chest as he surveys me. Then very deliberately, he leans closer and licks my cheek. “Holy fuck,” I groan in disgust. “Please tell me that was the first time he tongued me while I was passed out.”

Her giggle has me shuddering. “It’s so cute, honey. I swear he adores you. He jumped in my lap and rubbed his head all over you.”

I roll my eyes at her amusement but can’t bring myself to be angry. I’m too happy to see her smiling, and the sound of her laughter is everything I didn’t know I needed. “So you’re basically saying I’m covered in cat hair and spit? Need I remind you what he does with those paws?”

She shrugs before saying impishly, “Better add shit to that list as well. He does lick himself a lot, but I’m not sure how clean you would consider him. He probably misses a few spots.”

“Thanks for bringing that to my attention, baby,” I grumble as the fur ball snuggles next to me. The sound of his purrs literally fills the room. “Fuck,” I sigh, but it’s more in resignation than irritation. If living with Rufus is the price for having Jade in my arms, then I’ll gladly pay it. Not that I’ll tell her that, but I’ll take every family member of the feline for another day with this gorgeous woman smiling at me. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Maybe not the smoothest delivery, but the question is certainly from my heart.

Her eyes go soft and heavy, and there’s a hint of moisture there as she whispers back, “If it’s half as much as I feel for you, then I’m the luckiest woman in the world. Because I fell madly in love with you the moment I first saw you at Falco.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you how I feel. I’m the best version of me with you, but I’ve still done a lot of things that would make you look at me differently if you knew.”

She puts a finger to my lips, silencing me when I want to continue. “You saw my family today. I wasn’t raised in a traditional household.” She rests her forehead against my chest before adding shakily, “For God’s sake, my sister killed my father, Lee. She shot him twice. And the bad thing is that I understood. A part of me even wants to applaud her for having the strength to do it. Because he killed our mother and let us spend our lives believing she died because she was driving intoxicated. But he killed her. Do you realize that half of my family killed another family member? Who does that?” She sounds bewildered as she shakes her head. “So stop thinking you’re corrupting me because I’m not exactly Mary Poppins.”

I nod solemnly before dropping a kiss onto her frowning lips. “I see your point, sweetheart. But regardless of those things, you’re still all that’s good and pure to me. And maybe in a way, those parts of you make us a perfect match. Your halo is beautiful but a tad crooked, and baby, that’s one of the many things I adore about you.”

She turns in my arms until she’s straddling me and our lips meet in a kiss that reaffirms our words. It promises today, tomorrow, and forever regardless of what comes our way. Our life may have shades of normalcy at times, but it’ll always be anything but. Quite simply, we’re two people who grew up in a world shaded in gray, and although there will be moments in the light, there will also be many in the darkness. She is my home. My sanctuary. If we have each other, we’ll hold on tightly until the storm passes and the sun breaks through the clouds once again.