Page 84 of Lord of Punishment

“Jesus Christ,” Andres said, dropping down beside us, his weapon still in both hands. “Are you okay, boss?”

“The boy. Is Dillon okay?”

“He’s moving. He’s fine.”

“Let me up!” she demanded, her hysteria increasing. “I have to see him. Let. Me. Up!”

After glancing down the street to make certain there wasn’t a second vehicle determined to finish the job, I helped Georgia to her feet, keeping in front of her as Andres opened the door. As she crawled inside, cradling her son in her arms, I finally took a deep breath.

“Ah, shit. Connor.”

Hearing the angst in Andres’ voice, I turned slowly. “Fuck.” Connor was crumpled over, blood dripping down his arm. I moved closer, feeling for any pulse. “He’s gone. Goddamn it. How the fuck did this happen?”

“We need to get you out of here.”

“Yeah. I guess we do.” Before I climbed in, I studied the street once again. I was finished playing games.

Let the end begin.

My way.

“It’s too fucking coincidental,” I said almost in passing.

“Which part?” Miguel asked as he handed me a glass of whiskey.

“The same place where Emily died, we were attacked.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Wait a minute. Are you trying to suggest the two incidents are connected?”

“I don’t know what to think. There was a fucking stuffed lamb outside the warehouse where the attack on the facility occurred. That’s not normal. There are no kids living there, no daycares.”

“Rico is fucking with you, brother. Nothing more. It was no secret what happened to Emily; the location where she was killed was mentioned in the newspapers. Besides, why would he attack you and your family?”

“I don’t know. Have our computer folks run a check. Don’t tell anyone and I do mean anyone else.”

“Okay. I can do that. What are you thinking?”

“I don’t know except for someone is keeping a close eye on my every move. That baby could have died. Fuck. Fuck.” I was exasperated, furious with myself for what had occurred.

“I’ll have them run a check. Maybe there’s some connection in the past that we don’t know about. Now, stop worrying. Kids are resilient.”

I glanced toward Georgia and closed my eyes briefly. “One of the bullets smashed the passenger door glass. If he hadn’t been in that car seat, Dillon would have been killed.”

“But he wasn’t.”

“That doesn’t matter,” I snapped, more so than I’d intended. Georgia lifted her head, studying me with the same haunted eyes she’d had since the horrible incident a few hours before. I was itching to pay Chase a visit in the hospital, but not until I had a plan in motion. At least Alicia was providing the level of comfort I couldn’t give. I continued to play the incident out in the back of my mind. The bastards had obviously been on my tail since we’d returned.

We’d both been lucky, but that wouldn’t last for long.

“I understand how you feel.”

I snapped my head in my brother’s direction. “Do you? Do you really?”

“Calm down, bro. Getting upset isn’t going to do any good.”

“Calm down? How in the fuck am I supposed to do that?”

“You think she was the target?”

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