Page 16 of All In

It’s not like I can’t find another job, but finding one that pays well enough that I can keep up my lifestyle and bankroll my mom and little sister is a different story.

Cas goes on, saying, “Annika is more comfortable in Virginia. I can’t ask you to relocate?—”

“I’m willing. I grew up on the East Coast. Your father assigned me out here. This is where I intend to be.” I glance between Cas and Annika, who sits on the edge of the bed closest to the bathroom, but neither says anything, so I go on. “Why are you in Boston, anyway?”

The Andretti family attacked Cas’s house in Vegas, trying to kill or kidnap Annika. The Andrettis are based out of Boston. The only reason I can think of to explain why they’re here is that they’re going on the offensive.

Cas glances at Annika, and I’m a little shocked.

I refocus on the omega because she’s apparently in control of what information I’m allowed to be let in on. It’s kind of wild, considering Cas has always gone for women who would make a good trophy wife.

“That’s complicated,” Annika says.

I paste on my signature grin, since I have good luck winning over women with it.

“I got stabbed making sure the five of you could make a safe exit from Vegas,” I say, referencing her and her pack. “Don’t hold out on me. I’m part of the team.”

Fake it until you make it, right?

“Have you heard of the Andretti family?” she asks.

I nod.

“There used to be three brothers. They killed my parents three years ago. Right after that, Marco Andretti tried to kidnap me.” Annika stares straight into my eyes as she shrugs. “I killed him, ran, and got a new name. I made it three years without them locating me, but they found me in Vegas.”

My mind races.

I figured it was something along those lines. “So, that was a kill squad in Vegas?”

“At Cas’s house? Probably,” she says. “Anyway, the middle brother, Ezrah, attacked us in Kentucky.”

“He joined his younger brother in the grave,” Cas says, drawing my attention. “However, one brother remains.”

“The oldest,” I say to show them I’m following.

“Exactly,” Annika agrees. “Lucien Andretti is the head of the family and the only living brother out of the three.” She gives a wicked smile that makes me sure she’s more dangerous than I ever would have guessed. “He and I have a reckoning coming for more than one reason. I won’t get into all that, but his family has long been involved in human trafficking up and down the East Coast. He also kidnapped someone important to me.” She frowns. “Okay, not me personally, but I got my roommate tangled up in my mess, and somehow, they kidnapped her little sister, thinking she was Lyra. Laken has been with them for days, and there’s no telling what she’s had to endure.”

My fists clench.

I don’t like the sound of that at all. It’s so easy to imagine my little sister in her place. I might not support all of Canton Forbes’s illegal activities, but one thing I know for a fact is that he’s not into anything like human trafficking or kidnapping helpless women.

And rightly fucking so.

There are some things that should be off-limits.

Cas clears his throat. “Everything that comes next will be highly illegal. We intend to retrieve Laken Spencer and end Lucien once and for all. I can’t ask you to participate?—”

“You don’t have to,” I say, rolling my shoulders back. “I have a little sister. I’m in.”

Cas’s head shakes. “This isn’t guarding a shipment of guns in one of my father’s trucks?—”

“I fully understand what something like this entails. Let me prove that I’m a valuable asset. Financially, I need this job. But more than that, I’m morally with you.” I give Annika a pleading look, since I’m pretty sure she’s actually in charge here.

She shrugs, eyeing Cas. “It’s really his call.”

Cas swipes a hand through his dark hair. “Fine, but I have no idea where we’ll put you. The five of us are sharing one room because the hotel is booked up with all the teams that came in to help.”

“I know of a room with only one person.” Annika’s eyes sparkle, making me a little nervous. “My brother is solo, and I know for a fact that he has a spare bed.”

---