Page 26 of Undercover Mafia Alpha

It sounded like a perfect date to me.

Unfortunately, I didn't have all the time in the world to go through the books, but I found a few that I knew my mate would enjoy. And before I knew it, forty-five minutes had passed with me just looking through the genres I knew he enjoyed. It was well beyond time for me to return to my mate.

He would likely be up and around now. Probably playing with the little ones.

I couldn't wait until the two of us were fathers. Perhaps it would be smart for us to be married, especially since I knew Jeremiah was it for me. He was my one and only. I didn’t need a wedding band or ceremony to say as much, but it was important for the family image to publicly declare that we were united and in love.

Or else it may look like just a marriage of convenience to ally our families, as most marriages in families like ours were.

When I left the bookstore, I noticed a jeweler had opened up next door, and it seemed like an omen. When I was a kid, all the shops had been empty, but now they were filled with new stores. A white banner with gold lettering that said “Grand Opening” was hanging over the front window.

I stepped inside and began looking through their collection. A simple black band caught my eye. Inside was the word “Creativity” and the matching band said “Courage.” Just like the quote Jeremiah loved. I didn't need to look any further.

That was the set I wanted. It was fate.

I didn't know what Jeremiah's ring size was, but I guessed, and within a few minutes, I was walking out of that place with the ring and its partner in my pocket.

Things were looking up, but I should have known it wouldn’t last.

My phone rang, so I answered it immediately, surprised to see that Cord was calling. "Hello."

He was whispering. "You better get back here."

"What? Why? I'm on my way to see Jeremiah."

"No, Jeremiah is here."

"What?" My blood ran cold, and I started to run toward the car. "How?"

"I don't know. But he is, and I didn't get a good look at him, Fee, but he was covered in blood. Get back here now."

I stopped in my tracks. "Keep him safe, Cord. I'm coming."

I wouldn’t get any answers until I arrived, so I needed to get there fast. I hung up the phone and I got into the car, immediately calling Andro before I even pulled out of the lot.

He answered on the second ring. "How did things go with your brother?"

"Not great." I took a deep breath and tried to think clearly. "Where the fuck is Jeremiah? Is he at the house?"

"Of course he's here. He's been in his room all day."

"Are you sure? Because Cord just called me and said they have Jeremiah there."

There was commotion on the other line, and I could hear Andro swearing. “Hold on. Something’s happening downstairs.”

I held my breath as I listened to Andro walking and shouting. The helplessness of the situation consumed me. Here I was in my car, far away from either house and not knowing where Jeremiah was. I never should have left him.

“Trev! Fuck.” Andro’s voice took on a panicked edge. There was a thud like the phone had been dropped.

“What’s going on?”

“Trev’s here. He’s been shot. Fuck.”

“Where’s Jeremiah?” I shouted.

There was more noise, and it felt like the world stood still for hours while I waited to hear more. I was at a standstill. Did I return to the Ferrini home or did I go to my brother’s place? What if it was a trap? What if they really had Jeremiah? I couldn’t leave him in Vince’s clutches.

“Felik?” Andro said.

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