Page 89 of Capo

“Where’s Cecilia.”

“With my mom.”

“And where is Mom?” I ask silkily.

She stares at me and snaps her mouth shut.

“Never mind. We’ll find her.”

Kerry darts forward and grips my shirt. “No, please! Don’t hurt her!”

I grab her hands, a little too tight from the wince on her face. “Miss Jackson. From now on you stay in town. If I come knocking, you open, if I tell you to come here, you’ll get your fucking ass here, if I tell you to jump, you jump. Are we clear? And no hiding the child. She’s a Russo. You’re nobody, but young Cecilia is family, and the child of my nephew. That means a lot to me.”

Her shoulders slump in defeat. It’s an unexpectedly saddening sight, watching the fight drain out of this strong woman. She reminds me a lot of Chloe, still resisting me to this very day. Chloe stood on almost this exact spot, screaming about how Christian had treated her.

“Can I go?” she asks weakly.

I throw out my hand toward the door, following her as she takes a few quick strides toward it. “I’ll be in touch,” I say as I pull out the key and unlock it.

“I bet,” she mutters.

There it is again, her defiance. Temporarily down, but not defeated. I like it.

When she’s left, I realize I forgot to tell her Christian is still breathing. Well, she’s probably relieved he’s gone anyway, so I’ll leave it the way it is. I have more pressing matters. I’ll put someone to keep an eye on them, though. I don’t trust her for shit, and if she’s back and if Christian wakes—No, when Christian wakes up, I believe he’ll be very motivated to get back on his feet.

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