Page 33 of Bishop

She repeats the task over and over. Calling Salvatore. Langston. Adena.

Nobody answers.

“Mom, I need to speak to you. It’s urgent.” A slither of apprehension enters her voice. “I’m at home. Alone. None of the guards are here. They haven’t been all night. I don’t know what’s going on. Please call me.”

She drops the cell to the bed, still staring at the device as she places her fingertips to the scarf at the front of her neck. She’s quiet. Deep in thought.

“Believe me now?” I shove my hands into my pants pockets, fighting the need to be smug.

“It’s not unusual for everyone to be unreachable.”

“Maybe. But it sounds like it’s not the norm for you to be unmanned.”

“My father told me yesterday that he was sending a team out of town. I shouldn’t be surprised that nobody is here.”

“But you are. You’re surprised and maybe a little convinced that I’m right.”

“No.” She shakes her head, those ocean eyes meeting mine with defiance. “I know my brothers were up to something but they never would’ve made a move without me.”

“From what I understand, they didn’t have much choice. It sounds like the team your dad organized was used as an ambush.”

“Where?” She swallows, her expression turning stricken. “How?”

“Like I said, I don’t know the finer details. All I can tell you is that I was with all three of your brothers in Virginia Beach yesterday morning when you called. They had plans to speak to Lorenzo about gaining support to take down your father. But when they arrived, your parents were already there.”

She keeps shaking her head. “Remy and Salvo wouldn’t do that without me.”

“They would and they did.”

Her cell vibrates on the bed, Salvatore’s name lighting the screen.

She snatches the device and connects the call. “Where are you?”

I step closer, trying, and failing, to hear his reply.

“I asked you to come home yesterday. Why didn’t you?” She frowns as she listens to his response. “What sort of complications?… No. Tell me now. Tell me what the hell is going on.”

I remain silent as her posture becomes rigid.

“Tell me our father is okay, Salvatore.” She raises her voice. “Tell me you haven’t been stupid enough to make a huge mistake.”

I step closer, tilting my ear toward her until I can make out his voice.

“Abri, listen. This wasn’t how we planned for things to happen. But we’ve got a safety net for the future. All those financial threats he held against us are only going to be a temporary issue. We’ll be set for life. Trust me.”

Her eyes turn to mine, those baby blues stark. There’s no relief. No excitement. What stares back at me is fear.

“No.” Her free hand clings to the scarf at her throat. “You couldn’t have.”

“We didn’t do anything, Bree. Just try to remain calm until we get home. We aren’t far—”

Her arm falls to her side, the cell toppling to the carpet.

Salvatore’s mumbled words carry from the floor as she stares through me. Distraught. Shocked.

“It’s not true,” she murmurs. “They wouldn’t do this to me.”

“From what I’m told, they had little choice.” I remain in place. On edge. Unsure where her unpredictable emotions will turn next.

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