Page 173 of Mila: The Godfather

A moment of silence passes, her brother is clearly lost for words.

He not only betrayed Riagan but his sister.

His only family.

“I–I” Conor stumbles to get his next words out, and while he does, I take the opportunity to look at my surroundings to see if I can find something to use as a weapon. I might not be brave and a fighter like my sisters, but I won’t allow anyone to hurt Maeve or me.

But one not-too-subtle move gives me away, and then I have a gun pointing my way. Conor’s.

“I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t cooperate.” He whispers harshly. Still, I don’t see evil in him, just greed and plain stupidity. That’s saying something since he’s a genius.

But tonight, he made a dumb decision.

One that will cost him his family and, if Riagan gets to him, his life.

When I think Maeve will think things through and choose her brother, she takes us both by surprise when she speaks. “Go, Con, before he finds out what you did.”

“You would turn on me?” Conor whispers incredulously.

I watch as Maeve stands up and moves at a slow pace without taking her eyes off her brother. “You betrayed me the moment you chose greed over me. Over the clan.”

“But we’re one.” He argues.

“I thought we were.” Her voice breaks, and she turns her back to him. She’s already grieving him. “You either go, or you fucking kill me, Con, but I won’t let you hurt her.”

“Mae.” Conor looks as heartbroken as his sister, but then an ugly look crosses his face. “You’re just like her. Choosing everyone else over me.” He shouts the last part. Hitting his chest with the hand that’s holding the gun. I’ve never noticed the anger that lives inside of him. But in truth, I never gave him much thought, thinking of him as just a quiet genius who was in no way a threat, but how wrong I was. And who is the ’her’ he is referring to?

“I’m saving your life, Conor. Even when your selfishness just put mine at risk.” She snaps, looking angry. Angry and broken. “Get out, Conor, before he finds you, and I have to bury another brother because of your selfish decisions,” she says brokenly. Then, to drive the nail deeper, she hisses. “And what would she think of you now if she saw what you became?”

The look of anger fades, and one of heartbreak takes over.

Her words about a dead brother and a mystery woman made him look at his twin sister as if she just shoved a knife in his chest. While I’m stuck watching the frightening and heartbreaking scene in front of me unfold, I almost miss the loud and angry shouts coming from upstairs toward us.

In my gut, I know it’s him.

It’s Riagan and the other men who in a short amount of time, become my family.

They’re coming fast, and the men that are closing in on us notice, too, turning to face their threat.

A threat I know all too well.

He came for me, and maybe these men weren’t anticipating Riagan getting out of this alive in time to get to me, but he did.

One by one, Conor’s allies fall to the ground either by gunshots to their heads or knives shoved into their eye sockets or neck.

Just one man does all of that.

Mine.

I no longer worry about what can happen to me, Maeve, or even my husband because he’s here. He’s here, covered in blood, and from what I can see, unharmed.

I let out a sigh of relief as my heart settles down, but it doesn’t last long because the room’s atmosphere changes as soon as Riagan’s eyes fall on me. It went from heartbreaking to chaotic.

Cianne, Byrne, Bain, and even Riagan’s father stand behind my husband, covered in blood with murderous looks. I’ve never seen the look like this, but I know this is who they all are deep down.

Savages.

Men who do what needs to be done to remain on top of the ranks.

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