Page 56 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Gavin said shortly and tipped her face up for a kiss. “You call me if you need me.”

She nodded and he walked out of the house without saying another word to his father. Lyla stared at Manny who looked flustered and disturbed.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she asked.

Manny shook himself and hugged her again. “You want him to give it up.”

Lyla could tell from his tone of voice that he didn’t approve. Lyla stiffened and drew back. “Yes, I do.”

Manny sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I understand. I do, but...”

“But what?” Lyla demanded. “He could be killed. Don’t you care how doing that side of the business affects him... and me?”

“Of course I care, baby girl, of course but... We have contracts and deals.”

Lyla crossed her arms, seeing Manny in a new light. Gavin agreed to give it up for her, but apparently, Manny wasn’t so eager. Her belly clenched. “What happened to me isn’t more important than your deals and contracts?”

Manny drew back as if she struck him.

“I was almost raped, Manny,” she said, voice thin and jagged. “He touched me. That doesn’t matter to you?”

“Lyla.”

He reached for her, but she stepped back.

“I love you,” she stated, “and I love Gavin, but I don’t like what you do for a living. I don’t like that you take chances with your lives, your souls. You think that I can heal Gavin, but you have to stop sending him into the dark where the other monsters are. You don’t know what—” She wrapped her arms around herself and fought the urge to vomit as she remembered Gavin covered in blood. “The price is too high. It’s not worth it.”

Manny stared at her for a long minute before he said, “I’ve done many things. Things I’ll never tell a living soul. At the time, they were necessary measures that had to be taken. Somebody needs to rule the underworld. I groomed Gavin to take that position. He’s damn good at it.” When she opened her mouth, he held up a hand and allowed, “Maybetoogood. Gavin has built himself a reputation that keeps everyone in line. If he steps back, no matter who replaces him, they’ll have problems.”

“And yet his reputation didn’t protect me,” Lyla said quietly.

“A strike like this has never happened before. It was suicide. Those men were contracted by someone who was testing the waters. We need to send a message back, a bloody one that will send ripples through the underworld.”

Manny didn’t look like a seventy year old man, he looked like a ruthless general. Lyla was strongly reminded of Gavin. That intensity in his personality would never fade, never yield to anyone. It was still thriving in his father who went antique shopping and had retired from the business.

“So Gavin won’t be able to get out of it?” Lyla asked, stomach rocking.

Manny’s face softened. “He’ll find a way.”

“But you think it’s a mistake?”

“He’s the best man for the job, but I see why he’s stepping back. You have a profound effect on him and this is your requirement to move forward.” He nodded. “If this is what you want, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell him to step down either. It was just the shock. I wasn’t prepared for it.” He gave her a small smile. “I hear you’re moving out?”

She tried to smile, but was still troubled. “Yes, but, Manny—”

He waved his hands. “Don’t worry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Don’t be upset with me.”

“I’m not,” she said even though she was.

“Come, we’ll watch movies,” he declared and led her into his ostentatious living room.

“Manny—”

He clasped her face. “Everything will be okay. Gavin will make sure of it.”

Chapter Eleven

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