Page 84 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“Let it go. Vinny’s death should convince you that it’s not worth it.”

“Grow up, Lyla. If I ignore this, they’ll never stop.”

“They kidnapped me and now they killed Vinny. Someone’s gunning for you, Gavin! Can’t you see that?” she shouted, losing control. Seeing Carmen’s breakdown felt like a preview of what she would be like if Gavin died.

“Let them come,” he hissed.

“I love you!” Tears filled her eyes and spilled over. “You said nothing else matters but us.”

“Look where that’s brought us!” he roared.

The force of his shout made her take a step back. She clasped her shaking hands together. “So you’re breaking your promise to me.” He was ten feet away but it might as well have been miles. There was no trace of softness in him, no trace of the man she agreed to marry.

“I have to.” With that, he walked out the door.

Lyla heard the screech of tires and the murmur of male voices outside. She wanted to rage and scream. Instead, she found a broom and dustpan and began to clean with silent tears slipping down her face. She mourned for Vinny, the only brother she’d ever known and partner for her cousin and Gavin, the people she loved the most. What now?

The front door opened to admit two people. Lyla dropped the broom and ran towards them. A burly man wrapped her close.

“Lyla,” he murmured and she began to sob, the events of the past hours overwhelming her.

“Where is she?” Aunt Isabel, Carmen’s mother asked.

Lyla pulled it together and took a deep breath. “She’s upstairs. They had to sedate her.” Lyla gestured to the ruined paintings, statues and shattered glass.

Aunt Isabel gasped and put her hand over her heart. “My poor girl.”

“S-she’s devastated,” Lyla said and wrapped her arms around herself. She spent most of her time at Aunt Isabel and Uncle Louie’s house as a teenager. They treated her like a second daughter.

“Did Gavin get the fuckers?” Uncle Louie demanded.

He was a sweet man, which made it easy to forget that he had been Manny’s enforcer once upon a time.

“I-I don’t know,” Lyla said.

“He will,” Uncle Louie said with a curt nod.

“I don’t know how long she’s going to be out,” Lyla said, rubbing her throbbing forehead and then headed into the kitchen. “You should see her. I’ll start some coffee.”

Carmen’s parents went upstairs while Lyla started a much needed pot of coffee. The doorbell rang. She heard murmured voices, but focused on starting breakfast instead of seeing who it was.

“Baby girl.”

Lyla turned and saw Manny. The tears came again and she went to him. He rubbed her back as he held her tight.

“He won’t stop,” Lyla whispered.

“Let Gavin work out his rage,” Manny said.

“By killing people?” she asked, pulling back to see his face.

Manny looked as if he aged since she saw him yesterday. “It’s what we know.”

Lyla shook her head. “He blames me for Vinny’s death, for influencing his decision to pass the crime lord title off on someone else.”

Manny sighed. “He’s in pain, Lyla. Give him time.”

Lyla let out a long breath. “Sit. I’m going to make breakfast.”

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