Page 83 of Once A Crime Lord

“Your bags are ready, Mr. Roman,” she said.

“Thank you.”

Angel went to his suitcase and opened it up to reveal an impeccable packing job. Angel ruined it by rummaging around until he found jeans, a white shirt, and leather jacket. While he changed, Gavin answered Luciana’s questions about Lyla and Nora.

His phone rang. When he saw Z’s name, he picked up immediately. “News?”

“Boss,” Z hesitated and then finished in a rush, “something went down at your place.”

Icy dread doused the warm feelings in his chest.

“I noticed a disturbance on the surveillance cameras and tried to call Blade, but his phone had a busy signal. I tried several guards and no one picked up. I just got the cameras back online. I think there was an attack at the front gate. Looks like something rammed into it, and there’s a fire on the south side of the property the men are putting out. I don’t see any dead bodies. I can see men on the property, but I can’t get through to anyone. I can only watch the live feed and try to figure out what’s going on,” Z said in a rush.

Even as he opened his mouth to ask about Lyla, Z launched into another hurried explanation.

“I checked the house cameras. The rooms are empty. I don’t see your wife, Blade, the baby, nothing. I tried to review the footage, but it’s been fucked with. I don’t know what happened. All phones are out of order. Your wife’s watch isn’t working either. I can’t track her. I’m trying to get in touch with the guys and bring everything back online.”

“Let me know what you got as soon as you have it,” he rapped out and hung up.

He pulled up the security feed on his phone and flipped from angle to angle, his heart accelerating with every empty room he saw. If there was a hit on the house, Blade would have gotten Lyla out. There were emergency procedures in place that Blade would act on immediately if there was an attack. They wouldn’t take chances, not after his father’s house had been infiltrated. Blade would take them to a safe house and stay until he made contact.

He called Lyla’s phone and received a busy signal. Same with Blade. Knowing he left her open to another attack made him feel like a worthless bastard. If he hadn’t left to kill Huskin, he would be there right now, not on the other side of the country.

“Gavin?” Luciana asked tentatively.

He looked up and saw his cousins watching. “There was a hit at the house. Someone fucked with the cameras and no one can call in or out. Blade and my wife are gone.”

Luci shoved Angel. “Go on. Get out of here.” She launched herself at Gavin and gave him a fierce hug before she pulled back, green eyes narrowed. “Make this motherfucker pay.”

He kissed her and turned to Raul, who clapped him on the back.

“Anything you need, Gavin, you call,” Raul said and hugged Angel. “Give the Vegas underworld our love, brother.”

Angel showed his teeth. “Of course.”

“And let us know when this fucker’s buried. We’ll pull out our best wine and toast Uncle Manny and Vinny.”

Gavin walked out of the townhouse, chilled to the bone. He was thousands of miles away while his wife once again went through hell. She had to be alive. He wouldn’t allow himself to think of any other outcome.

15

Lyla

She sat up,mouth open on a soundless scream and thrashed wildly. Something heavy crashed to the floor, jolting her out of her nightmare. The only sound in the room was her harsh breathing. There was enough moonlight coming through the window to see that she was safe in her bedroom at home. It was just a dream.

She flopped back on the pillows and bit back a sob. The nightmare was a mix of new and old horrors. She relived Manny being tortured by Sadist and felt the knife dig into her skin at the same time that she heard Nora scream, which jolted her awake.

She fumbled for the lamp and realized that’s what she knocked to the floor. She slipped her gun into the back of her leggings and tiptoed into the nursery. The sound of Nora’s even breathing made her weak with relief. She stood there for several minutes before she went down the hall to Carmen’s room. She slipped beneath the covers, took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.

“Lyla?” Carmen rolled over, tossed an arm over her waist, and felt the gun. “You okay?”

“Nightmare.”

Carmen grunted. “Must have been a bad one.”

Even now, she could recall the sound of crunching bone and the ominous silence when Manny stopped screaming. She shuddered. “It was.”

Carmen squeezed her. “It’ll be okay.”

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