Page 2 of Protecting Charity

Max and Luca glanced at me, wondering where I was going with this.

She shrugged. “They had a suspicion, but he didn’t say. Am I supposed to know?”

“Probably not, but if you had patience and did things correctly, you would understand.”

“Like I told Luca—”

I held up my hand. “—I know… you had a limited amount of time.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, perking up her breasts. Her defiance would only get her into more trouble with Luca.

“The number one suspect in Allie’s disappearance was her sister—Morgan. It’s believed she sold her sister to the Sabinas Cartel—the one Jose was working for.”

She snapped her head up and gaped at me with disbelief. “How? How was I supposed to know that?”

“The morning you dumped her body to frame her for Tom’s murder, there was a press conference. She stood at the podium with her parents while her parents begged for Allie’s safe return.”

She glanced at each of us. Gone was the attitude she once held. She understood now. “Fuck. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” She brought her knees to her chest and swayed. Her eyes shot back and forth while she contemplated this additional information.

“Christ,” Luca growled.

“I’ll find her,” she whispered. She shot up from her cot and stood tall, not letting this recent information defeat her. “Let me fix it. I’ll find her.”

Max scoffed. “How are you going to find her while finding Josh?”

She chewed her bottom lip. “I’ll figure it out.” She gulped.“Please.”

On the outside, Charity was a powerful woman. She’d kick your ass just to show you she could, but she was soft inside—way deep down. She cared about the little girl the moment she heard about Allie. I had my suspicion that she would want to go after her.

“I should put you in the ground. I would do it to anyone else.” Luca clenched his fists as his voice rose.

“Do it then!” she yelled. “My brother is missing, and not even you can find him, so he is safe from you or already dead. I’ve done nothing but protect this family since you brought me in, protecting you three. If doing my job is what puts a bullet in my head, then by all means.” She held her hands out in a welcoming Jesus fashion.

“Where does she get this shit?” Luca muttered.

“And leave little Allie to her fate?” Max asked.

“Morgan was unstable and cruel, so if the cartel hasn’t killed her, then Morgan did.”

Luca pulled his gun and pointed it at her. “How’s your theory working for you now, Charity?”

The air thickened to the point of suffocation, and my stomach lurched. If someone didn’t stop this, blood would flow and regrets would be made.

She walked up to his gun and pressed her forehead into it, wrinkling her skin as it dug hard into her skull. Pushing the issue and raising the stakes. She was at her wit’s end, and you could see her breaking. It was written all over her face. One wrong move and she’d snap, leaving us all wondering what the hell just happened.

“It’s a work in progress,” she taunted.

“Stop it, both of you.” Max’s face went red with irritation as he shoved between them, causing Luca to holster his weapon. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself, and fucking admit you were wrong.”

She clenched her fist. Before I could say a word, she wound up and swung. Her small but mighty fist connected with Max’s jaw, causing him to wobble back while holding his battered face.

“Fuck you! I don’t feel sorry for myself. I’m fucking pissed.” Charity thrust her hands into her hair, then clenched her fists, pulling it slightly away from her skull. “I said I was sorry. I did it for us, yet here I am being treated as if I’m thinking only of myself. Then, as if your doubt wasn’t enough, I get locked up for days on end like a goddamn enemy. I want to make it right, but it doesn’t look like I’ll get the opportunity, now will I?”

Her brows furrowed as she pursed her lips.

Had this really come to blows? We all knew Luca wouldn’t. He couldn’t even if he wanted to, which we knew he didn’t.

“Charity, what are you doing? Calm down.” I said, wanting to shake her back to her senses.

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