Page 31 of Under His Embrace

“Yeah. Wes Morrison is connected to the law firm that Elliot Hines worked at,” Romeo said. He narrowed his eyes as he mentioned that attorney’s name. Tessa, his fiancée, was expected to marry the creepy man. Romeo killed him, though, not only because he wanted him out of the way so he could have Tessa for himself but also because Elliot Hines represented Reaper, the Prez of the Devil’s Brothers MC.

“That’s what I noticed too,” I said. Ever since—no, before—Dante met Nina and pretended to date her, we’d been facing off with the Devil’s Brothers MC and the Giovanni Family. It seemed that every which way we looked, there was another connection to one or both of those groups. And now it looked like Chloe’s ex was tied to our enemies as well.

“We don’t need more damn people after us,” Romeo said.

As Nina neared the end of her pregnancy, we were all on edge. Dante was protective of her already, but with a baby here, he’d be really cautious.

“Then let’s take him out,” I suggested. “Let’s find Wes and remove him from this situation. If he shot up A&J’s to scare or hurt Chloe, he’ll pay for it. If he ordered that deli to be attacked to hurt us, as a message from the MC or Stefan, then he’ll pay for it.”

Liam and Romeo nodded, glancing at each other and in approval of that plan.

I shrugged. “It’ll be one more thing removed.” Personally, it’d be my honor to kill the man who'd dared to hurt the woman I loved.

“We’ll plan it. I’m sure the tech guys will track him soon,” Liam said.

I held up my hand. “And Chloe won’t need to know. All right?” I looked them both in the eye, silently conveying that this would remainourplan, among us.

She already thought I was a ruthless, evil killer, and I didn’t need to taint any image she had of me. If we could ever try to forge ahead in a new future, I didn’t want her to have more reasons to cast me as the bad guy she shouldn’t be with.

14

CHLOE

Eva led me to the vast, high-ceilinged room where a pool and hot tub awaited. It was situated back here in the mansion that several of the Constellas seemed to call home.

I was stunned. Rooted in place at the door to the greenhouse-like space, I dropped my jaw and stared.

I grew up on the “right” side of the tracks in Beckson. It was small-town life, but with my father as a judge and my mother as a PhD-holding former professor, I was born into wealth and privilege—both of which my parents lorded over me and everyone else they came in contact with. From a young age, I was expected to know there were two kinds of people in the world, the haves and the have-nots, and only select individuals could be worthy of my time.

Meeting Franco in junior high showed me how wrong they were.

Seeing this place that Dante Constella owned demonstrated how the supposedly inferior caste of people my parents looked down upon werereallyloaded.

“Damn.” I blinked and tried to let it sink in that this wasn’t a dream. I was here, in this mirage of luxury. It felt like afever dream. After witnessing the bloodbath at the deli, being on the run, and fearing for my life from those shooters, it seemed surreal to be here with nothing more than the expectation to unwind.

Eva laughed lightly. “It’s impressive, huh?”

“More than.” I huffed a weak laugh.

“You haven’t met Olivia yet,” Eva said, smiling at an adorable blonde toddler.

“I…” I smiled at the little girl. She was so cute in her teeny bathing suit, tugging a lady by the hand to reach the pool sooner. “Oh. She’s precious.” I hadn’t grown out of the baby fever stage yet. Caleb had just turned nine, so old now, and I missed the baby days. Trying as they were, I savored them.

“This is Liam’s daughter?—”

Nina waddled up, interrupting Eva. “Your daughter. Eva. You’re just waiting on the adoption papers to be finalized, but that’s just a technicality.”

“Mama!” Olivia said as she held her arms up so Eva could pick her up.

“Sounds like she thinks you’re her mama,” I said, smiling at the cute child as Eva picked her up.

“Swim, Mama. Swim!” Olivia pointed at the pool, and we all laughed.

“She’s a tyrant,” Tessa said as she joined us. “Practically a dolphin already.”

Eva gestured for me to follow her and Olivia into the shallow section. “As soon as Liam came here with Olivia, Dante suggested having her swim back here. It was already cooler before the holidays, so I think it’s safe to say that she’s made thisherpool room.”

I shivered in delight at the warm water. “Ooh. It’s heated.”

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