Page 65 of Mob Bride

That’s not either of my handlers. That’s Bartlomiej.

I don’t know what to say, so I stare at the phone.

“Cat got your tongue? Or have you let Shane swallow it?”

I turn toward Shane, terrified. He remains quiet but shakes his head. He puts his finger to his lips and points to the phone. His hand rolls in the air as if to tell me to let our silence continue, but also like he wants Bartlomiej to get on with it. Bartlomiej will fill the gap. He can’t stand silence, and he loves the sound of his own voice too much.

“You can play the silent game with me, but it won’t get you anywhere. We didn’t get here in time to catch your handlers, but we know who they are now. We won’t stop until we have them. Unless—” He pauses for effect. “—Unless you turn yourself over to me, then we’ll leave your handlers alone. They’ll be none the wiser.”

Bullshit they will.

I know Bartlomiej, and from the expression on Shane’s face, he doesn’t believe a word Bartlomiej’s saying.

“Turn yourself over, and we won’t go after the mob, either.”

That’s laughable. He might be a bur in their backside—might cause a minor problem here and there—but by no means is he in a position to do anything significant to them. The only way he could is if he had the bratva on his side. Considering how the last time went when they saw each other, there’s no way the bratva will help them, even if it’s something like this.

Shane pulls out his phone and taps the notes app. He types furiously.

They won’t stop Bartlomiej and Jacek. They won’t help either. That I’m confident of.

Bartlomiej keeps digging.

“Are you with Shane now? Hey, Shane. I’m sure you can hear this. You know, I know exactly where you live, and I bet you took her to your house. You think you’re so safe there, but you’re not safe anywhere. I can get to you if I want, and that’s exactly what I want. If it’s not me, then it’ll be Jacek. After what he did to her last time, we both know you’d rather I be the one who gets to her. I’ll make it nice and quick for you, Kaja. Or should I say, Carys?

That makes both of us go rigid. If he’s figured out my real name, then it won’t be hard for him to tie me to Mom and Dad. They’ll be the next set of targets. Maybe Bartlomiej would take them hostage, but I doubt it. I think he’d truly go for the jugular and take them out to punish me. Shane writes me another note.

I’ll tell Dillan to get them somewhere safe right now.

I nod. I watch him switch over to a group text.

Shane

Bartlomiej’s on the phone with Carrie. She called her handlers. He’s there and has their phone. He just threatened Meredith and Rhys. We need to get them out.

Seamus

I’m closest to their house. I’ll go there now. I’ll make sure they’re safe. I’ll take them to the property on Staten Island.

Relief spreads throughout me, but it’s short-lived.

“Carys, I can practically hear you breathing. I hear it’s labored. Is that because you just finished fucking Shane? Or is it fear? I think it’s the latter. I think you know he can’t protect you from me.”

Shane shakes his head and rolls his eyes to reassure me. The only person who’s going to die—the only people who’re going to die—are Bartlomiej and Jacek.

“Until later, Carys, my love.”

The venom in his voice perverts the comment, and a shiver runs through me.

Chapter Fifteen

Shane

I put my hand on her thigh. The call ends, and I lift Carrie onto my lap. She curls into me, and I know this is where she belongs. It feels so incredibly right to hold her. Like she’s always belonged here and always will. She’s beautiful, and I love the way she feels when I touch any part of her. But it is so, so much more. She’s brave, intelligent, stubborn, irreverent, loyal, confident. My list could keep going. I know she usually does the honorable thing, and she’s trying to do it now. She’s struggling to balance her duty and loyalty to her job and her feelings for me. I get that.

I don’t know all the day-to-day details about her. I don’t know her favorite food or the toothpaste she prefers. I know who she is on and elemental level, and that won’t change even if her job or allegiance does. The same values that drive me, drive her, too. Love, loyalty, honor, duty, and family. I know I admire her for who she is and always will be. It’s why I’ve fallen for her, and my feelings grow by the minute. The minutia will come with time because the important qualities are there and make me want to stick around for the little things.

I think she feels the same because she relaxes. I glance down, and her eyes are closed as she rests against me.

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