Page 98 of Savage Redemption

I hesitate. “What’s happened?”

“Loyalty,” he grinds out. “That’s what fucking happened.”

“I don’t follow…” I begin.

“Cuts both ways.” He pauses, then, “Loyalty, and betrayal.”

I’m at a loss. “You’ll need to explain.”

“Kaminski came after me.”

“Ah.”

“But he got my family instead.”

Christ!“What happened?” I repeat. “Are they okay?”

“Drive-by shooting. In São Paulo. I took a bullet in the shoulder, and Julia in her right knee. It was a crowded shopping street, there were several other casualties, but we were the targets.”

“You and Julia? Is she going to be okay?”

“Eventually. But…”

My heart sinks. “Lily?” I breathe.

“Shot in the back. Spinal damage. They say she may not walk again.”

“Jesus. I’m sorry. I… is there anything I can do?” Precious little, I’d have thought, from a continent and an ocean away.

“It was Kaminski,” he states, his tone oddly calm now. “Who else? I told you I was loyal to him, because of my oath. I wouldn’t raise a hand against him. He betrayed me, and now he has to pay. That’s how it works.”

True enough, but… “How do you know it was him? After all, São Paulo? What the fuck were you doing there anyway?”

“Buying racehorses,” he replies. “So, what’s the plan for Kaminski?”

“I’m working on something, but?—”

“When? When’s the hit?”

“I was thinking, next week, but you’re injured. You can’t…”

“Like fuck I can’t! It’s my left shoulder. I can still handle a gun.”

I’m not convinced. “Shouldn’t you stay with your family? They’ll need you.”

“They need me to sort this, or we’ll never be safe. The man’s deranged, he’ll have another go, and next time…”

“Fair point, but we can’t discuss it here. I’ll call you back. This evening.”

“You do that, or I’ll be going it alone.”

I can’t really blame him, but Bartosz stealing my thunder is the last thing I want. I guess I do have a partner, after all. I end the call and stroll back to our picnic site.

“Everything okay?” Rosie glances cup from tending to Erin’s chocolate-stained fingers with a wet wipe.

“It will be,” I mutter. “I’ll fill you in later. Right now, we have pork pies to eat.”

CHAPTER 25

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