Page 11 of Defy

“Libby, I have a plan but it isn’t well thought out yet. Luis made me agree to be his head of security in exchange for helping us, but my parents still use him like a puppet. It’s unlikely they’ll allow me to control the weapons and the security team until my trust is proven. If I don’t do it, I’m a burden to them, not an asset, and therefore disposable. I need to know what their plan is for you and the only way I’m going to get those answers is by getting back inside this family.”

It’s bad enough having Adriana’s blood on my hands, I can’t add Libby’s as well. I know in this moment that I won’t hesitate to take out a hundred others to keep her safe. I will rain bullets and get baptized in the blood of anyone who dares to keep us apart.

Staring at her I notice that her raven hair almost has a blue tint to it when it’s wet. It hangs down in the front, concealing her breasts from me. She’s a sight to behold. Her mesmerizing blue eyes shine up at me, reinforcing that I’ll dance with Death, himself, to keep her safe.

“What did my mother say to you earlier?” I ask once I’m certain I can keep my emotions in check.

She shrugs. “She just asked how I knew who you were. I just kept telling her I don’t understand what she means. I didn’t know who you were until that day on the beach when you told me your name.”

“Did she hurt you?” I trail my fingers along Libby’s skin, looking for signs of bruises or scratches.

“No. She said that I was going to make her a very rich woman and then she asked if I could dance.”

Dance?

Oh, shit. I feel my green eyes darken to black before I close them, slowly trying to reign in the monster yearning to be set free.

“Libby, my parents own strip clubs. It’s how they clean up their drug money.”

Her face falls. “You think they want to put me in their clubs? I don’t get it. Why would they need me specifically forthat?There has to be something else. What are we missing?” I expected more panic in her voice but oddly, she doesn’t seem appalled by the idea, just confused.

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” My tone carries a lot more displeasure than hers because I’ll be damned if I let my parents parade her around their clubs in next to nothing, showing off her beautiful body for anyone other than me.

I’m going to find out… and then I’m going to end it.

Five

“YOU HAVEGOTTO BE fucking kidding me!” my father barks from somewhere on the main floor. I hear his angry voice as I come down the stairs early the next morning. My body aches from the day before and it’s hard to draw a deep breath but the narcotics work wonders and I can move with more ease. My right arm feels heavy as it hangs freely by my side. I discarded the sling after my shower yesterday because it felt like a billboard broadcasting my weakness.

It’s still dark outside but evil rarely sleeps and my parents have always worked at all hours of the night.

“Something bothering you, Padre?” I call out. Although I don’t know where he is, I know he can hear me.

Omar steps into the large, open foyer from the back of the house, telling me he was in the living room.

“We’ve got a problem.” His tone is clipped as he pushes his tongue into his cheek. His tell that he’s irritated.

Unsure of how this concerns me, I take my time stopping for coffee in the small private kitchen – the one the servers and chefs use is on the floor below us.

When I finally walk into the living room, coffee in hand, my father is pacing.

He gives the coffee mug in my hand a heated glare that I know to meantook you long enough.As I look around the room, I realize we aren’t alone. Diego is in the corner with a radio held up to his ear and the leader of our security team, Carlos, is next to him drawing something out on a yellow legal pad.

I cock an eyebrow at Omar in question.

He only pauses for a minute before explaining the reason for his outburst. “Jugo Garcia’s men have been identified outside our gate. Apparently, word has traveled fast that you’re back in town and as expected, some people aren’t thrilled.”

Jugo Garcia. His brother was one of the last hits I did for my father before I left. Unlike a lot of my victims, Javier Garcia deserved his ending. He was pushing drugs on our streets laced with shit that was killing kids. Not to mention, his newest girlfriend was twelve years old.

“How many? Do we know their plan?” I fire off, easily slipping into security mode. If his men are communicating via radio, it’s easy enough to hack the signal and listen in.

My father shakes his head. “So far, we’ve identified three. I’m assuming they’ve been given orders to lay eyes on you first and confirm that you’re here. This isn’t a war he’s willing to start over false information.”

“Okay, so what’s the issue? I’ll stay out of sight of the windows. It isn’t like they can see inside.”

My father and Carlos share a glance, telling me there’s more to the story.

“We can’t hide you in here forever, Dominic. Eventually, you’ll have to leave these walls. These guys have to go. Now.”

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