Page 36 of Chubs

“We’re not done having this conversation, Aria!”

“I am. See you later,” Aria states before walking away.

After a moment’s hesitation, the blond hurries to catch up to Aria, and I watch them walk back the way they had come. Within a minute, the car with the men follows at a distance. I don’t move for several minutes. Not until I can no longer see my beautiful sister and not until I can breathe normally again. The pain of being so close and yet not being able to talk with her is overwhelming. Not having her in my life has been impossibly hard. I had to train my mind to treat it like a death just to survive it myself. When it’s possible to move, I leave the area, walking several blocks to my car.

I need to finish things, and soon, because I need my family safe.

“The photo is the same as the first one you sent me. Those men are all soldiers for the Vero family. I’m not positive on who is aligned with what members, though. All are dangerous,” Les says. “If they’re following other members around, then your assumption is correct. There really is a takeover being planned. Your deeds will be blamed on other members and cause total chaos. Perfect timing for you to be here now.”

“Yeah,” I agree before saying what’s really on my mind. “I saw Aria today. She’s beautiful. Looks so much like Mom.”

“Yes, she does. They’re close. Mom’s usually the only one who can get through to Aria when she shuts down. I spend a lot of time at the house, but she doesn’t open up to me like she does with Mom.”

“It hurts my soul to know she’s become so different than the sister we grew up with. I hate that I’m to blame for that,” I quietly say into the phone.

“You’re not to blame. You had no choice but to run, and us still being alive is proof of that. Circumstances are the cause, but hopefully, with you back here, she’ll return to the person we used to know.”

“With everything going on, maybe you should move back home. I don’t think it would raise suspicion within the family at all,” I state.

“I was planning on talking to you about that. I can pack a few bags after work today. I’d feel better being there with them.”

“Good. They won’t think anything of it, will they?”

“Not at all. Mom called me earlier and said that Aria’s nervous about Leonardo on top of all that’s happening, so that’s reason enough.”

“Okay, brother. I’ll let you get back to work. Talk later,” I say before disconnecting.

I grab my wallet, hat, and hoodie before making my way to my car. I need to drive a few towns over and restock supplies. It’s time to dye my hair again, buy snacks, more burner phones, and the other necessary items to continue my reign of hell.

Moving to a different hotel, I go through my normal routine. When finished, I make my way to the bathroom. Not long after, I’m a ginger-haired man, eyebrows and all. Looking in the mirror, I realize how much weight I’ve lost since leaving Denver. I look nothing like the man that left there. Even my usual smile is missing.

Once again, I find myself prone on a rooftop. It takes me several minutes to find the correct home from the distance between us. I don’t like what I’m about to do, but I see no way around it. I need them to be distracted, paranoid, and going after each other so I don’t have to do all the work of breaking down their crime syndicate.

Peering through the high-powered scope, I watch for the person I’m targeting today. Normally, I’d never do this kind of thing during the daytime, but I want them to never feel safe. Patiently, I wait.

When the FBI agent in charge of the Chicago division appears in view, I’m not completely surprised. The fact that he’s taking a poolside seat with a capo from the Vero family proves little. He could be a friend or there as an investigator. I doubt the latter, but it’s possible, and I don’t like jumping to conclusions. Also, it matters little to me or my mission.

I wait until both men are sitting comfortably with their drinks in hand before I place the crosshairs where I want the bullet to hit. Its deadly force tears through the top of the table sitting between the two men. While both men are diving for cover, I pump two more rounds into the pool.

Once again, I break down my rifle, secure the strap of its case over my shoulder before leaving my perch. Since the house I’m sitting on is secluded from view of the other homes and it’s vacant, I take my time getting to the ground behind the garage. Using the back entrance, I enter the garage, stow my gear in my car, and calmly back out. Driving down the residential street, I don’t notice a single person looking around in surprise or suspicion. This is Chicago. Hearing a few gunshots is not uncommon, and most people prefer to mind their own business. As for home security cameras, if they look for anything, they’ll find the lenses have been spray-painted black.

I take a long, circuitous route back to the hotel, always watching for a tail. When I find none, I return to my temporary room. I wait until dark before walking the parking lot until I find a car sitting by itself, and I exchange license plates with it. No sense in not taking every precaution, so I exchange plates often.

Returning to my room, I flip on the TV and find an action movie. I’m trying to keep my mind busy because I know what the date is today, and it’s been eating at me. Today is Pooh and Pippa’s wedding, and I’m hundreds of miles away. I won’t get to see her walking down the aisle toward her future and one of my best friends. I won’t get to celebrate their big day or see Craig’s face when he realizes he finally has a dad to be proud of. I won’t get to see Tammy’s tears of joy or the ones that Trigger will try to hide.

Worse yet, I know Ava and Taja must have had their babies by now, and I’m not there to welcome them to their new world. I’ve said a prayer every day since I left that both have healthy babies and easy deliveries. I’ve worried about Taja and Vex, especially since their earlier tragedy.

Trying to pull my mind back to the movie, I know it’s not much use. The memories and worries are flooding my system, and I’m helpless to stop them. Has Tessie made the clubhouse a drive-thru yet? Has Bella told anyone other than me about why she’s saving her money? Does Craig know that he’ll have to attend regular school soon? Has Mac found his stash of cashews in Axel’s garage yet? Did Ivy’s brother leave her life, or is he still causing her issues? Has Lucy moved on to a new man, one who doesn’t mislead her with lies? Does she hate me? Will she ever forgive me?

Jumping off the bed, I know I must leave the room and find something to busy myself with before I call her and beg her to wait for me. It wouldn’t be fair since I don’t even know if I’ll be alive past tonight, but the urge to ask that of her is great. I gave up so much, but hope is hard to kill. There’s a part of me that hopes she’ll wait for me forever, in case I can survive this, but I know how selfish that is, and she deserves so much more.

I get into my car and leave the hotel behind. Sleep is not going to come, so I may as well get some surveillance done. Twenty minutes later, I find myself outside a nightclub that holds the person I’m most curious about. While the nightclub is probably nice inside, it’s situated in a sketchy neighborhood.

I find a safe spot for the car, then stick to the shadows to return to the back lot of the nightclub. I watch as people come and go for a few hours before the ones leaving far outnumber those coming. The music is finally cut off, and I know it’s closing time. Dozens of people pour out and drunkenly make their way to cars. When there are only a few cars left, I move into a shadow close to the car I’ve been watching all night.

Two men exit the building, with one locking the door behind him while the other is engrossed in his phone.

“Night, boss,” the man who locked the door says before walking to a crotch-rocket-type motorcycle.

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