Page 89 of Caged Bird

I instantly knew from the tone of his voice that whatever he’d found out, it wasn’t a good thing. Despite all the people I loved around me, it was Zane I reached for, clutching his fingers between mine.

My brother looked none too happy about it, but he didn’t comment, for which I was grateful. I knew getting them to like Zane would be a tough ask, but he was what I needed. He’d been there with me. The only light in the darkness I’d had, and it was what I clung to now while the rest of the world still felt out of control.

“Just tell me, V. Whatever it is.”

He nodded. “When you said Eddie was mixed up with the Guerras, Ophelia and I both recognized the name. We’d hoped it wasn’t the same family we’re acquainted with here in Saint View. It’s a common enough last name, and where we found you is so far away, we figured it would be a different group.”

The name didn’t mean anything to me that I could remember, though so much of the past few years was a blur of details I’d forgotten.

But Zane stiffened at my side. “You think Guerra is… Wait, as in Luca Guerra?” He swore beneath his breath. “Fuck, I didn’t even consider it. I haven’t heard that name in over five years.”

A man I didn’t recognize stepped forward. “As in Luca’s father, Carlos, actually. Luca is out of his father’s game. He tookhis sister, and they’ve disappeared.” He held a hand out for Zane to shake. “I’m Hayden, by the way.” He glanced at me. “I’m Liam’s brother. I own a club that used to be part-owned by Luca Guerra, which is why your brother asked me to come in. I know a bit about their family.”

My head spun, trying to fit all the pieces together, but I remembered Liam. He was an old childhood friend of Eve’s, and he’d come to family night at the club a few times. Staring at his brother now, I could see the family resemblance in the kindness of his expression.

But the stiffness in Zane’s posture had worry quickening my breaths. I looked between him and Hayden and Vincent, waiting for someone to tell me what was going on.

Ophelia was the one who filled me in. “Amongst the Guerras’ legal businesses, like the club Hayden runs, they’re also into human trafficking. Women, mostly. But…”

I shook my head, not wanting to hear the rest of what she was going to say. “No. You have the wrong people… You said yourself the name was common. They’re probably just into guns or drugs… Eddie never tried to sell me. He would have, if he was involved…”

Hayden pulled out his phone and scrolled through a few apps before turning the device around so I could see the screen. “This is Carlos Guerra’s third and current wife, Audrina. Is this the woman you saw him with?”

Nobody needed me to say yes. They already knew it was.

I doubled over, putting my hands on my knees. “You think they want to sell him?”

Ophelia rubbed my back soothingly. “I really hope not. I hope Eddie just took him to hurt you, but…”

I lifted my head. “But what would hurt me more than selling my child so I never get him back? Eddie doesn’t care about him!He never has! He’s only ever used him as something to torture me with.”

Ophelia looked like she wanted to cry just as much as I did. But I refused to let tears form. Instead, I let a red-hot, blinding rage take their place, and once it was there, I held on to it, gripped it with everything I had so I didn’t fall apart.

I refused to be weak when my son needed me.

Vincent was less emotional, his feelings forever tucked away deep inside him where few could reach. The only sign he was agitated was the way he played with a switchblade, flicking the steel in and out with his thumb.

A habit I recognized from when we were younger. One he’d started as a coping mechanism for dealing with our parents. Ophelia had gotten in fights. Vincent had fidgeted with his knives. While I’d just tried not to be noticed.

But I’d spent too long trying to hide. Trying to be good and quiet and never drawing attention to myself.

That had to end.

I’d thought I’d realized that when I’d taken the job at the strip club. I’d thought swinging around poles and taking my clothes off was the way I broke free of the shell I’d built for myself.

But I’d slunk straight back into it the moment things had gone wrong.

I couldn’t do that again.

I turned to Vincent. “What do we do? And don’t you dare baby me and tell me you’re going without me. That’s my child out there, V. Do not tell me I’m sitting out.”

He blinked at my outburst and glanced at my sister.

I glared at her too.

Zane’s mouth lifted at one corner, and Eve broke out into a wide grin.

“That’s my girl,” she said proudly. “You tell ’em.”

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