Page 50 of Ruthless Oath

“No,” he said. “You can’t give her back. Not yet.”

I didn’t expect that.

“I don’t like your tactics,” he said. “We don’t go after family members, especially women.”

“She came to me for help, but I should have sent her away.”

I couldn’t turn her away that night any more than I could now. Lissia was a part of this, and my gut told me I had to keep her by my side to protect her. Being stuck in the middle of my loyalty to my father and my growing attraction to a woman who needed me put me in a dangerous place.

“You should never have taken her hostage. I tell you all the time not to let a woman cloud your judgment.” He stopped talking, and I knew he was thinking about the one woman who would haunt us forever.

My mother.

“What’s done is done,” he said. “You’ll keep her with you for as long as we need to. Gian and the arms dealer want her back, and while they are focusing on her, that creates the disturbance we need to move shipments and find the traitors who betrayed the cartel.”

“It makes sense.”

“I don’t believe Gian has anything to do with the murder of that cartel member,” my father said. “He may be working with the person who did, but he doesn’t have the resources or the connections to hide it forever.”

“So, we’re back to square one?”

“I’m working with a contact in Greece. I’m supposed to meet with him in a few days. I’ll know more then.”

“Are you sure that’s safe?” I asked.

“I have men with me who won’t let anything happen to me. We also have the Stavros family in Athens who will protect me.”

“I’d feel better if Milo or I could be with you.”

“I want you both where you are. Protect the territory and keep the cartel happy.”

I hated that he was out there on the run because someone wanted what was ours and they were willing to do anything to get it. When a key member of the cartel was killed on our territory, my father was obligated to find out what had happened.

“I have to go,” he said. “But I need you to listen to me.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“If you get too close to this woman, you won’t be able to do what is necessary.”

“I lost focus, but it won’t happen again.”

“You clearly feel the need to protect her, and I can’t get into all the reasons why that’s a bad idea, but you’re as stubborn as I am, so telling you to stay away from her isn’t going to work.”

“You’re my priority.”

“I don’t doubt that,” he said. “I’m just warning you that, even if you get close to Lissia, you still have to make a choice. Are you going to be able to eliminate Gian if the situation calls for it?”

“Of course I will.”

“Even if his daughter shares your bed?”

“I’ll do what has to be done with no remorse if it gets you home.”

“That’s my boy,” he said. “I’ll be in touch when I can.”

“Stay safe.”

He ended the call, leaving me filled with more dread than when we started. We were no closer to getting him back than we were a week ago. I had gone through all the trouble of taking Lissia in hopes that I would force Gian’s hand, but all I had done was set off a war that turned people against us. I had let my father down in the process, and I hated knowing I had disappointed him.

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