Page 109 of Heritage of Fire

I stare at the note. Struck. Incapacitated.

My heart flutters at the brief thought he loves me, but then the pounding in my ears increases and adrenaline rushes through my body. An open-ended ticket slides out of the envelope, along with a wad of cash.

He’s really dumping me off at the airport. Disguising this as some sort of honorable act so he can justify removing me from his life.

I fling open my door, startling Frank, who was reaching for the handle.

“What is this Frank? Where is he?” I demand, shoving the piece of paper into his chest. The departure lane has an overhead awning, but it’s leaking, and the wind is blowing rain into my face.

“He told me yesterday he wanted you safe—and able to travel wherever you’d like to go. I believe the ticket is open-ended.”

I’m shaking. His mother left because she didn’t want to be a part of this life, and he’s tossing me right in with her, assuming I’ll leave him, too. Does he think me so selfish that I’d just leave to travel around the world while he’s here working forbothour families?

Does he not want me? Am I truly not enough?

“Mrs. Balakin. I have instructions to see you to airport security.”

“I’mnotgoing. Where isheFrank?” I glare at him, squeezing my fists together so hard my nails bite into my palms. The rain makes my hair stick to my face, but I bat it away.

Frank’s eyes dart back and forth, his shuffling feet doing the same. “He—he has a raid tonight. The Cosa Nostra and Bratva are attacking the Eight.”

I jerk back like I’ve been struck.

“Take me.Now,” I tell him, clutching the door with one hand and using my other to stick a finger in Frank’s face.

“I cannot do that, Mrs. Balakin.” His skin has gone ashen, and he’s shivering.

“I’ll call for a car.” I slam the door shut and move around him, but he grabs my arm. I level him with a look, trying to convey that I willnotallow him to push me around. “Let go, Frank. You can either bring me to him or I will find another way.”

Spittle spews from my lips. I wipe my sleeve across my mouth, pulling away my red lipstick. Frank release me and steps back, rubbing his palms on his pants.

“Okay, okay. I’ll take you. But he’s going to kill me for this.” Frank leaves me to run around to the driver’s side. He pulls out his phone and dials a number as I yank open the front passenger-side door and climb in, my pants saturated from the rain. Frank pauses his phone call to look over at me, but I keep my eyes trained out the front window.

He quickly pulls away from the departure lane, cutting off another vehicle as we leave the airport.

“I’m so dead,” he mutters.

I snort. “Not if I kill him first.

Chapter 41

Nik

Ididn’t want to get out of bed this morning. Luna’s hair had been splayed across the silk pillowcase, her olive skin peeking out from under the sheet. All I wanted was to pull her underneath me again.

But the stress of today got me up, and I focused on getting ready, quiet enough to let Luna sleep. When I went out to the kitchen, I took in all the touches of her around the apartment, mourning the loss of them already. I don’t want her to leave, but I need to give her this opportunity. I can’t be like her father—or mine. I can’t hold on to her, trapping her in this life.

The day moved forward with tactical planning and rounding the teams together. Matteo and his men showed up to the office early, while Salvatore strolled in much later in the day. Luka’s constant pacing and facial tics were driving me nuts, and I couldn’t seem to get Luna out of my head no matter how hard I tried. Despite needing to be clearheaded going into tonight, thoughts of her kept wrapping around me, just like her scent. As the day wore on, I just kept thinking—how can I possibly let her go?

You don’t want this life for her. That’s how.

Night finally falls and something shifts in my mind. By now, Luna’s arrived at the airport and is on her way to something better. My chest aches, but after running through all reasons I don’t deserve her—Luna’s kidnapping being the most prominent—I’m finally able to focus in on what Luka and Salvatore are saying.

“We head out soon,” Luka tells us. “Two cars, four men in each. Approach the back entrance with caution. This is a reminder—any of the Eight willing to provide us with information should be spared and apprehended. We need to question them for Kieran.”

“Remember,” Salvatore adds. “They have armed security who will fight back, and they themselves are most likely armed. Most will not hesitate to shoot you. Be prepared.”

Wearing full tactical vests and uniforms, we squish into the SUVs together. The clothing is bulky and uncomfortable. Blood pounds in my ears, and my heart hammers faster and faster the closer we get.

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