Page 33 of Catching His Runaway

Blood rushes to my ears as I watch him have the gall to turn his back on us.

Why is he so confident? If he’s a man who hires help, could someone have infiltrated the estate? Do they plan on trying to take her away, right under my nose?

Valeria is mine. I’m not giving her to anyone. She ismine.

Urzo must be a mind reader, because he jerks in my direction when I reach behind me. Unable to think about anything other than putting a hole in the back of the bastard’s head, I barely get the chance to brush against the handle of my blade I keep tucked away in my back pocket.

I want to carve him up and make him bleed. It will have to be enough to leave me satisfied. The sight of red will do the same thing the garden does. I’ll find peace.

Urzo squeezes my shoulder, his fingers digging into my muscles. “Relax.”

I don’t. Rather, I can’t. My heart feels as heavy as stone, but it beats like it’s woken up from a long nap.

“He hurt her. Put a blade to her throat and left her scarred in ways you can’t imagine. He won’t stop at a few more cuts.” As my muscles ache beneath the restraint of holding them back, my voice waivers. “I want to cut out his tongue so he can’t speak of her again.”

Urzo doesn’t let up his hold, his fingers growing tighter. He doesn’t see it, can’t possibly understand what a man like Elijah wants out of his sister. Not like I do.

“If you go against Santino’s orders and start something without his permission, he won’t be satisfied with taking another finger or two. Not when it involves risking getting his daughter and wife involved. Who will keep Val safe if he decides to kill you to save face?”

My breathing doesn’t slow, my heart continues racing. Somehow, Urzo’s the one with the level head.

Leon trusted me with Valeria because he saw something I didn’t. Santino put her under my watch because he knew I wouldn’t let harm come to her. Not even from my own hands.

Urzo is talking sense. Only I can protect her.

They know, even when I’m lost in my foggy thoughts, I’ll always put Valeria at the top of my priorities. I’ll keep her safe in the end, even if it means losing an opportunity like this.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here before they think they need to start worrying about us.” He moves his hand and pats my back, pushing me forward. “If it means anything, he’s not going to be a problem for much longer.”

Needing to know more, I can’t push, not with so many eyes and ears on us. It’s not until Urzo’s the one to demand the keys in case I’m feeling suicidal that he finally relaxes.

“We weren’t the only ones to show up, you know. Santino sent a few others before us to scope out the place. He had a feeling the guy would come.” We hit the freeway, and he sighs. “They’re ordered to track his location so we can take care of him.”

“Renado doesn’t mind?” I try to relax, but it’s an impossible feat.

“We’re all replaceable. That, and even he thinks the guy is a creepy fucker. Santino’s throwing him some cash, we’re taking care of a problem child without any of his men lashing out because they think he had a hand in it. It’s a win-win for everyone. Just have to kill him in a way that doesn’t bring suspicion.” Urzo shrugs, making it all sound easy.

“I want to kill him,” I tell him once more. “Fuck their suspicion. Better yet, your sister deserves to slit his throat.”

He glances over at me with a lifted brow. “I don’t think Val wants to kill a man. I get I’m not the one who’s been hovering over her all of this time, but she’s not like us, man. You’ll probably fuck up her head even more than it already is.”

Unable to decide if he’s got a point or not, I grunt and decide it’ll be best to talk to her about it.

If she wants to kill him, to give her a reason to stop looking over her shoulder, I don’t care what it takes. I’ll make sure she’s the one who does the final blow.

12

Tommy

As soon as we’re back on the estate, I hear Urzo’s voice behind me demanding we both follow up with Santino.

Fuck that.

I’m a man on a mission, moving through our home with something new clawing at my chest. Something I haven’t felt in ages. Fear.

I need to see Valeria with my own eyes. Otherwise, I won’t be able to ignore this voice whispering in my ear that I can’t trust my brothers. That someone here doesn’t belong.

I’ll want to start interviewing them in the only way I know how. All to make sure Valeria stays safe.

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