Page 49 of Catching His Runaway

Pulling my hand from hers, my fingers slide toward her face to carefully cup her cheeks and tilt her head back. Leaning in, the tightness of my chest loosens when my mouth presses against hers.

I don’t know how long I spend kissing her, long enough to quiet the rage burning in the corners of my thoughts. Long enough to hear one of her brothers calling out her name.

We have to go. As much as I want to do more than kiss her lips and taste her relief, we have to go.

“Santino will draw out any rats. We might need to take our time returning home,” Urzo warns us as we make our way out of the cabin. “Unless you want to see our brother when he’s acting the part.”

Her nose wrinkles, and she rubs her arm. “I think I’ve seen enough violence today.”

Humming my agreement, I walk her out of the cabin, blocking out most of our surroundings with my body so she doesn’t have to look.

Lazaro carefully sets his gun into the trunk. “You’ve got to take me back home. Might as well properly get cleaned up first. Just don’t cause a scene. I don’t want Abigail to worry.”

With how often he stays away from the family, I’ve only gotten the chance to meet his wife once or twice. Seeing a bunch of bloodied in-laws might be what hammers the final nail in the coffin.

Valeria nods before I can think about declining. She squeezes my hand, and that’s that. She’s going to meet Abigail.

Before we leave, Urzo and Lazaro take care of making a message out of this. Using gasoline from the cars parked around the cabin, they spread enough fuel to leave nothing behind. After lighting a cigarette, Lazaro’s the one to set the place ablaze.

For a few minutes, we watch the mixture of red and orange light up our surroundings. The sky up above changes colors as dusk approaches, and the night sky should help conceal the smoke long enough for us to make it out of here.

Valeria’s car isn’t on the lot. Who knows what they’ve done with it? If I had to guess, Elijah sent out the order to get rid of any evidence with the intention of never giving her a way of escape.

“I’ll find it,” I promise her softly with the saddened look on her face at the realization her precious car is gone. Even if it costs me my savings if they put it up for sale, or I have to check every storage lot state, I’ll find it.

Her smile is rewarding, setting my promise in stone.

As the Bertelli brothers take the front seats of the car, we take the back. As soon as she slides in, I don’t give her time to fumble with the seat belt. Instead, I’m dragging her toward my lap and tucking my nose to the crook of her neck. Breathing in, I feel like I can finally relax.

“I smell disgusting,” she groans, her hand finding my chest as she tries to put a little distance between us.

She doesn’t. Whether she’s freshly showered or just took a bath in blood, she is the best-smelling thing that’s ever hit my nose. It’s why I tug her closer, humming in disagreement as my arms lock her in place.

Realizing she’s got nowhere else to go, she settles comfortably against my thighs as Urzo drives away from the flickering flames that are engulfing the cabin,

Lazaro lives in a suburban patch on the edge of our part of the state. By the time we pull into the drive, the sky is scattered with stars and the moon is most of the lighting we have to make it up to his front door.

Before we can crack it open, the door is yanked open. Abigail stands there with big, wide eyes, taking us all in. Thankfully, Lazaro is the only one of us who doesn’t have blood specs on his clothing—perks of attacking from a distance.

Watching the way she throws her arms around him and kisses him with relief, I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to have Valeria meet me the same way every time I finish a job.

Would she be happy to see me, knowing what I do? Or, will she grimace every time I return to her smelling the way I do now?

My brows pinch together as I think deeper about it.

“These guys are going to clean up a little and hang out.” Lazaro motions toward his sister with a smile once the two part ways. “You’ve met the other two, but this is my sister, Val.”

Abigail takes her in with surprise. “The dead one?”

“The one and only,” Valeria laughs softly as she stirs where she stands. “Just very much alive now, thank goodness.”

Abigail welcomes her with a warm smile and motions us all to shuffle inside. With one hand planted on her rounded stomach, and the other offering a warm entrance, it’s hard not to lower my guard.

For now, I think I’ll be okay too.

Leaving our shoes at the door, Urzo stays at the entrance with his phone while the other two motion us deeper into the home.

“Urzo will need the first aid kit once he’s done reassuring his wife that he’s fine before she sees the damage,” Lazaro explains to Abigail softly, his hand finding the middle of her back.

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