Page 41 of O'Mega's Revenge
The Surgeon was back.
He knew I was alive.
He knew Nonno had let me live.
And Wolf? Shit. He was my weak spot. The Surgeon had an uncanny knack for using leverage against you. I knew my sisters in the DHMC would be targeted, too. But the one place he could hurt me worst was right here holding me close. And, if I pushed him away? All I would accomplish was doing more damage than the Surgeon ever could.
Call it an epiphany, or a tactical decision, but it was no secret that I wore my solitude like armor. And it was killing me. That’s why I sought out Wolf in the first place. I was tired of being alone but couldn’t trust anyone else with my secrets. He knew them and was somehow a safe choice to burden with my insecurities. In the process, I’d created a weak point in the walls around my heart.
And that had to end.
With no walls around my heart, there were only weak points. Too many to exploit, and too many to protect. Yet, in that was a strength. Love isn’t a weakness. Sisters and brothers in our circle of found family were the greatest assets one could marshal. If they weren’t fighting each other.
The more I thought about it, the more certain I became. Families were the same around the world. Brothers picked on brothers, sisters fought each other wickedly. But if an outsider threatened your sibling? There was no question where your loyalty lay. I saw it in Wolf and Jackson’s men. To a bit lesser extent, I saw it in Nonno’s men. They quickly were on board with protecting their fellow Destroyer.
Such a thing was worthy of love.
“I have intel on a property.” Several, if the businesses I found were owned by the Surgeon or his associates.
“Sorry?” Wolf wasn’t prepared. But it was time to stop this and take control.
“Follow my lead, babe.”
His expression darkened.
“Jackson, I have a full plate for you on that van. I also got the sedan and entourage that visited your club yesterday. There were more at the destination. I’ve traced the vehicles to four businesses in the Philly region. There are a few left that I haven’t cracked locations for the shell companies yet.”
I dug in my messenger bag and pulled out the journal I’d been taking notes in.
“I’ll have Skinner run ‘em.” He took it from my hand.
“We need to talk to Trot,” I told Wolf as Jackson took off with my book.
“When did you follow the van?” His tone was sharp.
Inhale, exhale, stay focused.
“After Missile dumped a blue braid on my lap yesterday. I went to the lake house then your club. I needed to check in on you to see if you were okay.”
He ran a hand through my hair and smiled. “I’m fine.”
“You woke up and found out you were violated.”
He froze at my words.
“And I needed to see for myself that my sisters hadn’t messed with you too badly.” My tone was pointed and direct. Robotic? Maybe. Robots didn’t have feelings to hurt.
He caught on and captured my face in his hands, tilting my head so he could study it. “I can see your point. And, yeah, that shit isn’t cool. I’m good, though.”
I nodded, still not convinced. The wounds I carried were too deep for that. So, I talked.
“When you wake up after being vulnerable, it’s hard to not blame yourself. Really hard not to think you somehow did something wrong. And…”
His grip on my head tightened. “It’s onthem.Allon them.”
“Yes.”
His gusty exhale ruffled through my hair.
