Page 23 of Blood Ties
"You and I both know him having an alibi doesn't matter. He has plenty of friends who could've done this for him."
"I'm telling you; Marcus would never risk hurting Mateo. He knows how much my family means to me and he knows how much Mateo means to his son, Gabriel. This fight is between us."
"Except when he fucks with the business, he fucks with us all. How can you be so sure he wouldn't do this as a warning of what would happen if you show up in Kansas again?"
"The men leaving behind the—"
"There were no brass shells found anywhere. At least take more than a day to think this through. Go see your son."
"Where is he?"
"I'll take you to him now."
He's wrong, he has to be. Marcus couldn't be the one responsible and if he is then I've been blindsided this whole time. The man I've loved all these years may truly be gone after all. And if he really had tried to hurt Mateo, is Isaiah in danger too?
Able pulls into Gabriel and Mateo’s new home. Gabriel is standing outside waiting on the front porch as we drive through the opening gate. I step out of the car, rushing toward the front door. "Where's my son?"
"Resting. I see you've finally made it back home. Isaiah called not long ago saying you were a lot of help during your visit. He said you got a man who was hired to leave behind more brass to talk."
"I did. That's how your brother was able to track down Mr. Williams. We will get these men too."
"I have no doubt,” he says with confidence laced in his tone.
"Did these men who attacked us yesterday know Mateo was in the warehouse?
"There's no doubt in my mind they did.” He blows out a breath. “They told him something before activating the bomb."
"What do you mean?" My voice wavers.
"They said his death will be a warning to you and that you wouldn't want to lose both of your sons."
A lump forms in my throat. "A warning for what?"
"Able said someone has been sending you messages for a while now by messing with orders and setting fires to the field."
I shake my head. "Those aren't related.”
"You're sure?" He lifts brow.
"Mostly."
"So you know who it is?" He steps closer.
"Yes." I scrub a hand over my face, feeling restless inside.
"Shouldn't we track them down and make them pay for the trouble they've caused? Then we can question them on whether or not yesterday was their doing."
"It's not that simple, Gabriel."
"Why the fuck not? Who are you trying to protect?"
I release a drawn out sigh. "Your father."
His brows furrow. "What does my father have to do with any of this?"
"We should go inside and talk."
He nods, leading me through the front door. We both take a seat in the living room, sitting across from one another. Gabriel stares out the window. "Are you going to tell me the real reason you were in Kansas City?"
