Page 103 of Ruthless Vengeance
“It doesn’t matter what I want. I made her a promise, and I won’t go back on my word.”
“Marco, if Cillian catches wind of our plan?—”
“Don’t you think I know? If Cillian is one step ahead of us, then it’s all over.”
The words taste like poison in my mouth, but it’s too late. If I tell Clara she has to stay behind, I have a feeling she’ll only find another way to help. At least this way, I can be sure of her whereabouts and that she’s all right with my brother protecting her.
“You’ll keep her safe?” I ask him for what feels like the hundredth time.
“With my life.”
I nod, my jaw aching from clenching it so hard.
Andre gets to his feet and comes around the table to clap me on the shoulder. “We’ve got this.”
I want to believe him. Hell, Ineedto believe him. But there’s so much that can go wrong, and I’ve never had more to lose than I do right now.
Before we head out, I stop by Zoe’s room to say goodbye to my little girl.
I’m glad that she’s still so young that she won’t remember any of this, but that thought does little to ease the guilt in my chest.
One wrong move tonight, and she could end up losing both her parents.
I find her already asleep in her crib, her cheeks flushed, and her little fist curled around the corner of her blanket. She’s so perfect and innocent—the exact opposite of the world I’ve brought her into.
I bend over the crib and press a kiss to her forehead.
“I love you, baby girl.” My heart cracks open in my chest.
Please don’t let this be the last time I see my daughter.
When I turn to leave the room, I find Lila hovering in the doorway, her eyes red and swollen. I have no doubt she offered to come too when she heard Clara would be joining our mission tonight, but my brother is not as soft as I am.
“Be careful.” There is a silent plea in her eyes.
“I’ll make sure he comes back to you,” I promise her, but Lila shakes her head.
“Promise me you’ll all come back to me.” Her voice thickens with tears.
I cross over to her and pull her into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I’ll do my best.” A promise like that is nothing but empty words when it comes to my world.
When I look up, Clara is hovering at the top of the stairs.
She’s dressed in a pair of leggings and one of the few t-shirts I own. She must have dug it out of my closet.
My eyes rake over her body, landing on her still flat belly. Knowing that a piece of me is growing inside her almost brings me to my knees.
How the hell did I get so lucky?
“Clara.” I reach out for her, needing desperately to press her body against mine.
“I’ll miss you.” She wraps her arms around me.
I bury my face in her hair, inhaling the sweet fruity scent of her shampoo. “I’ll see you soon.”
She nods. “You better,” she says softly. “Just…be careful, okay?Please.”
I pull back to take her face in my hands and kiss her slowly, letting my tongue trace the curve of her lips. “This will be over soon. I swear.”
