Page 88 of Ruthless Vengeance
Cillian has been playing the long game and if we wait too long, he’s going to take everything from us.
Bruno sits forward, twining his fingers together as a deep crease forms between his eyebrows.
“Say we do this, say we help you take Cillian out.” His eyes focus on the table as he thinks this all through. “What’s to stop you from turning on us once it’s over?”
His eyes flick up to meet mine.
“Because I give you my word.”
Bruno snorts. “Your word?”
I nod once. “It means something. Whether you believe that or not, it’s all I have to offer besides blood and territory. My brother and I aren’t here to play games, and we’re sure as hell not looking to double-cross anyone. I want Cillian gone, for good.”
Bruno looks at Carlos, and a silent exchange passes between them. A subtle shift in expression followed by a nod of the head has me starting to hope.
Carlos and Bruno both get to their feet. “All right. We’re in. But if you screw us?—”
“You’ll kill us.” I rise to my feet as well. “Understood.”
Andre dips his chin at the brothers before we turn to leave. “We’ll be in touch soon,”
As we step outside into the cool night, the warehouse doors groaning closed behind us, I exhale slowly.
The adrenaline is still pumping through my veins as I look up at the darkening sky, the looming threat of what’s to come casting a shadow over us.
I might have got the Costa brothers on our side, but this is only the beginning.
Andre drivesus back to Westchester. “We’re playing with fire now.”
“We always were.”
He glances at me, but I keep my eyes forward on the road ahead, lost in thought.
If Cillian thinks, even for a second, that I’ve double crossed him, it’s all over. I can kiss goodbye to any future with Clara and Zoe, and the thought has bile burning my throat.
“We need to make sure the girls don’t leave the estate until this is done.” Andre’s mind must no doubt be plagued by the same dark thoughts as mine.
I nod. “If Cillian gets even a whiff of what we’re planning?—”
“There’s no telling what he’ll do.”
We might have played this well so far, but Cillian’s the kind of guy who keeps backup plans for his backup plans. He doesn’t blink before ordering bloodshed, and we need to make sure we’re always three steps ahead.
Andre frowns. “With the Costa brothers on our side, we can take out Cillian quickly. But I still want us to be prepared for all outcomes.”
I groan as we pull up to the estate. “Fuck. This isn’t going to be an easy conversation.”
Rosa is not going to like this, especially after what happened at the cabin, but I don’t think Andre and I have any other options.
As we stand in the foyer, the happy laughter of the girls filters through from the kitchen.
I hate having to be the one to cloud their lives in darkness, but I have no other options.
My stomach clenches, but Andre places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“We need to do this.”
I take a last deep breath before calling out to the girls to join us.
