Page 133 of Toxic

Finn's eyebrows pin together. "Did you tell Tully?"

Dizziness hits me. All the nightmares I've had about how my father would handle this and what would happen to my children fill me. Over the years, whenever he found Bailey or Rossi members in his clan, it only proved I was right not to tell him. I panic, "No. And you can't tell him! Now you see why the kids can't go to Chicago to visit. It's still not safe for any of you to even be here."

"Niall, Shamus, and Lorenzo are all dead. Most of the Baileys and Rossis, too," Finn declares.

"You don't know that," I state, unable to believe everyone is dead and there would be no danger.

"I do. And I know it because we killed them."

Anxiety explodes throughout my body. I shake my head. "They told me there are Baileys in my father's clan. If I tell him, they'll find out."

Finn sternly orders, "Bridget, in the last year, your father eliminated over a dozen Baileys from his clan. Liam told me. You have to tell him."

"I-I can't. I don't want him to know what..." I turn, covering my face to hide from the shame. "My kids are all I have left. They hate me right now. I don't blame them. But please. Nothing can happen to them."

Several moments pass before Finn rises. "We will no longer let the Baileys or Rossis or any other family destroy our lives. This needs to end, Bridget. Your father needs to know."

"Finn, please. I can't… I can't look at my father and tell him..." I hide my face in my hands again.

"I'm sorry, but I promise you, it's the right thing to do. Both of you stay here," Finn orders then leaves the room before I can find the strength to get up and stop him.

Brenna slides her arm around my shoulders. We sit in silence, from time to time glancing at each other. I'm unable to move or stop the frantic thoughts in my head.

I just told the truth. There's no going back. I put my children in more danger. My father will be so livid he won't be able to stop himself from having all his men hunt for any Rossi or Bailey left. Who knows which of his men are traitors.

What have I done?

27

Dante

"I'll killhim if you force my hand, Cara," Gianni threatens into the phone when I walk into the room. My brother has a tone in his voice that I know too well. It signals he's lost all his patience and is about to snap.

My gut twists. I don't need another incident with the Abruzzos. It's pointless to ask him who he's going to kill. In all reality, I'm surprised Uberto is still alive. The incident at the club was pretty ugly. And the longer Cara defies Gianni, the more unhinged he's becoming.

Gianni tugs on his hair. "You don't know what you're doing with him. End it, or I will." He tosses his phone on the desk and spins toward me, sneering. "Don't look at me like that."

I release a breath. It's a lost cause talking to him. Gianni is going to do what Gianni wants to do. I hold my hands in the air. "Not here to talk about your personal shit. Rubio just sent a message we have a shipment arriving tonight from Florida."

He sits behind the desk, scratches his cheek, then pauses for a moment. "Nothing is due from Florida for two weeks. He must be misinformed."

Goose bumps break out on my skin. Shipments from the southeast are Gianni's territory. When Rubio texted me, I checked our log. Nothing was on the schedule. I assumed Gianni arranged something last minute and didn't log it. I sit across from him. "You don't know anything about this?"

His eyes turn to slits. "No. Nothing comes in without me knowing about it. It has to be a mistake."

More bad feelings erupt in my cells. "I called Rubio. He says it's not. He spoke with the captain."

Gianni's eyes turn darker, locking on mine. He firmly states, "I didn't authorize any shipments."

Cold silence sits between us. Unspoken words increase my anxiety. Any shipment not authorized is a hazard. Different crime families have sent shipments to other's ports before. It usually resulted in an FBI raid, taking out the higher-ups in enemy families.

We both rise at the same time. "I'll tell Papà."

"No. I'll handle it," Gianni insists.

I lower my voice. "We need to tell him."

"I don't need another lecture right now. I said I'll handle it."

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