Page 136 of Toxic

"Dante, come in and close the door," Tully's voice booms.

Finn opens the door more and steps back. His face turns solemn.

I've lost track of how many times I've had a bad feeling course through my bones today. But it's more intense than previously. I struggle not to shudder. I walk past Finn. He closes the door, and I stare at Tully. "What's going on?"

He and Finn exchange a glance. I'm not sure what it means, but I know it's not good.

"Tell me what the hell is going on," I demand.

Tully points to his chair. "Get a drink and sit. Both of you."

"I don't want a drink. Why are you here?" I direct to Finn.

Finn sits and motions to the seat.

I take it and tap my fingers on the arm.

It feels like forever, with Finn and Tully nervously looking at each other, before Tully takes a long drink of whiskey and clears his throat. Over the next fifteen minutes, I swallow bile too many times to count as he and Finn disclose what happened to Bridget.

When they finish speaking, I take a few moments, trying to gather my thoughts and forcing my emotions down my throat. My fists curl so tight, they go numb. I stare at the edge of Tully's desk, attempting to regulate my heartbeat. I finally seethe, "I'll kill every one of those bastards."

"We think they're all dead," Finn replies.

I snap my head toward him. "Think? Think is not good enough."

He nods. "Agreed. But Niall and Shamus, as well as Lorenzo, are dead. Bridget doesn't know who the other men were. We took out the majority of the Baileys who were in Chicago. I know there are still some here, but we hit them hard. Same for the Rossis."

"Not good enough," I snarl then jump out of my seat, heading toward the door.

"Dante," Tully calls out.

I spin. "I'll deal with this accordingly. This stays in this room, between us. Not one of your men is to know about this, do you understand me?"

Tully nods.

"I mean it, Tully. You don't speak about this to any of your advisors. I don't care if you trust your life with them."

"I'm not going to."

I grind my molars and take off down the hall. When I get to the den, I open the door and find Bridget staring into space. Her swollen eyes are red. Brenna has her arm around her and pins her gaze on mine.

"Finn's in Tully's office. I assume you know where it is?"

She nods and kisses Bridget's head. Brenna leaves the room.

Bridget meets my eyes and blinks, as if she's registering where she's at and that I'm standing here. Then her lips tremble and tears fall fast down her cheeks.

I pull her onto my lap and into my arms. She loses it, sobbing uncontrollably, at times choking out, "I'm sorry."

"Shh," I croon, stroking her hair and kissing her head. I hold her as tight as I can, vowing to find all the information I can about the men who raped her. If any of them are still alive, I'm hunting them down. My punishment for them is going to be ten times as gruesome as what they put her through.

A long time passes before Bridget stops crying. She glances up, but the pain is still all over her face. She takes a shaky breath. "How am I going to protect the kids now? My father...he'll...oh God!" Tears fall again.

I wipe at them, shaking my head. "No. He's not saying anything to anyone. You have my word. No one is touching the kids. No one will know you said anything."

"Do you understand why they can't go to Chicago?" she panics.

I hold both her cheeks. "Listen to me. The kids aren't going anywhere until I'm positive it's safe. I promise you."

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