Page 61 of When Sinners Dare

This is a ballsy move. I know it, and I’m hoping it will pay off.

“Cover the exit so she can’t escape,” I ask Kai.

One more deep breath, and I open the office door. I pull Naja with me and look around at all of my brothers. I’m hit with the confused looks on their faces, and a bubble of satisfaction lifts in my chest.

“This belongs to us.” I push Naja forward into the room, and she falls to the floor, now surrounded by Cortezes all looming over her. “And I don’t know about you, but I’m fed up with this game we’re playing.” My confidence grows as I see them looking at one another. My eyes glance to Knox, who looks as stunned as the others, but gives me a little nod, and that’s all I need. “You want me to be one of you, you want me to be a Cortez, well here I am. Take this as my evidence.” I hold my arms out as I stand over her.

“Who’s she?” Shaw asks. I know Knox knows, and I had assumed they’d all know the details, but obviously not. Another surge of satisfaction builds my confidence higher.

“This is Naja. She’s the one Reed tore up his club to save.” I start out, and that confidence morphs into anger, turning sour and putrid as I run through the words in my head. “Reed’s the one who took our property and money and vanished. Only he didn’t vanish.” I look to Abel. “You’ve been sitting on his location. Sitting on information while we bury Elias and watch our family tear itself apart.”

Naja stays down and keeps her head low. She’s seen my brothers before. In London. Before all hell broke out.

As if he knows I need someone in my corner, I feel Kai’s hand rest on my shoulder, having my back, and I could have cried with relief.

Dante’s the first to move, grabbing Naja and slamming her up against the far wall, his hand around her neck. “I remember you,” he sneers into her face.

“What was your plan when you got her back here?” Abel asks, his calm question starting to unnerve me.

“That’s up to you. She’s our property. We do with her what we like.”

“Take her to Carman,” Abel tells Dante.

“With pleasure,” he says, behind gritted teeth. He twists her arm up behind her back, making her wince, and with his other arm around her neck, marches her from the room.

I have to admit, I was expecting more. More of a fight, more of something.

With Dante out of the room, Abel looks at me. “So, you went to New York and got her?”

“Someone needed to.”

“And you thought you’d make that decision. By yourself?”

“You clearly wouldn’t.”

His eyes narrow at me, and I can see the real Abel he hides behind smart suits and business. “Wouldn’t? Don’t be fucking naive!” he bellows at me, betraying the calm exterior he’s trying on.

“It’s been months. Why shouldn’t I act? I was safe, I had Kai as backup.” It’s like none of them have noticed the six-foot-two-inches of all man standing in the shadows behind me until now.

“What the fuck, Mariana,” Shaw moans, but I don’t care about him. He’d never have the balls to do what I’ve just done.

“No. None of you gets to do this. We had the information. We had the opportunity. Deal with her how you will, but do not tell me this wasn’t the right move, because I fucking know it was.”

“And what about Reed or Logan Cane? Did you think about them?” Abel starts.

“You think either of them will risk going up against us for her?” I bluff.

“Fuck!” Abel breaks and slams his hands down on the desk. “Mariana, so help me if this brings Logan fucking Cane to our door before I'm ready-”

“Woah, woah,” Knox steps in. “Ease up. We don’t know that. I, for one, am glad she’s done this. It’s about time we showed who we really are.” Knox backs me up and a slight smile tweaks over my lips in gratitude.

This was not the congratulatory celebration I had hoped for.

If they can’t see what I’ve done, then fuck them.

I turn and grab Kai’s hand as I pass, squeezing it to stave off the disappointment and tears caused by my family and leave.

When we reach the open air, I turn to Kai. “Thank you. For being there. For backing me up.” I’m sincere in my thanks. There’s a subtle shift in my chest, and I can’t put my finger on what it is, but I have a feeling it’s the fact that he’s now as important to me as my brothers are. They're the ones I’d always look for to be there for me, but it’s now Kai who I want to call, whom I want to feel behind me.

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