Page 101 of Captured Innocence

His face was covered in soot, three other ‘bombs’ going off on the estate, which had allowed enemy soldiers to invade the property. There was evidence of a struggle; both Sophia’s laptop and phone were smashed.

“The smoke bomb was done from a distance,” Vincenzo huffed, trying to catch his breath. “They surrounded the place just past the cameras. Then they came at once.”

“That’s because the goddamn system hadn’t been changed,” I snarled.

“There had been no reason to,” Dar insisted. “Tommaso was dead.”

I released my hold on Vincenzo, fisting my hand. “The goddamn barn burned. Wasn’t his body there?”

“You know the answer to that,” Enzo said. “Nothing was left. Nothing.”

That was the truth, but it didn’t make the situation any easier. “Where are they?”

“They left. There were at least eight vehicles.” Vincenzo was insistent.

I took a deep breath, glancing at Dar. “He blames us for what happened to him.”

“That goes without saying,” Dar said. “He could be anywhere.”

“No. He’s repeating history, my brother.”

Dar narrowed his eyes. Then he glanced at Enzo. “Fuck. Then we don’t have any time to waste.”

“Vinny. Have the men leave the estate in a hurry, as in make a lot of noise about it,” I told him.

“And go where?”

“Surround the estate but stay out of view. That’s what he’d anticipate just like he did years before.”

Vinny huffed. “You’re trying to tell me the Ghost is there.”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you. Now, do what I say. We won’t have much time. He will kill them if he doesn’t get what he wants.”

“And what is that?” Enzo asked.

“Our deaths,” Dar answered. “He thinks we should die.”

Narrowing my eyes, I realized almost instantly what he was saying. “The goddamn barn?”

“That’s where it all began, the beginning of what he saw as the end.” Dar was convinced.

I thought about that night and the nights leading up to it. “My God. I told Tommaso about a conversation I overheard.”

“What are you talking about?” Enzo asked.

“About our father promising Dar’s dad that he would take care of his children. Sadly, only one survived.” I was shocked I hadn’t even thought about it. “He must have thought for certain even then he was being replaced.”

“That’s why I saw him at the ranch that night. I tried to get his attention, but he was running. I had no idea what the hell was going on. Then everything exploded, soldiers screaming there was a fire. Jesus. Fucking Christ. We went to school together. We were friends.”

As soon as Enzo said the words, I felt my muscles start to tense. “Tommaso caused the fire all those years ago.” The fire that had taken the lives of D’Artagnan’s entire family, almost ending his. The fire where Dar had held his dying sister in his arms, trying to will her back to life.

And the fire that stripped away Lucia’s innocence, stealing the boy she knew one day she would love, the one who sang to her inside a barn.

A stable boy.

The continuation of a vicious war between two powerful families, one that cost millions of dollars, hundreds of lives, friendships, and brothers.

All the secrets and lies had formed a crossroads, ready to destroy three new families who’d been nothing but pawns for two men who had no understanding of how much damage they would cause.

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