Page 147 of Rise To Power

“They want the girls compliant.”

“Oh god, what does that mean?”

“They’ve drugged her. When I last saw her, she was out of it.”

I rested my forehead on my bent knees. “We need help.”

Guns, soldiers, and a plan.Knox couldn’t take on the Irish mafia on his own.

“From the Italians? How are you going to deal with the guilt when your brother or husband ends up dead?”

He was right. Asking Marco, my brother, or even Tim was out of the question. Oh god, and if Knox’s bosses ever found out he’d betrayed them and brought the Italians to the fight, they’d kill him.

“Fuck,” he cursed. “This is going to be bad. There’s no way the Irish and the Italians don’t go to war after taking Dee. I don’t fucking care anymore, but you and Dee aren’t going to be caught in the crossfire. I promise, I’ll get her out.”

“Not alone. How many dead Irish are you going to feel guilt over?”

“None. I can’t be a part of this anymore.”

I couldn’t help Knox from here. “Come get me.”

“I’ll always need you, but you’re not coming within ten miles of here.”

I took a deep breath. “You’ve trained me for this.”

Breath echoed through the phone, but he wasn’t saying no.

“It’s too dangerous,” he said.

“And neither one of us can live with the consequences if we don’t try. You need me.”

“Always,” he whispered.

“And forever.”

“How long will it take you to get out of the house once I send you a text?”

Five minutes to make an excuse, get to my room, another ten minutes to climb down the trellis and make my way to the wall. I had to avoid the cameras, the guards, and Tim. “Fifteen minutes.”

“It might be a couple of hours. Be ready.”

I hung up.

I needed a plan. I changed into jeans and my hoodie and tucked Knox’s phone into my front pouch with the ringer on silent. I hiked up my pant leg and strapped a knife to my ankle. Ready to scramble, I had my shoes on and a strategy.

I stared at the ruby on my finger. I couldn’t take Marco with me. This was deliberate disobedience. I didn’t know what was happening in the guesthouse. He wrestled with his own demons, his wars, and his enemies.

But I wasn’t going to give him more to worry about. I’d take the blame and punishment.

I slipped off the ring. Once Dee was home, once she was safe, I’d find a way to get through to Marco. Maybe he’d never forgive me, but I couldn’t live with myself if I endangered anyone else.

Sunlight glinted off the stones of my wedding ring as I set it on the nightstand. I was in love with my husband. I’d wear his ring as his wife, or I wouldn’t wear it at all. Our marriage couldn’t be a war. He claimed to want me to fight with him. I would, but not against Knox.

Once Tim swore to me he’d be there for me. Now was his chance to prove it. I stepped from my room, headed downstairs, and found him in the office.

“Any word?” I asked, knowing they’d never find her. I sat in a chair and tucked my hands into my pouch to grip the knife and the phone.

“She met a girl at the skate park last night,” my dad said.

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