Page 39 of Mafie Trials

“I’ll do whatever I have to do, E. You never left me; I’m not leaving you.”

That phrase seems to mean something more to Evie and when she turns to look at him, I can see the emotions swirling in both of their eyes. I don’t love that she has a history with this man that I know nothing about, but I do know without question he will fight for her even if it costs him his life.

“Damien will need a number two to manage his tactical team. If you pass initiation, it’s yours,” I offer, trying to give them both something to show I understand their need to be together.

Havoc surely has more knowledge and experience in hunting and torturing targets than almost any of our men.

I probably shouldn’t offer the position since it’s not mine to give away, but I have a strong feeling that with enough convincing Damien won’t mind. Havoc gives me a nod and claps Alexi on the shoulder in thanks.

Evie hugs me before moving to Alexi and giving him a small kiss. He leans over her, and it’s then that I realize, I’ve never really seen him kiss a girl besides Evie. His face is soft when he looks at her, such a dramatic contrast from what I’m used to seeing that I almost laugh.

“Do you want us to call you by your real name?” I ask Evie, realizing when Havoc called her ‘E’ that we haven’t really talked about her identity. She takes a step back to think.

“I feel like you calling me anything else would feel weird. My name might be Eydis, but most of the guys at the compound called me E like Havoc. It’s weird, but Eydis feels like someone I used to be. Evie feels like who I am now.”

“I like Evie, but I like Lucky Charm the most,” I tell her with a grin.

We all rarely call her by her name anyways, but I do want to know what she would prefer and give her the choice. I always want her to have a choice.

“One last thing before we finish packing to get ready for tomorrow,” I say to them. Since Damien is busy at the gym, I decide now is a good time to bring this up.

“The flight tomorrow might get a little rough. Damien hasn’t been sober much when he’s near his father, and he owns a house on the estate. Damiens dad likely won’t be there much during the month. He usually deals with our customers in Spain over the holidays; Damien might still try to shut down. We should try to avoid having alcohol around if possible.”

Evie’s face falls as she nods. She’s seen him angry, just not the way he can be around his father. Typically, we don’t tiptoe around him, but I’m not big on drinking, and Alexi has his wine with meals. The dry red drink has never really tempted Damien in the past. Evie doesn’t seem to drink much either, so it’s less of a tiptoe and more of an effort to understand the temptation.

Alexi steps in, already having a plan in place for this. “I spoke to my father about it before and he will keep it out of the dining areas. If D’s going to drink, then he’s going to have to go get it himself.”

“Do we have to stay with your father?” Evie asks Alexi. “Don’t you guys have your own place?”

“We do,” I offer, “but it’s part of Boris’ office building, and we don’t know where your uncle has eyes. It would be next to impossible to get you in and out unseen.”

“My father's estate is heavily guarded. No one is on the property that wasn’t basically born into their position. It’s safer there, and you’ll actually be able to go outside,” Alexi adds.

“I know the whole point is for me to be unseen so I can get away from all of this, but being in a cage isn’t exactly how I was hoping to spend my life.”

“It's a five hundred acre estate with four mansions, one of which is practically a castle. There is also a farm and a lake. It’s hardly a cage,” Alexi says, rolling his eyes like she’s being a dramatic princess. I can see what she means though. A gilded cage is still a cage.

“It’s only temporary,” I remind her as I pull her close.

I have no idea how we’ll be able to come up with a plan where we all run and actually stay hidden from multiple world-renowned criminal organizations, but we sure as hell are going to try.

She leans into me, and the scent of strawberries and vanilla fills my senses like a comfort I didn’t know I needed.

“Besides, there’s no way in hell you’re leaving us behind, and we all know Damien can’t be caged,” I joke.

She laughs into my shoulder and pulls me impossibly closer to her. “Promise?” she asks. “Promise you’re coming too, all of you?”

“I promise, Lucky Charm.”

“I promise too, Princess,” Alexi chimes in, and I can’t help but let that little space in my chest I refuse to acknowledge swell with just a little bit of the most dangerous feeling out there.

Hope.

Chapter 16

I sit there and watch her as my mind tries to push itself into a fog. If I can convince myself I’m not here enough in my head, maybe I won't have to go home and face the man who raised me. My body feels like it’s shutting down.

Evie is going over her schedule with Nessa and telling her about her pace on runs. Nessa’s plan is to go through Evie’s routine during the day then in the evenings, she will leave the tracker in the bed and scout the island making sure no one is left.

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