Page 38 of Unbreakable Connection (Connections Duet)

“No, and if it were Antonia, she would knock.”

“Okay, I want you to go upstairs and lock the door, take your phone, and hit this button if something goes wrong.”

“I don’t understand; what’s happening?”

“It’s Edric’s instructions; please just go, Ellen,” I hugged Kyle quickly and went upstairs, locking the door as instructed. I went to the window facing my backyard and saw nothing unusual. The trees protected the property. It would have been easy to hide if someone had been out there. My anxiety was beginning to rise as I cracked open the door to listen and then peered out just enough to see Kyle get a gun from the side table drawer. He tucked it inside his waist and slowly walked to the door. It had to be one of Edric’s since I knew Kyle didn’t own one.

“Can I help you?” I heard Kyle say but couldn’t see or hear who was at the door. I saw Kyle place his hand on his back, and I was beginning to get freaked out. My finger was on the call button for Edric when Kyle closed the door and locked it. I watched him set the alarm, and I let out the breath I was holding. “You can come down now,” he turned and faced me. I walked down the stairs and lunged into his arms, with Kyle holding me close. I was scared and needed the safety of Edric’s arms around me.

“You’re shaking, Ellen; you need to calm down. Your heartbeat is erratic, which is not good, especially since pneumonia has weakened your body.”

“Kyle, I have a good reason for my high blood pressure.”

“I know, sweetheart, and it’s okay. He’s gone now.”

“Who was it?”

“It was Paolo, and he said he wanted to check on you and ask if you need anything.”

“You and Nai are the only ones from the clinic who know where I live. How do you think he found out?”

“If I had to guess, I would say when he was in your office looking around. I will call Edric and let him know he was here.” I nodded, knowing Edric would know what to do, but just as Kyle connected the call, my front door kicked in, and a group of men took down Kyle, knocking him unconscious. I screamed and tried to run, but the masked man pulled me by my hair, causing me to cry. He had his arm around my neck as I struggled to get free.

“Shh, sweet Cara, I’ll take care of you,” he whispered and then felt the needle prick my neck, spiraling me into darkness.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Edric

After reading the short one-page letter, I looked back at Gio and said, “It’s the same date as the car bombing.”

“It was, but I did not receive it until yesterday when I arrived back at the estate. After you left here, also the same day as the bombing, I gathered a team of my closest men. I began compiling the information you requested, not knowing that whatever I found would amount to proof of a defector. When Lucas died, and I was appointed the new head of the Santoro Family, we all experienced a shift, especially under the iron rule of the Russians, who have been our enemies for years. How did you think it looked to our brothers that we were now answering to a Russian?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” I scoffed, tired of his voice grating on my last nerve.

“It wasn’t a great beginning, and morale was low, but my men have united and served with unconditional loyalty under myleadership. Regarding Paolo, he’s young and impulsive. After we rose from the ashes and buried the dead, it was a new day for our family. We continued what Lucas started, working together to keep our business interests legitimate and protect our homes and families from outsiders. It was clear to us that as long as we fell in line and stayed in our lane without ever crossing into one we didn’t belong to, all would be fine. Well, it was until Paolo. It’s true, he wanted to step into his brother's role, but I refused him. I advised him to make a life far away from the life he lost his brother to.”

“Anthony was a fearless soldier who lived by and died by the sword. However, he did not want that for his brother and made that clear to him more than once. Paolo had already worked at Ellen’s clinic before his brother died because Anthony encouraged him to work honestly and live the same way.”

“What kind of bullshit are you trying to feed me here? You make it sound like he was the poster boy for all that is good and holy when we both know he was far from it. On the day Lucas Santoro was born, do you honestly believe when Marco held him that he was dreaming of his son becoming a doctor, lawyer, or maybe even a boring accountant? No, when he looked at him, all he saw was his legacy that one day, he would grow up to be just like him. I can’t picture Anthony not wanting the same for his younger brother.”

“It’s the truth, Edric. I swear it on my life.”

“You can swear all you want on your life, which means nothing to me. I trusted you, and you fucking lied and betrayed me by feeding me half-truths and omitted the rest that could have prevented what happened to Ellen.”

“Okay, maybe my life is not worth saving, but Sabina’s is, and I love her, you know this. I swear on Sabina that I am telling the truth, and had I known then what I know now, I would have told you about Paolo. I just couldn’t be sure until I read his words inthe letter. Once he discovered that Ellen had connections to the man responsible for his brother’s death, he went rogue without my knowledge.”

“Gio, the truth is always the golden rule, whether big or small. You pled your case and disclosed what you know, but it’s too late. I know I will never get past what happened to Ellen and your lies of omission that had the power to prevent it. No, my friend, you’re nothing to me, and I will not decide your fate. As for Sabina, I suggest you never mention her name again. If you do, I will cut your tongue from your mouth and then have Bourne,” I hesitate for a second and lean in closer to say, “Let’s hope for your survival; you never find out what he is truly capable of doing to you. If you believe Bourne has forgotten what Sabina risked to protect you, think again.”

“Edric, I need you outside. Now!”

“What is it?”

“A breach at Ellen’s house,” said Patch as he handed me the iPad to see it unfold. One man was standing on her porch ringing the doorbell. A moment later, I see Kyle open the door cautiously, and then, after a brief exchange, the door closes. A few minutes later, a small army of men crashes through the door, and the exact figure who rang the bell emerges carrying an unconscious Ellen over his shoulder. My heart fucking sinks at the thought that I failed Ellen again and I wasn’t there to protect her. Patch zooms in on his face, and my blood runs cold when I stare back at Paolo Sabato.

“Motherfucker!” I shouted my fury as I looked over to Patch. “How did this happen?”

“The system is running fine; it wasn’t anything like last time. It’s unknown if Paolo knew about the security, but the minute he stepped inside the perimeter, I got the alert, and within seconds, all alarms went off after he kicked the door in. Edric, whateverhe was planning just blew up all around him, and he’s probably scrambling what to do next.”

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