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Adalie’s gaze moves between me and Alec, whose jaw is clenched tight, and her eyes narrow slightly. “They didn’t touch me. Not like that.”
“You should take your sister home,” he says, not bothering to look at her. “We’ll make it look like Darius was caught in the crossfire of bratva bullshit.”
“There are contracts,” I tell him. “They’re not signed,but they need to be destroyed, otherwise it looks bad for the Marinos.”
Cassia must have filled them in on all the details, because Alec doesn’t even flinch in surprise. He simply nods. “Get your wife and sister home.”
“What about you?” Adalie asks. “Are you in danger for killing Vito?”
My expression turns incredulous. She’s not stupid—she knows what’s going on—so why is she questioning the man who just murdered the Marino boss?
Alec clenches his fists, his attention cutting to me instead of her. His intentions are clear as day. He’s done taking orders, and once this mess is handled, the underboss is probably dead too. Mafia takeovers are bloody, a lot of people die, but it’s what has to be done to secure his place as boss.
“Get her out of here,” he says, voice rough and irritated. He turns away as he and JJ plan how to deal with all the bodies.
My younger sister’s features press together, confused, curious...and something else I can’t quite put my finger on as he walks away. This is not a safe place for her. We need to go.
“Adalie?” I ask as Cassia begins to stir, a soft groan coming from her.
The sound snaps Adalie out of whatever trance she was in. She blinks, her face crumpling and eyes filling with tears. “Can we go home now?” she whispers, voice shaking.
My chest clenches at the sight of her vulnerability. She’s been through so much in such a short time. Seeing so many dead bodies in one day has to be a mindfuck, not to mention the fact that she was held against her will.
“Let’s go,” I tell her, and look over at Tony, who iswatching the mafia men like they might turn on us at any second.He needs a bonus and a vacation.
“Mace,” Cassia murmurs, blinking awake. “You’re safe.”
I smile down at my wife as I carry her out of the house. “You think I’d leave this world without you?”
forty-one
CASSIA
A few days later, the news of Darius’s death breaks, alongside the story of his collusion with the bratva. Details of payoffs from Grigory, an altered version of the contract they were going to sign, and more, comes out. Mace and I may have planted some extra evidence to help solidify the Russian connection. The whole world believes Darius Astor got tired of the tech game and tried to enter the criminal underworld, only to find his brutal end before he could even get started.
The rest of the Astor family is cleared of any connection to the murder and the bratva, and luckily, there are enough investments elsewhere that the loss of Darius’s income is hardly a problem. Rex Technologies was mostly safe from the aftermath, but there are a few changes within the board and executive positions. Mace stepped down as CTO but still retains his seat on the board of managers.
In the weeks that follow, Elaine and Adalie move back home. Mace terminates Darius’s personal guards, and wesettle into a new sort of peace...but there’s still one problem I have to deal with.
Paige Smith is tied up, gagged, and unconscious, alongside the ex-captain of Dare’s yacht—her boyfriend. Once Mace started tracking Paige and found video evidence of her and the captain on a date, it was easy to put the pieces together. He betrayed us all the night we dealt with Rayce and Ryker. It’s poetic that he’ll meet the same end that they did. Given the recent betrayal, Frank, Remy’s dad, is operating the boat with some of his most trusted men. Apparently, mercenaries can do more than just kill. Who knew?
Mace’s fingers trace up my spine, a soothing touch I don’t need so much as desperately crave. Dare, Rose, and Remy all stand on the deck with us, watching the sun set along the horizon and breathing in the fresh, saline-coated air as the sky turns vibrant shades of pink and purple.
It’s almost peaceful.
Agent Smith comes to with a gasp, eyes swinging around the boat and ruining whatever serenity we were all about to enjoy. As always, her timing isterrible. She writhes and tries to break out of the restraints. A pointless struggle, but it’s human nature to try and get free.
Dare releases a breath and glances at Mace. “Care to join me?”
“Cassia?” my husband asks.
“Always.”
Together, Mace, Dare, and I head toward where Paige lies, screaming, her face an ugly shade of crimson. The captain has yet to awaken, thanks to the massive gash on his forehead. Dare hit him a little too hard with the butt of his gun. He was furious when he found out the captain was the reason Paige could send a drone out to capture incriminatingphotos. Trust is important to Dare, and when you break it, well, I think we all know what’s about to happen.
I stare down at Paige, unaffected by her desperate pleas as her reality sets in. “You lied to me,” I tell her as she lashes around. “You don’t work for the FBI anymore.” Her termination was covered up, but Mace managed to call a few friends and get some intel. Apparently, she was reckless and got into a gunfight in a mall. A dozen civilians died, thanks to her negligence. I guess she thought nabbing the Astors would somehow get her job back.
“And Ian—” I cut off, swallowing a wave of sadness. He was found dead in what was supposed to be a safe house. I don’t know who killed him, but I do know that Paige lied to me and she probably lied to him. He never had protection. He was always vulnerable. Maybe Morozov’s men tracked him down and killed him, or maybe he had some other enemies out there. Regardless, he’s dead because she didn’t give him the safety he actually needed. “You killed him. You may not have pulled the trigger, but your negligence did it.”