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I look past him to Miguel, my uncle. He used to braid my hair when I was a little girl. He would always send me extra cash when I was low. And yet, he….

It doesn’t feel real. None of this does.

Damien turns slightly, shielding me with his body.

“Don’t look at him,” he murmurs. “You don’t have to look at him anymore.”

He pulls me close again, holding me so tightly I feel like I might shatter.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

DAMIEN

I had a plan.

A plan that led to no casualties on my end. I’m not stupid. After all my investigations it quickly became clear that Miguel and Santori have been working together, for years it would seem. I don’t know where they met and I don’t give a fuck about that. But Santori’s been doing his dirty work while Miguel has made sure to reimburse him when necessary, making them partner in crimes.

Their crimes ranging from blackmail to murder. I was in no way surprised when I realized that Miguel had hired Santori to kill Gabriel. It’s why Santori’s been laying low, poking me from the shadows. He was trying to ensure he didn’t get caught.

But nothing ever remains hidden for long. Moretti was able to provide me with all the information I needed, including their next plan of action which was to lure Cassie away from me so they could abduct her and use her to take me down.

I had everything in place. I made my way to the location of the meeting before Cassie because I wanted to take them down before she got there. But imagine my surprise when I arrived to find the place empty. They got wind of the fact that I was on to them and they changed their plans.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt blind panic like that before. Thankfully, Dante’s a skilled hacker. He was able to track their location but by the time I got everything under control, they had her and they had killed my men.

Rafael was one of my trusted, most loyal capos. He didn’t deserve to go out that way. None of this was meant to happen this way.

The light burns my eyes as we step out of the shadows. Cassie’s in my arms, head tucked beneath my chin, her body trembling with the weight of what she’s endured. It’s only been a few hours since she was taken, but it feels like I’ve lived a hundred years between then and now.

I hold her tighter, shielding her from the sun, from the guards, from the bodies on the ground, from everything.

Luca’s ahead of us, dragging Miguel by the collar towards one of the cars for transport. Cassie suddenly shifts in my arms.

“Damien,” she whispers.

I stop, heart catching at the sound of my name in her voice.

“What is it? Are you in pain?”

Her hand presses lightly against my chest, “Put me down.”

I hesitate.

“Please.”

There’s something in her eyes. Some expression I haven’t seen before. Anger mixed with resolve. I set her down slowly, hands lingering on her waist as if she might fall. She doesn’t. She straightens, steady now despite the red rim around her eyes and the tremble in her fingers. Her gaze slides past me. To Miguel.

I see it too late. She reaches and my holster is light before my brain catches up. She has my gun in a flash, moving fasttowards Miguel. My guars falter, confused. Luca straightens, eyes narrowing as Cassie stalks towards him and Miguel, who’s slumped against the side of the car. Bleeding, cuffed, but still breathing. Too much so.

She raises the gun, aims it at him.

“Cassie,” I move to intercept, calm but alert. “Don’t.”

“He killed my father,” she says, voice sharp, ragged. “He killed Rafael. He kidnapped me. You should have heard him confessing to it all. He looked me in the eye and God, Damien, he smiled when he told me!”

“I know,” I say gently. “And he’ll pay for it. I swear it.”

Her hand doesn’t waver, “Then let me do it.”