Page 92 of Betrayed By Sin

She grins. “Gotcha, huh? No, there’s no way. You heard our parents, it’s always the Caputo’s. I would bet money that Zeik is the one who laid that bullet in front of your door.”

I let out ahalf-laugh, half-sob. “Bria, I swear to God.”

Shewinks. “You love me.”

I groan, sliding down against the wall. “I hate you.”

Sheplops down beside me. “No, you don’t.”

I don’t.

But I swear, she’s gonnagive me a damn heart attack. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I think,” Bria ponders for a moment, “like your dad said… they want us to tear each other down from within. I don’t listen to half the shit these men tell me. I think when he found out we were headed to Florida he knew we were going to the safe house. They’ve had that address all along. They’re going to tell our families it was the Nero’s but we still have time, he wants to meet with me before he spills the lies.”

Bria meets my gaze, hergrin sharp. “You ready toburn it all down?”

I don’t hesitate.

“Absolutely.”

The wind howls against the thin wooden walls, rattling the shutters like they might tear at any second. It’s barely holding together, kind of like me.

Bria sits cross-legged on the rickety floor, spinning the burner phone between her fingers.

The screen glows faintly in the dim light of the old lantern we found in the corner, the only thing illuminating the space. The tension between us is thick, heavy with what just happened. Assoon as the call ended, the men backed off, now all that’s left in their wake is silence.

Zeik Caputo thinks I’m dead.

Bria made sure of it.

“We can’t go back yet,” I finally say, breaking the silence.

Bria exhales, shaking her head. “No shit.”

I glance at her, but she’s still focused on the phone, tapping it idly against her knee. She’s thinking, probably a little too much.

Bria isn’t rattled easily. But this? This was close.

I cross my arms, shifting my weight. “We need a plan.”

Bria snorts, finally looking up. “Yeah, no kidding. Got one?”

I press my lips together, rolling the thought over in my mind before speaking. “Zeik thinks I’m dead. That’s the only advantage we have right now. We let him keep thinking that while we figure out our next move.”

Bria leans back on her elbows, considering. “So… what? We just disappear? Pretend we don’t exist while he moves in and takes over everything?”

I shake my head. “No. We watch. We listen. We figure out who’s loyal to who.”

Bria whistles low, tapping her fingers against the table. “And what about Cameron?”

My brother.

Cameron Rusco, head of the Rusco family, will think I’m gone. And if I know him at all, he will be looking for revenge, falling into the Caputo trap.

I swallow. “He can’t know, I have to stay in the dark, even when we get home.”

Bria raises a brow. “You really think keeping your own brother in the dark is a good idea?”