CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Violet

“Where are we going?” I ask Matteo, who is engrossed in his phone.

After our plane landed in Oakridge, Vincenzo took Emilia and the doctor and whisked them away to his estate. I was placed in the back of a blacked-out SUV with Matteo and being taken to meet with Kayce. The problem is none of these roads look familiar, but I know for damn sure we are not headed into town where my son is.

“Boss said to take you to Kayce’s secure location.”

“But why? Shouldn’t he be talking to Emilia and Vincenzo? I have nothing to do with anything. All I did was leave to get my friend and bring her some help. I don’t understand why that would constitute a secret meeting with Kayce in the mountains.” If my fear isn’t evident to Matteo by the shakiness in my voice, I’m sure he can see it in the trembling of my hands.

He reaches over, gripping my hands with one of his and offering a gentle squeeze. “Relax, Dolcezza. I’m not sending you to your death.” He chuckles, then releases my hands, returning to his phone. “It’s a conversation between friends.” The way he says friends doesn’t make me feel confident I’m not walking into a trap of some sort.

Vincenzo wouldn’t do anything to hurt me, but it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t send me away to someone who would. I don’t know how the Mafia works, but it seems like something a mob boss would do. Send his nuisance away with his henchmen to be stowed away and dealt with by someone else? Would Kayce really allow something like this?

What if he doesn’t know? What if they’re just saying Kayce wants to meet with me so they can hide me away somewhere else where Kayce wouldn’t know?

I’m racking my brain for reasons Vincenzo would want to send me away. I have done nothing to upset him that I can think of. Okay, maybe I was a little disrespectful with my tone at times, but Mili is my friend and she needed help, not another gruffer, overbearing asshole growling orders in her face.

I did question his decisions when it came to her care. Not because I don’t trust him to ensure she gets the proper care, but because he wasn’t allowing her to make any decisions for herself. She’s a grown woman. A doctor. She should be able to make her own choices in her care.

I especially questioned when Vincenzo told us where she would stay and what she would be doing. He doesn’t know her like I do. He’s not someone important in Mili’s life. So, for him to be telling us she would be staying with him at his mansion until his doctor deemed her healthy enough to be on her own didn’t make sense to me. Add in the fact he told me I couldn’t come visit her for a while for all our safety, and I was pissed. I don’t care that he had a valid point. He could’ve asked or discussed the situation rather than telling us what was going to happen and then demanding we obey.

Overbearing asshole.

Sounds like someone else I know.

My only comfort is knowing while I may not be allowed to see her for a few days, Emilia will give Vincenzo hell every step of the way. Mili comes from a family much like Vincenzo’s. I knew the last place she would want to be is held captive by a Mafia Don. But I also know she’s no wilting flower. I smile inside at the thought.

Now here I am, in a small space with one of Vincenzo’s most loyal men. Matteo’s broad shoulders and imposing personality taking up most of the space in the backseat as we drive to … I don’t know where.

I wish I could call Kayce to verify what Matteo has said.

I reach for my phone, intending to text Kayce and ask just that, but Matteo grabs the phone, removing it from my hand.

“Sorry, Dolcezza,” he says almost sheepishly. As if that’s supposed to stop the impending panic, I feel inside from happening. He pockets the burner phone he had given me. “I need to take this back to the boss.”

“You took the one Kayce gave me. How will I get in contact if I n-need anything? I don’t have Kayce’s number programmed anywhere else.”

“I’m sure you will have everything you need when we get there.”

The car takes a turn and we’re now on a dirt road full of bumps and holes heading into the forest.

“The better to hide the body,” I mutter quietly to myself.

“Did you say something?” Matteo asks, smirking.

“No. I was just wondering why Kayce would choose a place in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by trees, and is that … a hunter’s space?”

“It’s called a deer blind. It’s where hunters sit and wait for their prey to come to them before killing them.” I feel the blood draining from my face and Matteo seems amused by my reaction.

Shit. How will I ever escape this?

Matteo’s hearty laugh fills the cab of the vehicle. “Relax, Dolcezza. You look like someone who is being led to the slaughter.”

“Aren’t I?” The words are out before I can stop them.

Matteo’s laugh gets louder. He rubs his face with his hand as he calms himself. “Oh, shit. Thank you, Violet. I needed that laugh today.”

“Glad my fear of death could brighten your day.”

“Violet.” Matteo’s eyes meet mine. His expression is one of concern. “Did you really think I was bringing you out here to kill you?”

“I-I don’t know why we’re out here in the middle of fucking nowhere alone where hunters stalk their prey!” I shout. My voice sounds shrill in the small space.

“Jesus.” Matteo swears. “What reason would the boss have to end your life? You’ve done nothing wrong, Dolcezza. We’re here to meet Kayce. He chose this place because no one knows about it. It’s a safe house he and his team use from time to time.” He waits for me to respond, but all I can do is stare at the hulking Italian in the seat beside me.

“Violet. Listen to me.” He holds my hand in both of his. “I’m not here to kill you. We’re here to meet with Kayce. He has something he needs to discuss with you and didn’t want to do it around the doctor. He didn’t want her to worry about anything but getting better. She has enough shit on her plate, not to mention Vincenzo being all up in her space for a while. She deserves some reprieve, no?” He releases my hand just as the vehicle comes to a stop behind a flared pickup truck. My stomach flips and my heart races.

“Come on. Let’s go see your friend. He’ll explain everything.”

The driver comes around to open my door and I step out, looking up at the cabin. A home like this in the middle of the woods surrounded by trees and running creeks is appealing.

For a murder sight.

I need to calm myself down. Matteo says he’s not here to kill me and there’s another truck in the driveway.

He wouldn’t have witnesses here if he was going to murder me. I try to reason with myself.

The front door opens and Kayce walks out onto the front steps.

“Hey, sweetheart. You, okay?” Kayce asks. “You look like you’re about to throw up.”

I walk over and hug him. He stiffly hugs me back, lightly patting my back. It’s strange. The last time I hugged him, he seemed to receive it okay. But now he seems uncertain. Maybe it's Matteo’s presence making him uncomfortable.

I stand, pulling back out of the embrace. Kayce studies my face.

“You good?” he asks quietly.

“Yeah.” I nod. “Just overwhelmed. It’s been a long few days, and I wasn’t planning on coming all the way out here like this. I thought we were meeting at Vincenzo’s. What I really wanted to do was get home to Carter.” Tears spill down one cheek and I swipe them away with the back of my hand. “I miss my kid.”

“You’ll see him soon, but not quite yet,” Kayce says ominously. “Not until we know you’re both safe.”

My eyes narrow. “What do you mean? When will I get to see my son, Kayce? What aren’t you telling me? Where’s Carter?”

“He’s fine. He’s with Caleb and Liz on the farm.”

Declan.

Goosebumps scatter across my skin at the velvety timber of his voice. I turn slowly toward the door and find Declan standing with his arms crossed over his chest in the doorway, his shoulders taking up every inch of space. My heart feels like it’s in my throat. My head feels fuzzy, and my eyes sting with tears. I don’t know if it’s anger, frustration, or relief I’m feeling seeing him here.

At least you know they won’t kill you with him here. He’d never allow it.

After a few seconds, I finally muster up the courage to ask, “What are you doing here, Declan?”

I hadn’t noticed Kayce step away. But now that Declan is striding toward me, I feel like prey once again. When he reaches me, the toes of his boots tapping the toes of my sneakers, he leans in close. With only an inch between us, he grips my chin in his thumb and forefinger and says, “Hello to you too, Dove.” And then his lips are on mine in a searing kiss.

Oh, holy hell. The man can kiss.

My hands grip his shoulders, needing something to keep my knees from buckling. Declan’s mouth is greedy, demanding, as it’s dominating mine with each caress of his tongue. He’s intoxicating.

A throat clearing from somewhere behind me forces us to separate, and both shame and anger instantly flood through me. I drop my hands off his shoulders.

“Way to stake your claim, O’Malley,” Matteo says, chuckling behind me.

Declan steps back, his hand dropping from my face. The cool breeze replaces the warmth of his touch, and I find myself feeling disappointed. The edges of his mouth curve and Declan shrugs as he says, “I missed my woman, and you fucks needed to know she’s mine. Two birds and all that shit.”

Matteo laughs. “Subtle.”

“Can we get inside and get this shit figured out now, or do you two need some time in a room to settle whatever the fuck this tension is between you?” Kayce snaps in his usual I don’t have time for this bullshit tone.

“There’s nothing to figure out. I’m not his or anyone else’s. So, whatever you need to tell me, let’s get to it so I can get to my son.” I move to pass Declan and head into the cabin, knowing they’ll all follow. I only get one step past Declan before he leans down where only I can hear and whispers, “I call bullshit, baby. But we’ll get to that after these assholes leave.”

I look back at him over my shoulder, not sure what he means ‘when they leave’ because I have every intention of leaving with them.

We all make our way into the living area of the cabin. I spin around in the center of the room, taking it all in. It’s a beautiful open space with tall ceilings and large dark wood beams lining the A-frame ceiling. The kitchen island opens to the living room where they’ve all taken a seat on the two L-shaped couches facing each other, separated by a square dark wood table. The color matches the beams in the ceiling.

To the left of the kitchen is a wooden staircase leading to an open loft with a half wall looking over the living room. I assume it's the bedroom. My eyes are immediately drawn to the large back wall with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the most beautiful view of the forest and mountains behind us.

“It’s breathtaking,” I mutter.

“It sure is,” Declan says, pulling my attention to him. He’s standing beside the fireplace with his arms crossed over his chest—his favorite stance, I’ve noticed—and he’s staring straight at me. His dark brown eyes are full of desire, eating up every inch of me.

Help.

Deciding to ignore the heat in Declan’s eyes and the warmth settling in my core, I make my way over and sit on the edge of the first couch furthest from Declan.

“Someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on,” I state, glaring at Kayce, my arms crossed over my body as if they can shield me from whatever shitty thing he’s about to tell me.

“All right,” Kayce starts. “Someone’s been in your apartment and we’re not certain, but with what’s just happened to Emilia, it’s possible it’s someone on James’s payroll.”

“What? How?” My voice cracks. My throat feels tight. The sound of my pulse is echoing in my ears as the room begins to spin.

“Shit.” I don’t know who says it. My eyes are too hazy. Two large, calloused hands grip my face. “Breathe, Dove.”