Page 5

Chapter

Four

TARA

D id I have to cut the power to Gabe’s house?

No, but I did it anyway because I like the dramatics.

As soon as I got home, Elio told me all he knew about Dean.

Which wasn’t much. His men had Dean’s body and would soon learn how he died.

I wanted to stay around and help, but while I wanted to know how Dean died, I already knew who caused his death, and I would get answers quicker from him than Dean.

Riverbend Pines, where my brother and Gabe live, is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from where I have been living in Hawk’s Bend.

Over the year, I have thought about making the drive back, but as soon as Dean was reported missing, I decided to use my training and past to help other women out.

Elio promised that if anything popped up about Dean, he would let me know.

When that happened, then I would head back and finally take something from him, his life.

Like normal, I didn’t leave home until the sun had set.

Elio wanted me to take someone from the family with me, but I told him that this was something I had to do myself.

I rolled into Riverbend Pines at midnight and drove straight to Gabe’s home.

The place that I called my own a year ago.

It was once my safe haven, full of love, hope, and a bright future, or so I thought.

That was until Gabe looked at me and called me an attention-seeking whore, and told me that he should have known what I truly was.

He took my heart and shattered it on the ground.

I park my truck in the thicket of trees surrounding Gabe’s house and walk the rest of the way.

When I’m close, I message Vance, Elio’s right hand man who happens to also be my best friend.

Me

Cut the power.

Vance

You got it.

Be safe, T. If you need me, I’m there.

Me

I’ll be fine. I have all the backup I need.

As I stand on the edge of the forest that surrounds Gabe’s house on three sides, my hand is constantly rubbing Reaper’s head.

A year ago, I not only received training on how to protect myself, but I also purchased a trained Belgian Malinois dog.

I did quite a bit of research into what dog breed was best for protection, and Belgian Malinois was at the top of the list. I worked with his trainer for hours, learning how to handle Reaper.

A second after I pocket my phone, the house in front of me is blanketed in darkness.

Reaper’s ears twitch as he listens out for any danger that may approach.

I slide the backpack off and unzip the main pocket.

Inside, I pull out a small black device, my trusted butterfly blade, and my Hellcat 9mm.

I leave the bag behind a big tree and silently start across the yard.

With two clicks of my tongue, Reaper is right beside me.

The only part of him that anyone can see is his yellow eyes glowing in the moonlight.

But thanks to a storm rolling in, soon there will be no light besides the lightning streaking across the sky.

When I’m closer to the house, I flip the little switch on my cell blocker, which makes Gabe’s cell phone useless.

I’m not worried about him calling the cops, but I don’t want Reed, Jessie, or Nick showing up before I can get my answers and slink back into the darkness.

I have my reasons for not wanting to see them, but the time to deal with why is not right now.

Now is the time to deal with Gabe.

I hear hushed voices coming from inside, but the rain has started to pick up, making it difficult to fully hear what is being said.

I figure Gabe has a girl inside, but that isn’t going to stop me.

Nothing is. I’m almost to the back deck when Reaper alerts me to a threat.

He stops right in front of me, his ears standing straight up and a low growl comes from deep within his chest.

“What the fuck was that?” Gabe’s voice comes from the back deck.

There is a slight click, and light rushes over the backyard.

He must have a flashlight.

Before I can take another step, a cold, sharp blade is pressed to my throat as a wide chest presses against my back.

“Don’t?—”

The male voice is cut off when Reaper turns and lunges at the hand holding the knife against my throat.

I throw my elbow back, catching the guy’s ribs, and drop to the ground right as Reaper latches onto his hand.

The blade of the knife nicks my jaw, and blood starts coming from the tiny cut.

Suddenly, the beam of Gabe’s flashlight illuminates me, Reaper, and the guy raising his hand as if he is about to hit my dog.

“Ritirarsi,” I yell at Reaper to retreat, pulling out the Hellcat and pointing it at Gabe.

Reaper instantly lets go of Reed’s hand and walks backward until he is between my legs.

I don’t have to look to know Reaper’s eyes never leave Reed.

“Guardia,” I command Reaper to guard.

“What the fuck?” Gabe asks in shock.

He steps forward until another male voice comes from the back deck as the lights come back on.

Gabe’s outside light clicks on, and I finally get my first full look at the man who broke my heart.

“Richiama il cane,” the stranger says to me, then repeats himself in English.

“Call off the dog.”

“Now, why would I do that?” My eyes never leave Gabe’s dark green ones.

When I first saw him standing in Reed’s living room the day I showed up.

I thought he had the most beautiful eyes.

I’ve never seen someone with dark forest green eyes before.

I still think that but I can’t allow myself to get lost in them like I did before.

“Because I would hate to have a pissed-off Italian Capo on my ass for killing his surrogate daughters’ dog.” I risk a quick glance at the stranger and see that he is pointing a gun right at Reaper.

“Tallone,” I tell Reaper to heel, and he listens.

“We need to talk,” I say to Gabe.

“Alone.”

“I think the fuck not,” Reed says, walking up beside me moving to stand next to Gabe.

While I gave Reaper the command to heel, he head still moves as he tracks Reed.

“What the fuck is all this Tara? Why do you have an attack dog? Why are you pointing a gun at Gabe? Where the fuck have you been?”

“None—”

Reed cuts me off.

“I swear to fucking God if you say none of my goddamn business I will?—”

Two things happen simultaneously, Reaper lets out a deep growl, and Gabe grabs Reed by the back of his shirt and spins him around.

“First off, don’t you fucking raise your voice at her ever again, and secondly, I dare you to finish your fucking sentence. Best friend or not, I will knock your ass out. Don’t threaten my girl.”

“I’m not your girl anymore.” I remind him as I lower my gun, tuck it back into my pants, and step back toward the woods.

Fuck this. This has gotten way out of hand, and hearing Gabe protect my honor has made me feel funny inside.

Before I can take another step back, the stranger speaks up again.

“Reed, Gabe fucking cool it. Tara, don’t leave.” He lowers his gun and jumps the rail of Gabe’s back deck to insert himself between Gabe and Reed, who are still stuck in an intense stare-off.

Once they are apart, everyone turns to look at me.

Fury and rage are flowing off Reed and Gabe while the stranger looks like this is an everyday occurrence.

“You came here for a reason, and we have questions that need answers. I know you don’t trust easily, but I have a way to prove that you can trust me.”

I arch my eyebrow but say nothing.

“Turn off the cell blocker and call Elio,” the stranger says.

I’ve been in enough situations by now to know that I don’t want to show my surprise at his statement.

I need to keep the upper hand in this situation, but he’s right; I don’t trust anyone.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the blocker.

I click my tongue three times, and Reaper stands to attention between my legs and lets out a low growl.

“Name.” My eyes never leave the beast of a stranger.

“Jackson Soto,” he answers.

I pull out my phone and dial Elio, who picks up on the first ring.

“Trouble?” He asks in his Capo tone.

“Maybe. Jackson Soto?—”

“Holy fuck. How did you come across Demon? Is he there?” Elio doesn’t sound afraid, more like impressed.

His voice holds a sort of awe for the stranger in front of me.

“Yes.”

“Put me on speaker.” Reed and Gabe are looking more confused by the second.

Reed’s hand is going to need stitches, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering him right now.

I follow Elio’s order and put the call on speaker.

“Soto,” Elio says. The rain has calmed down, but we are all still getting soaked.

“Altobelli,” is all Jackson says, but it seems enough for Elio.

“You know the rule, Soto.” Reed and Gabe’s eyes are bouncing between the phone and Jackson.

While mine are looking between all three of them.

“No harm will come to Tara.” Jackson nods toward me.

“Tara, call me the minute you get your answers,” Elio says, and then my phone screen darkens.

“I guess that means we should take this meeting inside,” Jackson says, motioning for us to follow.

Reed and Gabe don’t move to follow him.

They are standing as still as statues.

“What the fuck is going on,” Reed whispers.

Gabe just shakes his head, choosing to address me instead.

“Tara, can we?—”

Clicking my tongue twice, I move toward the back deck, ignoring Gabe and signaling Reaper to follow me.

I walk straight through the back door into the kitchen.

“Tallone.” I point to the table, and Reaper sits beside it, his eyes never leaving the back door.

I walk through the kitchen, down the hallway, and open the closet door.

Inside, I grab a clean towel and head into the hall bath.

I pull off the black leather jacket and let my hair out of the ponytail.

Using the towel, I dry off as much as possible before leaving the towel in the hamper and returning to the kitchen.

Reed and Gabe are standing beside the table, eyeing Reaper, while Jackson cleans Reed’s hand.

“Am I going to get a disease from your dog?” Reed asks.

“Don’t be such a pussy. It’s a little bite. Your hand isn’t going to fall off.” My tone is short and clipped.

I’m not in the mood for this anymore.

I just want my question answered so I can be on my way.

I thought I was over this place and the man who lives here, but the longer I’m here, the more obvious it becomes that I’m not.

“What the fuck happened to my sweet little sister?” Reed is staring at me like I’m a complete stranger, and I guess I am.

“Life.” I pull out a chair and lay my gun and knife on the table before sitting down.

Reaper lays his head on my knee, and I run my fingers over it, feeling a sense of calm.

“But you already know that, don’t you. Now tell me, why the fuck did you kill Dean, and where are the rest of them?”