Page 60 of Mafia Scars

“They’re coming here, and they won’t stop until they have both. Her and the diamonds. Victor spent a month toying with us, learning. Trust me, that wasn’t just for the heck of it, or for his stupid games. They have to be stopped. We go after them and stop them.”

“I don’t want a blood bath.”

“We can’t just sit around like ducks,” Luc argued. “We’re stronger here. If they come, we have to be ready for them. How do you know they can’t get to the diamonds in this secure facility?” Luc flared.

I couldn’t believe this. It was like planning a war.

“We should call the feds, or at least the cops,” I suggested.

The two of them looked at me as if I’d just said something truly ridiculous.

“Amelia, I know you think that’s a good idea, but it’s not,” Luc replied.

I blinked several times. My blood bubbled and boiled. This was the crux of the whole thing for me. Taking the law into our own hands.

“Why, why wouldn’t it be? That’s what they’re there for.”

“I agree, but they all do things in a way that we don’t have the luxury for right now. Not to mention the overarching fact that we don’t know who to trust. Remember Cole.” Luc lifted his shoulders.

“How the hell could I forget Cole?” I balled my fists, heat rushing to my cheeks. “It was my fault he was killed.”

“No.” Luc stood now too. “It wasn’t your fault. It was the person who’s helping Tag. That’s who. And that person is a cop. There was no reason for Cole to die. Amelia, I’ve said it from day one. There’s a rat, and it’s one of your guys.”

Your guys.

I hated the way he said that, with such distaste and disdain.

“So, because we have someone helping them, you think it’s okay to just take things over?”

“I’ll do what I have to, to protect you.”

God, this was déjà vu.

Dad had said similar words to me ten years ago.

I shook my head and walked out.

Luc followed me into the hall and grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

“Amelia, you know we can’t report this to the police and leave them to take care of it.” His face contorted with fury. “Why do you think we came here?”

I looked at him. I knew, I knew the answer to that, and I knew this whole conversation was crazy. It was crazy for me to think that we could leave it to the police or feds when they were just as guilty.

It was just too much, and when I looked at Luc, I thought this could be my life.

Thinking that the people whose jobs it was to protect us was unachievable. Being with someone who took matters into their own hands.

“Just this morning you talked about changing. This is not changing.”

His face fell. “This is not that, Amelia, and you know it. You know this is the right thing. We have to take this into our own hands, or I’ll end up behind bars if the feds or police know the truth about everything. Then I’ll be helpless.”

I didn’t think about that. “Maybe you won’t.”

He leaned forward. “Look, Amelia, I won’t sugarcoat anything or paint myself in a good light. I’m not that. I’m linked to your father. Being locked up doesn’t bother me, but I’m not going down and leaving you to fight for your life.”

“I need some time to process this.” And some space.

It really was too much. All in one day, I saw my father, learned of my mother’s betrayal, found out why this Tag person wanted me dead, and that my father was the keeper of rare diamonds that were so rare Luc thought they were a myth. When did my life turn into some Indiana Jones film?