Page 126 of Ruthless Redemption
“Tell me what’s going on at the gala,” I mutter. “What’s the event? What is Emmanuel making you do?”
The line goes silent, the quiet stretching as the jet pulls to a stop.
“Abri?”
“Put Remy back on the phone.” Sterility enters her voice.
“In a minute. Right now I need to know what’s going on with you. Are you alone? Are you—”
“Put Remy back on the phone,” she demands. “Now.”
My youngest brother holds out his hand and nods.
She’s not going to talk to me. She doesn’t trust me. I concede, handing him the device.
“Sis, you need to have faith in us.” Remy pinches the bridge of his nose. “Can you hold out for tonight and then we can—”
“Come home.” Her tone is vehement. “You have no right to make plans without me.”
“They’re only plans. We haven’t taken action.”
“I don’t care.”
“I’m done living under his dictatorship.” Salvatore leans closer to speak into the cell. “We all are. We can’t go on like this.”
“Please.” The aggression leaves her voice, the layers of anger stripped back to expose her fear. “We need to talk about this. We can’t just ‘get out.’ It’s not that easy.”
“Why?” I ask. “Give me details.”
“Get me off speaker,” she snaps.
I shake my head, warning my brothers not to comply.
“Listen.” Remy keeps pinching his nose, the skin beside his fingers turning pink. “We’ll get home as soon as we can. I promise. But we can’t leave right now.”
“Youcan. Or I’ll never forgive you.”
My brothers exchange a glance. A pained, regretful stare.
They’re going to bail. They’re going to fucking walk.
The pilot leaves the cockpit to open the cabin door, allowing a gush of cold air to glide in as he lowers the staircase. “Was it a smooth enough flight, Mr. Langston?”
I ignore him, keeping my attention on the paused conversation.
Remy stares at me. Stares right through me. “Abri, give me a second to call you back, okay? We’ve gotta work a few things out.”
There’s no response.
“Abri?” he asks louder as a chime sounds, announcing the disconnected line. “Fuck. She ended the call.” His hand falls from his nose. “We need to return to Denver.”
Layla’s hand slides away from mine. It’s the only sign of heartbreak over a plan that was meant to bring her happiness.
“It’s okay.” I squeeze her thigh. “This changes nothing.”
“It changes everything,” she whispers. “Without them—”
“We’re not doing anything without them. They gave their word.” I return my attention to my brothers. “Do you hear me? If you leave, you’re breaking a vow that won’t be forgiven. You won’t be allowed a second chance to fuck us over.”
