“It’s just a bad dream I used to have. I quit having it years ago, but Biba coming after me seems to have brought it back to the surface. I’m really sorry if I scared you.”
“What’s it about?”
“I can never really remember. I just wake feeling creeped out.” She snuggles closer as if signaling she’s ready to go back to sleep, but I have one more question I need to ask.
“You said, ‘Don’t look at me.’ That ring any bells?”
Her entire body shivers.
“No idea.” Desolation carves the warmth out of her voice. Sweet, innocent Danika is lying to my face, and I have no idea why.
The following morning,I can’t outrun my worries, no matter how hard I push myself. My own personal storm clouds hover overhead as I exit the home gym and head to the kitchen. Danika is cheerfully making breakfast, so I try not to be an ass, but the number of unsolvable problems mounting up against me has me feeling irritable.
I know the day is thoroughly doomed, however, when it’s not even eight and Renzo’s name appears on my phone screen. I knew he’d get word about the wedding when we had to call in a cleanup crew to help with the bodies. I knew he’d be pissy about it even though he already knew I was committed to her, whichis why I didn’t give him a heads-up. I wasn’t asking permission, so why give myself the headache? Except I didn’t anticipate a bloodbath at my wedding.
After the day passed and I never heard from him, I figured he was going to give me a break for once. I know it was delusional of me to be so optimistic, but I’ve already got too much shit on my plate to worry about him. But now he’s calling, and it’s not even eight in the morning. Renzo never calls this early. Something’s up.
“Yeah.” I brace for the worst.
“Were you ever planning on calling me, or were you hoping Biba would do you a favor and take me out?”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” I demand, my hackles fully raised.
“It means I need to fucking know when we’re on the brink of war. You marry his daughter, kill two of his men, and you don’t think I need to know about that shit?”
“You telling me no one told you yesterday?”
“No, Tommy. They told me. But it should have been you to fucking tell me. It wasyourwedding, and you’remybrother. You should have had the balls to pick up the phone.” He’s beyond pissed, and it’s hard not to follow suit. He’s attacking me without asking a single fucking question or even trying to give me the benefit of the doubt.
“And the fact that it was my goddamn wedding day, and I had a traumatized bride on my hands, does that mean anything to you?” I shoot back at him.
My pulse pounds in my eardrums, counting off the beats of his silence.
“Look,” he says in a more resigned tone, “we could argue about this all day, but it’s not the reason I called.”
“If you didn’t call to bitch me out, then why are we talking?”
A weary exhale crosses the line. “Biba retaliated last night. Explosives went off on Pier 49. Two men are missing, and three were taken to the hospital. Leadership is meeting in ten to plan our response, and I think you need to join us since you’re at the center of it.”
Fucking Christ.
Every bit of wind deflates from my sails. I knew Biba would be upset, but I didn’t think he’d act so quickly, nor did I expect him to escalate things to that degree.
I run my hand through my sweaty hair. “Jesus, yeah. I’ll be there in ten.”
“Bring Sante. He’s a part of this as much as you are.”
“Got it.”
The line goes dead. I suck in a deep breath to get my bearings. Danika is white as a ghost, standing motionless as she watches me.
“What’s happened?” she asks in a tiny voice.
“Biba happened. I’ve gotta go.”
“Please, don’t go,” she begs, eyes full of worry.
“Don’t have time for this, Danika. You remember how to use the gun?”
