“I’m in,” she agrees. “He kept his word and stayed away from us, never tried to come back for me. I think we could definitely use his help.”
Everyone goes quiet for a moment, before Eric asks, “What if he tries to take Tessa again?”
“Then we kill him,” Nate says with a shrug.
Tessa sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Eric, phone The Duke, see if she’s willing to help.”
“Why not me?” Nate asks with a furrowed brow.
Eric laughs under his breath, his eyes flashing with merriment. “Because, big brother, you’ll insult her and call her Dukey, and then she’ll be pissed and send a sniper to take a shot at you. Then we’ll have to retaliate with something diabolical, and instead of getting our asses to London and taking down this trafficking ring, we’ll be too busy planning and ducking pranks.”
Tessa’s shoulders shake with suppressed laughter, mouth in a firm line as she tries to hold it back.
Nate reluctantly grins back at Eric and agrees. “But I’m going too,” he adds. “We might want him to join us, but I also want to make sure he’s not carrying a grudge for that bullet I put through his shoulder.”
Tessa considers for a moment, before asking Eric, “While you’re on the phone with her, maybe ask if she’d be willing to help in London as well? Or could we get the Charon Group to join us?”
“Now that sounds like a solid plan, angel. I’ll phone them as well, see what we can put together.”
“An army,” Tessa murmurs, a wide smile stretching across her face. “That’s exactly what we need. There’s only three of us, but if we can get The Unseen, The Duke and her team,andthe Charon Group to join us?” She beams at the two brothers, her husbands. “Then we’ll have a fucking army.”
“Run, little piggies!” Eric calls out, fisting the air.
“Run!” Tessa shouts before bursting into laughter.
Nate and Eric exchange a glance, matching smirks stretching wide across their faces, then start moving towards Tessa as one.
"Shit!" she gasps when she sees the determined looks on their faces. Turning on her heel, she flees from the room, the two demons at her back racing after her, their combined laughter floating out behind them.
Chapter 27
Rebecca
Another week has flown by since telling the rest of my story to Trey. He told me of my sleepwalking episode, of what I revealed to him. It nearly shattered me, but I’m determined not to let it.
Although I hated reliving it, being able to finally tell my story has left me feeling lighter and more focused somehow. It’s as if my mind was foggy, disconnected. And now it’s clear, my goals laid out before me, and I can feel determination and vengeance steeling my spine.
There’s just one thing left of the past that is keeping me tethered to it—my children. I never knew what happened to Raphael, my little boy. I can only assume that he was buried with the other children like the news said. And then there’s Rachel. The sharp stabbing pain hits me in the chest again, nearly doubling me over as my breaths come in gasping pants.
Papa—I suppose I should start calling him Tony—I hate him so much for what he did to me, to us. I can’t help the satisfaction that rushes over me when I relive his death—of how I tore him apart like an animal. He got exactly what he deserved. I just wish I could have saved Rachel, my beautiful little girl. Knowing that I inadvertently poisoned her makes me sick. Makes me want to tear my hair from my head, scream at the heavens, disappear into the abyss. That she died in that cage, terrified and alone—it takes everything in me not to take a knife to my own wrists and join her.
And then the fact that I left her behind in that cage when Trey took me from the house. A logical voice inside insists there was nothing more I could do for her—I never did find the key for the cage—and she was past caring, anyway. But I hated leaving my baby’s body there for others to find. I’ll never see her buried.
My only comfort comes from knowing that she never had to be raped. That, and revenge. Trying to stop as many of these sick fucks as I can before I’m caught.
And Trey,a voice whispers to me.
Yes, and Trey. He understands me, supports me, loves me. Something deep down knows I can trust him, that he will stand at my side, lifting me up when I need it. I’m not sure I could get rid of him even if I wanted to.
***
Senator Charles Rankin is next on the list. I can’t say I don’t get a little thrill as we start crossing off names.
He’s going to be a little harder as he is constantly surrounded by people. Knowing that he has three children in his house makes me sick. Two daughters, eight and eleven, and a son aged sixteen.
I wonder if his wife knows about his extracurricular activities. What she would think of him if she did.
Trey was able to find out that the senator and his wife, Lindsay, have a fundraising dinner this evening that they will be attending. Hacking into his emails, Trey was able to discover that the children will be staying at their grandparent’s home for the weekend.
