“Yes.”
“We go tonight,” I ordered, turning to Marcos.
“We can’t just go in there, guns blazing,” Marcos tried to reason.
I stood up abruptly and slammed my hands on the table, rattling the silverware, as I leaned over the table to get my point across. “I don’t give a fuck, Marcos. I will take the fucking Seratelli family and get my fucking woman back without you.”
Marcos met my gaze evenly, but before he could say anything, Kevin spoke up.
“Easy now.” Kevin’s hands raised in a placating gesture. “You’re not going alone with the Seratelli’s. We’ll be there too.”
I finally broke my stare off with Marcos and turned to Kevin. Johnny and Derrick were watching me with varying degrees of contempt for causing a scene, but it was easy to see they were just as angry with Jason when they both glared at him.
As Kara got up from the table, Johnny watched her go, concern etched on his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Johnny rounded on Jason.
I took my seat, watching the argument unfold.
“I fucking told you about bringing that bullshit attitude into my home. Now you upset my fucking woman,” Johnny growled, rounding on Jason. “After Maya is found, the three of you will answer for this bullshit in the ring.”
“Agreed,” Marcos answered immediately. Jason and I echoed the sentiment.
“Go home, gather your club. We’ll meet you at your clubhouse at nine.” Johnny made the executive decision for all of us. He turned to me, “Call your cousin. Have him meet us in Sparland. Jack will find us a safe place to meet up and discuss entry.”
I nodded once, meeting Johnny’s gaze. His natural dominance made him easy to follow. No longer hungry, I stood up again and left the breakfast nook. I slipped into my boots in the mudroom and headed out the backdoor. I didn’t even bother to lace up my boots until I was at my bike. Even then I only bothered to tuck them in my boots and started the bike.
Rage and anguish clawed at me as I rode away from Johnny Taylor’s home. Betrayal and disbelief welled within me. Marcos should have called me last night when he got the link, or even this morning at the very latest. Giving me the information for the first time while we were at an acquaintances’ was unacceptable.
Worst of all, it hurt. Marcos had left me out of the loop. Kept me in the dark. Purposely.
I didn’t know how long I rode for, didn’t know where I was going. Eventually I turned my bike around and headed back toward Creekton. I found myself outside of my mother’s house, staring up at the McMansion while lost in thought.
“Nico!” Gulia’s voice shouting over the engine snapped me out of my daze.
Jerking my head, I looked over to see the housekeeper staring at me with a worried expression on her face. I shut the engine off and put down my kickstand. Shutting off the bike, the deafening silence greeted me as I slowly pulled my helmet off.
“Nico, you’ve been out here for ten minutes with that engine roaring. Are you alright?” Guila asked, her hand on her heart.
“Not really.” I shook my head.
“Come on. I’ll put coffee on. Your mother’s in the sunroom.”
Of course she is, I thought, but I followed Guila up the grand stairway to the house wordlessly.
The house was as beautiful as always, Guila’s hard work apparent as there was not one thing out of place. We strode down the hall and through the living room and out into the sunroom beyond. My mother was already seated at the table, a lightly breakfast set before her. I would have laughed at the idea of the leaving one breakfast to go to another one instead, but I was too far gone to care.
“Nico!” my mother greeted me with a smile. “What a pleasant surprise.” Her face fell as she took in the anguish that was clearly on my face.
I fell to my knees before her and buried my face into her stomach as a heart wrenching sob tore out of me.
“Nico.” My mother’s voice was soft. “What happened? What’s going on?”
“It’s Maya,” I choked out. “She’s been kidnapped. They’re hurting her.”
“Oh, Nico.” My mother’s soft gasp, paired with her shaky fingers in my hair made me lose control over my emotions. Heavy sobs wracked my bodies as I held onto her for dear life.
She didn’t say anything more, just held me and ran her fingers through my hair, stroking gently. I eventually stopped crying and caught my breath, but I kept my head on her lap, basking in her comfort.
Marcos
