“The plan is simple. Eli is working with Mack, but he is on our side. He used to be one of my best men, and he is loyal to me, and he’ll protect Amara.”
I wonder how fond Enzo would be of Eli if I had told him exactly what had happened that time I was locked up in the basement. I decide to keep that to myself, especially since Eli is helping us.
“I don’t think you should trust him,” Jared cuts in.
“Why the fuck are all of you second-guessing me?” Enzo growls, his hand gripping the back of the couch.
“Maybe because you have yet to tell us about the plan you say is going to save us all from life in prison,” Jared throws in before I can say anything.
“You’re really starting to piss me the fu—”
“Would you all just shhh. I’m really trying to watch this,” I say, interrupting Enzo, knowing he will take his aggression out on me this evening. Excitement blooms in my core just thinking about it.
“Shut up and listen to me. We need to know the plan, Enzo. You’re not alone in your decisions anymore. What you do affects us all, and we have the right to know.” James steps in.
I pause the DVR and turn around to look at all three men who are shooting daggers at one another.
“Maybe they wouldn’t be giving you so much flack about us going on this ‘normal’ date if you actually told them what the hell was going on?”
“Piccolo—”
“No, don’t piccolo me… Just fucking talk.” Somehow, through all of this, I’ve found the backbone I desperately need, or maybe I had it all along.
“I will put you over my knee if you…” I smile and roll my eyes at the very thought.
“Tell us, now,” Jared demands.
Sighing, he looks between all of us as if he knows there is no getting out of the mess. “Eli is the one who let Amara go, I trust him, and he has proven himself. He works hand in hand with Mack, and he told me Mack is paranoid. He won’t leave his safe house, which is set up like a fucking fortress. We have to draw him out. Eli has a plan. He will bring Amara to Mack—”
“Not going to happen,” James buts in.
That was my first reaction too. I want nothing to do with the sick fuck. Not unless it means I can put a bullet in his head, and this might just be the way...
“Let me finish. He’s going to protect her at all costs… I was against it too, but I’m going to meet up with him tonight. He’s going to meet us to talk, and then from there, we will finish out any loose ends…”
“You’re putting her in the line of fire, Enzo. You know how fucked up that is?” Jared seethes. I’ve never seen him so angry.
“She can handle it,” Enzo says, shooting me a smile. I just stare at all of them. Do they realize I’m sitting right here?
“Wow,” Jared yells, throwing his hands in the air, clearly frustrated. “I bet she can handle it. Look at how she handled everything else.”
“Hey, Jerk-face,” I growl at him. James starts laughing, a joyful smile crossing his face.
“Well, it’s true…” he asserts.
“I was dealing with death and hurt the best way I could. You’re lucky any of you are still alive.”
Enzo laughs gruffly. “Quiet. You’re merely a kitten with claws. The worst you would do is leave paper cut scratches.”
Glaring, I stand. “I can make my own choices. I will do whatever is needed to kill Mack for all the problems and heartache he has caused.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, sweetie. We just got you back—” James adds.
“James.” His name still sounds foreign against my tongue, reminding me just how new all of this is. “I admire the fact you want to step up, but this has to be done. Mack wants me, he’s gonna get me. Eli is on our side, or he wouldn’t have let me go in the first place. I can handle it. You guys will be there if anything goes wrong. Don’t worry.”
“Worry?” Jared snorts. “Worrying isn’t even the word I would use, Amara.” I’m seriously ready to pull out a knife and shank him. He’s been using the big brother card a lot lately.
“She’ll be fine. I trust Eli,” Enzo explains.
“You trust Eli even though he’s been working with Mack? That’s a load of shit if I ever heard it. It’s a trap, Enzo. A big fat trap and you’re going to walk right into it.”
I trust Enzo. He has fucked up and done some really strange shit, but he did what was best for all of us. I don’t really like Eli. Actually, I hate him, but he did let me go, and the day Mack betrayed us, I saw the hurt in his eyes. He wants revenge too.