Drake shot me a look that saidfuck this.
“They’re angry. De Santis lost his wife. They’re bound to do some stupid shit. Just tell them you don’t know. It’s not a lie.”
“They’re saying the lords killed her. I-Is that true? They’re saying you had a role in it. They’re out for blood.”
I glanced at Drake who was staring fiercely into his coffee cup.
“It’s true. Tate took her and raped her before the house was set on fire to cover the evidence. Hail, Tate, and Trent fled. I didn’t know the shit was happening. I’m not as guilty as they’d like to believe, but it doesn’t matter. I’m in charge now.”
“And Drake?”
I glanced at Drake. “Gone. He wasn’t part of it. He’s innocent.”
“If I get killed over this shit, Fallon. . .”
“Just tell them what you know if they ask. Tell them I’m the new leader, and I run a completely different ship than Hail did. Let them know I wasn’t involved like they think I was. I have a different story to tell.”
“I wouldn’t come back if I were you,” Alec warned. “Alibi or story, it’s not worth dying over.”
“I don’t plan on it. Not anytime soon. I have business to tend to in the meantime. For now, keep your heads low and wait for my orders. The disciples need to be loyal to me, so start working on that. I’d hate to have to come back earlier and kill you, Alec.”
He was silent for a moment. “I’ll get everyone together. We won’t fail you.”
“You best hope you don’t. Hail was a lot of talk. I’m more of an action guy.”
I hung up the phone.
“You’re fucking nuts. How are you going to take care of Bianca and be the leader of the lords? They’re going to find out she’s alive,” he said.
“They won’t because you’re going to take care of her,” I said. “When I need to be working, you’ll be tending to whatever she needs.”
“The fuck I am!” he snapped. “I’m here to take out these Ivanov pricks. I’m not doing shit with De Santis’s wife. If he finds out, I’m a dead man, which is theexact oppositeof what I want to be.”
“I’m asking you as a friend,” I said. “I need her safe, Drake. Please. I trust you. I saw the way you looked at her that night. You give a shit about her well-being.”
“Fuck,” he said, sighing. “Damnit, man. I-I don’t know how safe I can keep her. I’m not exactly good at looking out for anyone but myself.”
“You’re smart. Resourceful.I trust you.”
He stared me down for a moment before frowning. “You really trust me?”
I nodded. “Yeah. You’ve always been straight with me. You helped me save her.”
He rubbed his eyes. “Then I guess I need to come clean about something.”
I tensed, really hoping I wouldn’t have to kill him. “What?”
“I know someone who will keep her hidden. Keep us all hidden. He’s damn good at disappearing.”
“Do it,” I said immediately. “Whoever he is, bring him. I want to meet him.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “You promise you won’t be pissed? I don’t want to have to fight with you, man.”
“As long as Bianca is safe and cared for, no, I won’t be pissed.”
He studied me for a moment before he nodded. “OK. Remember you said that.”
I watched as he left me on the patio, his phone to his ear.