“His decision had nothing to do with my daughter and for your own safety, don’t ever mention my daughter again.”
“Okay,” I gulped. Dylan ‘Bullseye’ Franks wasn’t a man I ever wanted to fuck with. What I did know about him, was that he talked plainly and was as straightforward as they came. If he said something, he meant it. The man preferred action to words. So having him sit next to me and actually talk was a gift. I did not want to get on his bad side. Taking a deep breath, I changed tactics and asked, “So, you work for Gideon now?”
“I don’t work for anyone,”
“Can I trust him?”
“Trust is overrated. People disappoint.”
“I need you to tell me what to do here, Bullseye. I’ve got Donatella with me. I can’t put her in a position where she will get hurt.”
“Then you are fucked because ifLegionor theDivisionwants her, there is nowhere she will be safe. Everyone can be bought. Everyone has their own agenda.” He said, getting to his feet. He took a few steps then turned back to me and added, “I made the mistake of trusting someone I thought had my back and now my woman is dead. Don’t make my mistake.”
I said nothing more as Bullseye walked away. I could clearly see the grief on his face. Pain radiated all around him. How Gideon got him to comply I didn’t know. The man was a walking shell of the man he used to be. He would never be the same again. A love like he had for his wife was something unreal, so visceral, it encompassed him. I knew vengeance was the only thing keeping him breathing. The need for retribution for all of those who caused her death. The man was dangerous. A caged animal and when released, God help anyone who was around.
I sat there, sitting in silence still not any closer to what I should do. I didn’t know where to take her. I had no clue where she would be safe. I wanted to believe in my family but something kept telling me to leave them out of this. Then there was what Gideon, Jonathon and Bullseye said. If I couldn’t make her safe in any of those places, then what was left? Where would she be safe?
Gideon walked back into the room, sat next to me, and said, “Bullseye is singular-minded, Lorenzo. He will never trust anyone again. You know that, right? You were there that day. No man can overcome what he endured. All we can hope for is that he finds some semblance of peace.”
“Only death will give him that.”
“True,” Gideon whispered, then mysteriously grinned, “But I’m hoping that there is someone who can bring him back to the living.”
I narrowed my eyes.
He was up to something.
He knew something I didn’t.
Which was a lot.
The man knew a great many things. Shit that he had barely begun to inform me about. I didn’t really care what he was planning for Bullseye. What I cared about was Donatella.
She was mine.
Mine to protect.
Right now, she was my only concern and with no other place to hide her, I felt forced to accept his help. I didn’t like not having options. I agreed with Bullseye about trust. In my book, trust was earned and other than helping me get Donatella off that pier in Florida, I didn’t know if I could trust him. Right now, all I had was his word.
“We will be landing shortly. When we do, my mother will meet us in the hanger. She will be taking Donatella with her to the family compound. I need to head to my penthouse with Bullseye. I am going to kill two birds with one stone. I need you to go with my men so they can bring you up to speed about what will happen in the next few days.”
Laughing, I got up and started pacing. This mother fucker must think I’m fucking crazy. That was the only plausible explanation for the bullshit he just spouted. “You must be fucking deaf. Do I need to use ASL to make you understand that Donatella doesn’t leave my sight?”
“Lorenzo.”
“No. I was very fucking clear. Until I can verify that she is safe, she doesn’t leave my sight. At all.”
“She is going to be with my mother, her aunt. Nothing will happen to her. I give you, my word.”
“No.”
“Lorenzo, she can’t go with you when I put you out in the field. You are going to have to learn to trust me sometime. I wouldn’t harm my cousin.”
“I said no.”
“God damn you are fucking stubborn!” Gideon roared, getting to his feet. “What more do I have to do to prove to you that I mean what I say?”
“When this plane lands, I will be going with Donatella to your family’s compound. I will meet your mother and check the place out myself. Only when I am satisfied that she will be safe, will I trust you.”