“I mean, if you really want, but I thought now might be a good time to try and get into contact with your sister.”
“What?” That has me out of bed. “How?”
“If everyone is at this meeting, I’m guessing she’s back home with minimal security?”
“We can’t leave.” As much as I want to go to my sister, I don’t need Antonio getting some alert that I’ve snuck out. I need him to concentrate, and I know he won’t be able to do that if he’s worried about my whereabouts.
“We’re not leaving.” She hooks her arm through mine, leading me out of the bedroom. “You think my brother spent all that money on a fancy boarding school for nothing?”
“I didn’t go to a fancy boarding school, so I’m not following whatever it is you’re saying.” We descend the stairs, our arms still locked.
“Butch.” Carina gives Butcher a chin nod. He glares at her.
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing,” Carina chirps at him. “Going to the library is all.”
Butcher grunts a response, clearly not buying it.
He follows after us. He stops when we enter the library but lingers in the doorway. I know Butcher wouldn’t hurt me, but he still freaks me the hell out. There is an emptiness behind his eyes.
Carina grabs a laptop off the table. “You stand here.” She actually places me in front of the chair in the corner of the room before she drops into it.
“What are you doing?”
Carina opens the laptop and wiggles her fingers. “Gonna see if we can get a peek into the Larone home. You said your father has cameras throughout the house.”
“Yes, but not his office or any place he conducts business.” At least I’d never seen any there. They were all over outside, as well as the common areas and hallways. I always felt like we were being watched except in our bedroom.
“Carina,” Butcher barks, having heard everything we said. I spin around to face him.
“I can only have the computer in here, and it’s monitored, but no one is monitoring it now.” Carina says from behind me as Butcher closes in on us. “Don’t move, Angelica.”
“Give me the damn computer,” Butcher demands. He looms over me. Carina is tucked in behind me. Is she using me as a shield? Against the Butcher? The hell? I thought we were friends. Carina continues to click away on the computer.
“He can’t touch you,” Carina says smugly. Sheisusing me as a damn shield. Butcher tries to reach around me to grab the laptop from her, but I move, putting my hands up to push back. He steps away so my hands don’t connect with him.
“See?” Carina snickers.
“Damn it, Carina.”
“It’s fine. I’m just checking on her sister.”
“You and that fucking computer,” he grumbles, trying to make a grab again, but I reach out to touch him, and once again he steps back.
“It’s like I have a superpower.” I can’t help but laugh.
“May the force be with you.” Carina giggles from behind me.
We might be laughing now, but once the men get home, I don’t think that will be the case any longer.
17
ANTONIO
“This isn’t what I’d expected.” Constantine shoots a glare at Gilly. “I thought you’d trust the man whose daughter you married.”
“Trust is in short supply.” I wave the server away once he’s filled my wine glass.