“No, I miss you is all. We’ll catch up when you’re next home.”
“In that case, it will be a couple of months.”
“Maybe I’ll come and visit you at the academy,” I say.
“I’d like that,” she replies, and then I hear someone shouting her name in the background. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you guys later and don’t worry, I won’t say a word about Eliza.” She cancels the call and a solemn silence fills the study.
“At least she hasn’t told anyone,” I say.
Thiago nods and then falls silent.
A sense of unease sweeps over me as I wonder what he’s thinking. Do they trust me and should they? I honestly don’t know that I can swear my allegiance to my family.
“Do you want to see a doctor now?” Thiago asks.
I meet his dark, inquisitive gaze. “Wouldn’t it risk Don Pablo finding out about the baby?”
Enzo clears his throat. “It would be better to wait until Adrik is out of the equation, don’t you think?”
Thiago’s brow furrows. “If you are sure, but you don’t want to wait too long.”
I nod in reply, swallowing hard. “How soon does Massimo intend to take him out?” I ask, a clawlike grip closing around my heart.
“I believe he intends to do it at the meeting in three days, so you won’t have long to wait.”
Three days.
It doesn’t seem nearly long enough to make such a life-changing decision. Either let the father of my child walk into a death-trap or betray my blood. I can’t believe that Adrik has clawed his way under my skin and infected my blood. He was never supposed to get close to my heart, and yet I feel him there like a stain that can’t be removed.
28
ADRIK
The Morrone family’s casino is quiet compared to normal, but every single person in the building is an enemy and we’re walking in of our own free will. Some may say it’s a crazy and reckless move, but I won’t cower away from these bastards.
Budimir knows we are more than likely walking into a trap and that’s why we have our men stationed outside in a van, listening to everything that goes on.
Eliza will be here, somewhere, and that’s the only factor driving me forward. Our unborn child is at risk while she’s in the hands of my enemy. Massimo notices me the moment I enter the casino floor, and he walks toward us. “Glad you made it, Adrik.” There’s a whisper of a smirk on his lips. “Where is your wife?”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m sure I have no idea, since you took her from me a few days ago.”
Massimo’s spine straightens, and he looks surprised that I’m aware of her being in his possession. I must admit, it was odd not to hear anything from him about it. A blackmail message or something. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, you Italian bastard. Axel’s man was caught on camera snatching her from my house.”
Massimo sighs. “Never trust a biker to do a job right.”
“So you admit you stole my wife from my territory?”
He shrugs. “Axel stole her.”
“For you,” I add, running a hand through my hair. “What’s your angle?”
He searches my eyes. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I’m not a fool. I know you don’t want peace. You’re harboring Thiago and Enzo Estrada, hoping you can oust me and replace me on the throne, but I’m going to implore you now to reconsider.”
“Why would I do that?”