Liam nods, clearly willing to let me make this choice. “The men who took us belonged to an old family. One our grandfather had been at odds with for years. He’d run into some money trouble after one of his casino’s failed, and he borrowed more from the one family that had it to spare, the Kelly’s. They held us all for ransom, demanding Grandfather pay them the money, plus a little extra to get us back. He didn’t have it, of course. The new casino he’d built had only been open for a few weeks at that point, but they knew that. They’d planned it that way. When he didn’t pay up, they shot Mum and Da in the head right in front of him, and us. When they turned the gun on you, grandfather pleaded for a trade—us for him.”
“Did they take it?”
“They shot him where he stood.”
God, so much violence. “What happened to us?”
“We were separated. I was sent to another one of their families, raised by them as the next Kelly foot soldier. You were just gone. No one knew where you went, Bebe.”
The name pings something in my brain. “Say that again. What did you just call me?”
“Bebe.”
“I’ve heard that name before.” My mind swirls, memories flickering and blinking in and out of existence until one of a young boy with shaggy red hair stands before me, his hand outstretched. He tries to say something, but no sound comes out. “Did you call me that when we were little?”
Liam smiles for the first time. “I gave you that nickname the day you were born. I was the only one who called you that.”
“I think I remember that. It’s still foggy in here.” I tap my head. “But there’s something familiar about that name.”
“It doesn’t seem fair what you’ve been through. I was given the world when I came into our family’s inheritance. I used that to put an end to the Kelly’s and seized their assets, the same way I’m going to end that fucking club.”
“What happens after that? What happens after it's done?”
“We go home, Bebe, where you belong. Where you’ve always belonged. Home with me, safe from all this shit.”
Home.The word settles in my chest like a hug from an old friend. I’d dreamed of a home for so long, and now it’s dangling in front of me like a carrot, just out of my reach. If I go home with Liam, I’d be leaving Priest behind. I’m not sure I can do that.
How do you just leave the person who makes you feel complete?
PRIEST
I closethe door to my room and pull her to my chest, wrapping my arms around her and squeezing her tightly. The pressure hurts like hell, but I don’t care. This has been quite a day for both of us, and I’m so glad to finally have her alone so we can both decompress.
“You okay?” she asks, her voice muffled by my shirt against her lips.
Chuckling, I release her just a little, and place a kiss to the top of her head. “Good now.”
She grins and pops up on her toes, pressing her mouth to mine. I return her kiss, but allow her to control it. This is the first time she’s ever kissed me on her own. The first time she’s initiated any affection toward me.
After a moment, she pulls away, smiles, and flops back onto the bed. “God, I’m so tired.” Groaning, she rolls onto her side and props her head on her hand. “It’s exhausting finding out you’re a kidnapped mafia princess with a pissed off big brother and a string of Casinos.”
Sitting down beside her, I rest my hand on her hip. “I’m afraid I have a bit more news, Angel.”
“And what could that be?”
“We’re moving in on the Screwballs tonight.”
She bolts upright, her eyes wide with fear. “Tonight? So soon?”
I nod, wishing I could give her any other answer but this one. “We have to. The Screwballs have other women there, and we need to get them out. And I don’t know if I can sleep another night knowing any of those sick fucks are still breathing air.”
She swallows, tears springing to her eyes. “But you’re hurt.”
“I am, but I’m getting better, and there’s no way in hell I’m sitting this one out. That bastard Alan has a bullet in my gun with his name on it.”
Rising to her feet, I watch as she paces the floor, wringing her hands as she absorbs the news. “I can’t lose you. I just found you… I just found me!”
Getting off the bed, I stop her pacing by resting my hands on her shoulders. “You’re not gonna lose me, Bria.”