Chapter 36
Denver
“How bad is it?” I ask, taking a seat at the dining table. Colt stands beside me, his arm resting on the back of the chair, and Lewis is on my other side.
Alistair pulls in a breath. “Massimo and Conor have had three meetings in the last two weeks. Massimo has also been talking to the smaller families, and they’ll follow his lead out of respect.”
“And Ranger?” Colt asks.
“He’s snubbing their calls. Hasn’t left California since we got Denver back,” he says. “Whatever you said to him, he’s backed off. Word is he’s even selling off some of his assets.”
My stomach twists a little at the thought. Ranger Luxe doesn’t quit. He gets hit, and he hits back harder. But then, he has lost his son and me. He doesn’t even have Cal anymore. Maybe this really was the final straw for him.
“Where does Andrzej stand?” I ask.
“Wherever the power does,” Alistair says. “Alexei is firmly on side, though. And Dante has a soft spot for you.”
“Sabina?” I ask, hoping the Morelli sister still has some kind of loyalty.
“Silent.”
Fuck. That isn’t good. “I’ll call her,” I say, hoping that’ll make a damn difference. This world is sexist as fuck, and her brother will be pushing her out still.
“That’s all well and good, but there are a lot of families in the city who are turning against us. Massimo is promising them a lot, and at any point, they all could flip. Trusting Alexei or Dante totally would be foolish, too,” Alistair says. “We need a show of strength.”
Yes, we do. Colt and I discussed this at length after seeing Kitrick yesterday.
The betrayal still stings, and I don’t know how long it will take us to recover if the name Kitrick gave us is the right one.
But we’ll deal with it. We have no choice. And at the same time, we’ll make it clear that turning against the McEwans and the Harlands will get the families nowhere.
Two birds with one stone.
“We need a show of unity,” Colt lies smoothly. “We arrange a meeting with every family in New York.”
Taf blinks. “Every family? There’s no way they’ll all agree to that.”
“They will, because they’ll think they can turn the tables on us. It’s a rare opportunity to have Denver, Alistair, Ronan and me in one place. That’s enough to lure them in and talk to them.”
Alistair lets out a disbelieved laugh. “Talk to them? Colt, you’re good at this, but—”
“That’s what we’re doing,” Colt interjects, and Alistair falls quiet. I reach out to take Colt’s hand, making it seem like simple reassurance, when really, I’m silently telling him to rein himself in. “We will all be there. So will they. We fix it.”
“And Ronan knows about this?” JJ asks.
I nod. “We spoke to him this morning. He agrees.”
Alistair’s attention is on me, that familiar angry, unsettled look in his eyes. I’m taking some kind of lead on this, and he doesn’t like it.
But then, he never has.
“Problem, Alistair?” I ask sweetly. Now Colt squeezes my hand.
“Because the way I see it, we could visit each head of each family and convince them we’re strong, but in the time between those meetings, the Morellis will slither in and pour poison in their ear.
If we have the attention of every head in one room at the same time, a decision is made, and we all walk away unscathed. ”
Still, he watches me with reservation. “Fine. When? Where?”
“We’re working on a location, but we’ll have cars pick everyone up individually. I’m giving no one the address ahead of time. I’m not risking them planting anything,” Colt says. “But it will be in the next few days. After that, Denver and I are having a wedding.”
Lewis whoops. “Good, I’m pissed I missed the first one.”
I grin up at him. “Tuxedos and tequila. Except, no tequila for me.” I pout, and he pats my head.
“And then … you’re leaving?” Taf asks.
Colt nods. “Flights are booked for the next day.”
To England. One way.
No coming back.
My chest shudders as I breathe in. “Holly and Lewis will be coming with us, so this is the lead up to goodbye.” Colt squeezes my hand again before lifting it to his lips and kissing my knuckles.
Colt says, “Cain is organizing the meeting, then it’s all systems go. Any questions?” Everyone shakes their heads. “Good. Denver, wanna go for a walk with me?”
“Just say sex on the beach. We all know you mean sex on the beach.” JJ says.
I roll my eyes and Colt winks as he pulls me to my feet.
It’s windier today, my hair whipping around me as we walk close to the surf.
Colt tightens his hold around my waist, and we eventually stop and look back at the house.
The rich smell of salt and sand is all around us, and the bitter chill of winter is finally giving way to spring.
It should be a welcome feeling, leaning into the warmer months, being at this beach house together after having so much time apart.
The heaviness can’t be ignored, though. The bitter taste of betrayal overwhelms any good feelings I could have here.
“Maybe Kitrick was wrong,” Colt says.
I keep my gaze on the house. “Maybe. But even if he’s wrong, that means there’s still someone leaking information about us. And only the people in that house had access to it.” He pulls my front to his. “We can only trust each other right now.”
Colt groans and his head drops back. “I feel like a fucking traitor. I’m doubting people I’ve known most of my life.”
“It’s being safe. We know it has to be one of them. We have to think worst-case scenario.” He nods and tucks my hair behind my ear, and I grip his jacket. “We can do this, right? It’ll work.”
He pulls me to him, and I rest my ear against his chest.
“It has to.”