19. Damon
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DAMON
NOW
Blood usually eases the pressure in my mind.
That probably makes me a sociopath, but hey, I’ve been called worse.
I’ve made a point of staying out of the compound as much as possible the last few days because the more complicated the lie becomes, the harder it is to keep it going.
Everyone is beginning to draw their own conclusions, and I can’t protect Ronan anymore, no matter how much I want to.
It’s instinctual to take care of your family, especially your siblings, but there’s only so much I can do, and as long as he doesn’t come back to Miami, he should be safe.
Even as the thought crosses my mind, I realize it’s wishful thinking.
Our father has spent decades hunting a man because he was driving when his wife was hurt. I can’t see him getting over his son betraying the family to protect someone he views as a traitor.
The tiles turn red the second I step into the shower. An out-of-town gang member took it upon himself to try to steal a shipment of cocaine before our guys could get it off the ship.
Safe to say he didn’t live to gloat to his bosses.
I made sure of it.
But it didn’t take the edge off the way I hoped it would.
I’m just as agitated as I was before I left the compound last night, and I can’t keep making excuses to not be here.
At some point I need to face up to the fact my own brother is now the enemy.
As unnatural as it feels, it’s a reality I need to learn to live with.
Making quick work of washing the blood away, I shut off the water and move through the motions of getting ready for the day.
It’s been days since I’ve slept, but it’s a pointless endeavor I’ve officially given up on.
Just like a decade ago, thoughts of Chloe’s pain haunts me every time I close my eyes, and eventually my body will need rest badly enough that it will crash without the possibility of nightmares.
Until that time comes, I need to keep busy.
Stepping into the hall, I glance both ways before heading toward my father’s office on the ground floor to update him on my night.
I can’t fucking wait for the day I don’t answer to anyone and I’m calling the shots.
But until that day comes, I have to play by the rules.
Voices at the other end of the hallway catch my attention, and I step into an empty room to listen.
I want to say I’m not just being nosy and will walk away if they’re talking about something important, but that’s a lie.
I’ve been walking a fine line of deceit this past week, and if my father’s men are catching on to that, I need to be aware and get the fuck out of here.
“There’s no evidence that Ralph had any plans to leave the family,” Robert says. He’s one of my father’s oldest friends and someone he trusts implicitly.
“And yet he’s not here,” Dad replies.
There’s a beat of silence before another voice fills the void. Perry. Ralph’s best friend. “He wouldn’t do this, boss. He’s loyal to a fault to this organization.”
“You’ve seen the video. He went into the cell and turned the cameras off, and the next thing you know, the traitor and my son are gone. That’s pretty fucking damning.”
My hands fist at my sides at the jab. Chloe is a lot of things, but she’s not a traitor. It remains to be seen whether her parents were, but she was too young back then, and even if she and Kingston have been in contact over the years, she’s had no reason to be loyal to us.
We drove her to run, to hide, and she had to do whatever was necessary to survive. I can’t fault her for that.
“I think it’s time we consider the possibility Ronan took the girl,” Perry says.
“That’s not possible.”
“Isn’t it? He’s always been weak when it comes to her. What makes you think he wouldn’t betray the family to save her?”
Another long pause makes my palms twitch with the need to do something, to defend my brother even though they’re right on the money. It was only a matter of time before they worked it out. Now I just have to hope they don’t catch on to my involvement.
I step out from my hiding place and close the distance to my father’s office in a few long strides.
Not bothering to knock on the open door, I step over the threshold and shove my hands into my pockets.
“Son,” Dad greets me, barely sparing me a glance.
“The piece of shit that thought he could steal from us is dead,” I tell him with a satisfied smirk.
“Good.” He nods, turning his attention to the laptop in front of him, giving me a chance to acknowledge Perry and Robert.
They stare me down, and I mentally add them to the list of assholes to kill when I finally take the throne. I haven’t given up everything I ever wanted to have the likes of them look down on me.
I will be the next leader of the Lombardi family, and anyone who stands in my way will meet their maker before they have the chance to cause any trouble.
“You were running point the night your brother went missing, were you not?” Dad asks without bothering to look up at me.
“I was.”
“The perimeter alarms were repeatedly triggered by animals, but the most recent update you ordered should have stopped that kind of thing from happening, correct?”
Keeping my expression passive, I give a short nod. “The security specialist advised small animals such as squirrels and raccoons would no longer trip the sensors, but they did say larger ones could still be mistaken for a human.”
“There aren’t that many large critters around these parts,” Perry points out, but I shrug in reply.
“You said the De Marco girl was threatening to breach the compound. Is there a chance Ralph made a deal with her to deliver Chloe?”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Perry snaps.
“You never know what those closest to you are capable of,” my father points out. “I never thought Beaumont was capable of killing my wife, but I was wrong about that, wasn’t I?”
He looks like he wants to argue, but he hasn’t lasted this long in this family without knowing how to pick his battles.
“Would you like me to contact Camilla and get a gauge whether Chloe has been returned to them?”
“That still wouldn’t explain where Ronan is,” Robert points out.
“Perhaps that was her revenge for us taking Chloe?” I shrug. It’s plausible enough, and if I played my cards right, I may be able to bring Ronan home.
If he even wants to come home.
The thought makes my chest ache. The idea of having anyone other than my brother as my number two turns my stomach, but he has to make his own choices, and if he decides to stay with Chloe, I can’t fault him for it.
If only one of us can choose our path, I won’t begrudge him happiness.
“Contact De Marco and see if you can get a feel for her part in this.”
“I’m on it.”
I leave the office without another word.
It’s been a while since I checked in with Ronan, and it’s time I got an answer once and for all whether he wants back in the fold.