70. Home Game
70
HOME GAME
RORY
“ Y ou better start talking,” Cole growls in my ear.
“He deserved it,” I whisper, still in shock. He was going to kill Aidan.
Cole spins me slowly, turning me from the sight of my father’s body. His gun is in his hand, but he doesn’t point it at me. Not yet…
“I killed him.” Is this shock? The sound of the gunshot is still reverberating in my ear. Emotionally, I’m cut off and my head is spinning.
“You did.”
Cole’s gaze is as cold as an icy tundra, but there is a hint of indecision in his eyes as he carefully studies my face. Probably deciding whether or not to kill me. Get in line, DeLuca.
His hand holding the gun raises and, like pulling a trigger, words erupt out of me in an endless string of panic, everything Matteo did, everything he said. “They were expanding the skin trade in the city… It was only a matter of time before they betrayed you…” Cole DeLuca was one of the most dangerous men in Boston, but they say he drew a hard line on selling bodies.
Cole’s eyes narrow on me, his dark eyes suspicious. I keep mine trained on his gun, the one he still hasn’t put away… “That’s not possible.”
My cheeks heat, supercharged emotions flooding in, and so I snap at him, “Don’t be an idiot, DeLuca.” Not the best sense of self-preservation, but it is what it is at this point…
The Italian’s brow raises at my audacity.
“You knew something was up. I saw the way you were watching him. Adrik betrayed the O’Rourkes, had Declan killed when he discovered what Adrik and Matteo were up to.”
If Cole’s surprised, he doesn’t show it, his face stony and cold— but still listening .
“Adrik betrayed me. He betrayed my mother.” My voice breaks when the puzzle pieces finally click together and I know without a doubt that Adrik had had a hand in her death. She’d been trying to save me from him. “What makes you think he wouldn’t betray you ?”
Cole’s quiet, his gaze impossible to read.
“And why should I believe you?”
My face falls, seeing the doubt in his eyes.
“How do I know you’re not making this up just to save your own skin?” His gun clicks, but I meet his eyes, holding his gaze despite every instinct screaming at me to run. I wouldn’t make it two steps…
I let out a breath, an eerie sense of calm filling me. “That’s easy. I’m standing here, unarmed, telling you the truth, because you should know. Certainly, Matteo wasn’t the only one in your circle involved,”I hedge.
There’s a dangerous glint in Cole’s eyes, a warning, but I press on.
“I don’t care if you kill me, Cole. I’m just asking you not to kill Aidan. He killed Matteo for me . To protect me . I’m the reason your cousin is dead. And I’m not sorry.” I lift my chin defiantly, “Blood pays for blood. And this debt is mine .” My eyes darken, threatening to haunt the Italian capo’s ass from the grave should he not listen, “This is between you and me. Leave the Irish out of this.”
We enter a tense standoff, neither one of us breaking eye contact.
The door crashes behind me. I momentarily forget where I am, putting my back to the cold-blooded killer behind me. I feel his hand curl around my arm, tugging me backwards. As I come face to face with the horrified expressions of my brother and my—husband.
“Aidan,” my voice breaks on his name—at the sight of him. Dried blood cakes the side of his face, his shirt missing. His chest is streaked red from various cuts across his chest.
He doesn’t hesitate, lunging forward and grabbing hold of me. I protest, screaming in panic, certain Cole is about to blow Aidan’s head off right in front of me. My husband rips me out of Cole’s arms, but before I can get my bearings, I’m thrust into Niko’s chest with Aidan in front, blocking me entirely from Cole’s sight.
“No one touches my wife, DeLuca,” Aidan growls menacingly.
Cole’s gun is high, pointed right between Aidan’s beautiful green eyes.
“No,” I squeak out, trying to get back in between them, but Niko holds me back, despite my best efforts to escape his grip.
“You killed my cousin,” Cole snarls.
“Aye, I did,” Aidan admits, chancing a glance behind him, finding my eyes. I choke out a sob and he shifts his body again to better block me from Cole’s view. Turning back to face the Italian Capo with a smile, “Do you want to hear how he cried before he died?”
I’m shaking, the fight ebbing out of me as fear takes hold of my body. Cole will never let Aidan live after this. Niko seems to realize this at the same time as me and starts for the door. Not wanting me to see what’s about to happen.
There’s a tense silence before Cole finally speaks.
“Good.”
The room stills.
To everyone’s surprise, Cole lowers his gun. “It appears I owe the Irish a favor.”
Cole holds out his hand to Aidan and all three of us blink at him—stunned. Aidan recovers first, taking Cole’s extended hand and shaking it hard.
The Italian Capo holsters his gun, his dark gaze passing over mine before leaning in to tell Aidan something only they can hear. Aidan’s eyes follow Cole’s to mine.
Then Cole straightens, moving around Aidan and heading for the exit, casually, as if he wasn’t just about to kill all three of us seconds earlier. He stops on the threshold, looking back at the three of us.
“Hold on to this one,” he nods his head in my direction, “If you can.” The corner of the Italian’s lip quirks up. “And give me a call when she gets you into trouble again.”
Niko lets out a snort, and my eyes narrow on DeLuca. Giving him what I hope is a death glare, I notice the corner of his lip only ticks further up in amusement. He slides his dark gaze back to my husband, “I never had your sister… As far as I know, no one did.”
Aidan nods solemnly.
“But I’ll put every available resource into finding her.”
“Thank you,” Aidan gives Cole a nod of respect before wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close, looking pointedly in the direction of Adrik’s dead body.
Cole laughs, and he shakes his head. “Oh, that wasn’t me. That was all your lovely little wife here.”
I wince when Aidan looks my way, eyebrows raised.
“Don’t piss that one off,” DeLuca winks at me and disappears into the hall.
Aidan doesn’t waste any time. The second Cole’s gone, I’m in Aidan’s arms and he’s checking me over for injuries, his gaze lingers on my cheek. “Are you okay?”
I let out a shaky breath, not having to pretend in front of him. “I think so, I—” I look over to where my father lies. Niko stands over him, arms crossed.
“It was a good shot,” Niko looks up at me, but I can’t read his expression. “Looks like you’re a Kostalov after all.” He gives me a little smile, and I return it. I’m a little shocked, not having realized his face could do that…
Niko straightens when his gaze slides to Aidan, his body angled slightly between my brother and me. I realize with my father dead, Niko inherits the Russian crown, making him the new Pakhan.
My brother and my husband size each other up.
“Take care of my sister, O’Rourke. I think you know the consequences if you don’t.” Niko’s eyes darken before he extends his hand, “Truce?”
There’s silence for a beat before Aidan takes Niko’s hand. “Truce.” Relief sweeps through me and with it comes all the pain and exhaustion my adrenaline was hiding.
Niko sees it on my face and points toward the door. “Why don’t you get my sister out of here? I’ll take care of this mess.” He peers down at our father’s body, curling his lip in disgust.
“Thanks, Niko.” Aidan laces his fingers through mine and leads me out of the study after exchanging a meaningful look with my brother that I don’t understand.
Out in the hall, it’s just Aidan and me. I follow him around a dark corner before he catches me by the waist, leaning me up against the wall. “Are you sure you’re okay?” His hands reach up to cup my face, eyes searching and full of worry.
“No,” I admit, still feeling the effects from the shock and trauma, “but I will be.” I give him a reassuring smile.
“You should rest. Do you want me to bring you up to your room?” I look up at him and he drops his hands from my cheeks, raw vulnerability shining in his eyes. We stand in the Kostalov mansion. My father gone—my engagement… off.
I shake my head slowly, and he turns his head ever so slightly to the side, questioning.
“I just want to go home.”
There’s a flash of hope in his dark green eyes.
“With you.”
Aidan leans forward and kisses me, a soft lingering promise of everything to come. Sweeping my legs out from under me, he carries me out of the mansion.
Taking me home.