Chapter 24
Iwas staring out the window as we passed the sign that alerted me we’d crossed the Massachusetts border and into New Hampshire.
That was an hour ago. We’re now seemingly driving into the White Mountain National Forest. I’m assuming this is where one of my dad’s safe houses is, so I don’t bother questioning Javier.
Especially when I doubt he’d tell me anyway.
I close my eyes, intending to sleep for a while, but before I know it, Javier is nudging my arm to wake me up. When I glance at the clock, it reads twelve forty-seven. We’ve been driving for just over two hours.
“Come on,” he says gruffly, turning off the car and opening the door.
I take a second to look at my phone to see if my dad has tried calling or sending a message, but there are no new notifications. With a deep breath, I step out into the night air and meet Javier at the trunk.
He’s already put my suitcase on the ground, and now he’s reaching for another bag.
“You’re already packed?” I question.
“I always have a bag in the car.”
After shutting the trunk, I realize we’re parked underneath a second story deck with room for a few more cars. We walk around to the side of the house where a staircase leads us to a door to the house. To my left, I can see a table and several chairs, but it’s too dark to make out any details.
Once inside, Javier turns off the security alarm, closes and locks the door, types in a code, and then flips on a light switch.
It’s a nice cabin, which isn’t surprising if this is where my dad spends any amount of time. The living room is cozy, with two leather loveseats and an accent chair positioned around a small rectangular coffee table, all facing a fireplace with a TV mounted above it.
A black dining room table sits in on the other side of the room, past doors that I suspect lead out to the deck.
Javier disappears through a doorway and another light filters in. The sound of water hits my ears, and I assume he’s in the kitchen.
It’s clear he’s been here before with how familiar he is with everything, and I begin to wonder just how close he is to my dad.
I wander around and find a bedroom that houses a king sized bed. When I find the stairs, I walk up and come across a loft space that looks down on the living room. A couch and table sit on top of a nice rug, and a hall leads to what has to be the rest of the bedrooms.
“Carlo,” Javier yells.
“What?”
“Come here.”
I sigh and head back down the stairs. “What?” I ask, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
“He’s about to be here, and I shouldn't have to tell you, but I’m going to anyway. Do not say anything stupid. Don’t say anything that doesn’t need to be said. We will get our orders and we will abide by them.”
I fight the grin my mouth wants to form, because I know he isn’t aware of my relationship with who he seems to hold in such high regard. He probably respects my father, and well, I hold him in disdain most times.
I lift my brows. “Sure.”
“I’m serious.”
“Okay,” I say, holding up my hands and going to the couch where I flop unceremoniously.
The sound of doors closing are followed closely by muffled voices as they hit the stairs. Javier rushes to the door to turn off the alarm, and then the door opens. I don’t bother turning around to watch him enter. He knows I’m here. I was instructed to be, after all.
“How was the drive?” my dad asks.
“Good. Nobody in sight.”
“All right, well.” He stops talking and his footsteps bring him closer to me.
I angle my head over my shoulder as he rounds the couch.
“Carlo,” he greets.
I dip my head in response then look behind me, expecting to see Dad’s right hand man.
“Where’s Johnny?” I ask, brows furrowed as I spot someone I’ve never seen before.
“Somewhere else.” Dad waves his hand at the man lingering in front of the door, and he goes to stand outside.
“Do I get to know why I’ve been driven to the mountains now?”
Javier walks over and stands near my dad, trying to send me a message with his eyes.
Dad walks over to the accent chair that sits caddy corner to me. Hiking up his slacks, he sits down and gestures for Javier to sit on the other couch.
“We need to lay low for a little while.”
“Still making waves?” I ask.
“The waves have never waned.”
“What does this have to do with me? This is your problem, is it not?”
Javier shifts, uncomfortable with how I’m speaking to him.
“Well, unfortunately for you, it’s become your problem.”
“How? Why?”
Dad leans back in the chair, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Because you’ve been found out.”
My eyes slide over to Javier whose own gaze is bouncing between the two of us as he tries to figure out what’s going on.
“How did that happen?”
“We have a rat.”
I sit up, leaning my elbows on my knees. “Who?”
“I have theories.”
“And this is separate from your other problem?”
“Yes, but because of my other problem, and the fact that people are now aware of your proximity to me, you are in danger.”
I inhale slowly through my nose. “So, we’re all staying here?”
Dad shakes his head. “No. Javier will watch over you. Marco and I will be heading to another location. You and I shouldn’t be around each other.”
“How long is this going to go on for? I have work. I have—”
“No you don’t,” he says, cutting me off. “You’re on sabbatical.”
I send Javier an accusatory look but he just deepens his furrow.
“I don’t know why you’re on sabbatical,” Dad continues, “But I know it’s true.”
“Are you spying on me?”
“I don’t have time to spy on you, Carlo. I know what I need to know, and I know you don’t have a job to get back to anytime soon. So, you will be here with Javier, and he is the only person you should trust.”
I snort, leaning back into the couch. “Great.”
“Listen to me. I trust Javier with my life. He’s the only person I can say that about, so you—”
“Nice,” I say derisively, cutting him off.
“Don’t act like a petulant child now. You said you wanted this life, and I’ve tried protecting you from it, well it looks like you’re finally getting your way. You’re in it, whether you like it or not.”
“Protecting me?” I bite. “Or excluding me?”
Dad’s nostrils flare as he stares at me. “Protecting you. I always mean what I say.”
“Good to know, because you’ve said a lot over the years.”
“I don’t sugarcoat the truth. You’ve heard exactly what you needed to hear, and for thirty years you’ve been safe from any fallout because I kept you away. Just because you don’t like the way it happened, doesn’t mean it wasn’t done without your best interest in mind.”
I cock my head, trying to hear what he’s saying in the omissions. “So, I’m here because you think someone will kill me.”
“Yes.”
“But they’re also trying to kill you.”
“Yes.”
“And that’s why we shouldn’t be together. Because we could both be killed at the same time.”
“Because they’re coming after me, and if they get me, you need to stay alive.”
“Why?”
Dad sighs. “You’re my son. Why do you think?”
Javier sucks in a breath, and both Dad and I turn to look at him. Before he can say anything, Dad speaks up again.
“There’s something I need to tell you about Javier.”