Chapter 7 – Mari
You take my family, I’ll take yours.
The words dripped crimson while Seattle General Massacre flashed on the headline scroller as news station after news station covered the catastrophe.
Dominic and I were huddled together on the couch, watching. The longer it went on, the longer his hand on my thigh felt like the only thing keeping me from floating to the ceiling. Even Two-Bit, who sat on the love seat across from us, seemed disturbed.
The news anchor looked broken as she recited her information again. “For those just tuning in, we’re covering a massacre at Seattle General this morning. According to police, the attack focused on the fourth and fifth floors of the west wing. A small group of terrorists came in quietly overnight, apparently searching for someone in particular. When they didn’t find their target, they turned their attention to whoever they could find. One of our anchors is on the scene. John…”
They were right when they called it a tragedy. Thirteen people dead and just as many injured because Cash was looking for us. We’d been out of the hospital for less than twelve hours when he’d decided to start ripping bodies apart.
“He’s devolving,” Greyson said through the phone. I’d never been more grateful that he was still at the medical center instead of the hospital. The idea that it could’ve been his blood on the wall made me sick.
“The look-alikes?” I asked Two-Bit. His pause gave me my answer, and guilt soured my stomach.
Sending us to the medical center to recover had made sense, so I’d agreed. When Two-Bit had suggested the look-alikes taking our places at Seattle Gen, I’d agreed to that too. Anything to throw them off the scent until I was sure Grey would live.
Now, we were alive, and they weren’t.
“They knew what they were getting into,” Two-Bit promised. “They trained for this.”
“I don’t think anyone could train for my brother,” Nate said from his place at the windows. He’d taken one look at the screen and promptly turned away. I didn’t know how, but he knew. The moment he saw those words, he knew.
Though the news wasn’t spreading it, Two-Bit told us Cash had bled out Nate’s look-alike and used the blood as paint for his gruesome warning.
You take my family, I’ll take yours.
We had no doubt it was retaliation for Nate switching sides, and I knew it was another weight he’d carry on his shoulders. “He’s not going to stop,” he said.
“Probably not,” I agreed.
“What I don’t understand is why he waited so long.” Dominic sat back on the couch, head tilted as he considered all sides of the situation. “It’s been over a week since the wake. Why now?”
Nate grimaced. “Knowing his twisted sense of family, he was probably waiting to see if he was avenging or attacking me. To do that, he needed to know if I was dead.”
“He must’ve followed us home. We need to double-check security at the medical center.”
“The center’s fine. I just checked,” Two-Bit assured me. “No Aces within ten blocks of the place.”
“So, how did he know?”
“He’s probably had eyes on the Celestine the whole time. If he didn’t before Nate defected, he definitely does now.”
So, when they’d seen us come home, they’d doubled-checked the hospital and realized they’d been duped. Cash being Cash made it everyone’s problem. It made sense, but for someone who was being hunted by the Feds, Cash sure wasn’t being quiet with his moves. Made me wonder if he gave a fuck at all. Maybe that cartel connection of his was worth more than just drugs.
It was at the top of my list to figure out exactly who that connection was and remove him from it.
I crossed the room, slipping between Nate and the window and wrapping myself around him. “It isn’t your fault.”
“It is.”
“Anything that happens right now is his decision, Nate. You can’t control him.”
“I should’ve killed him before now.” When he realized I wasn’t going to let him go, he squeezed me tighter than he normally would have. I didn’t mind, though. I needed the hug just as much. “I should’ve poisoned him or suffocated him or blown up his fucking car.”
“If you’d tried, you’d be dead and so would we. I’m sure Cash has contingencies for everything.”
Nate didn’t need to agree for me to know I was right. He dropped his head to my shoulder, burrowing into my neck with a frustrated sigh. “He’s not going to stop, angel. Grey’s not here and my brother is gunning for us and it all feels like too much.”
“He was never going to stop,” I said softly. “Not unless we put him down. We’ll get Greyson back as soon as we can, and then we’ll make a plan to get rid of Cash for good.”
Two-Bit cleared his throat. “As much as I enjoy the optimism, there are more urgent matters than your psychopathic brother.” When he had all of our attention, he smiled uncomfortably. “I’ve been nominated as the messenger.”
“Meaning?” Dominic asked carefully.
“The other leaders sat down with Cash as soon as the news broke. They’ve entered into a truce.”
Shock held my tongue, but my men didn’t seem to have the same issue. All three of them went off, yelling obscenities and spitting vitriol. Even Grey had his turn, cursing every single one of them to the grave and back.
I was fine to let them blow off steam, but Two-Bit raised his hand for silence. “They’re scared. They can see just as well as we can that he’s getting sicker and sicker. They’re just trying to survive.”
“They’re cowards,” Dominic snarled.
Seemed to be a recurring phenomenon among the men in my city.
“The deal?” I asked tiredly. I was done with all of this. I’d take Cash out, even if I did it alone, but I was going to make everyone who refused to help pay after.
“He leaves them alone, and they’ll return the favor.”
I expected it, but I was still frustrated. “So, we’re on our own now.”
“More than you think,” Two-Bit agreed.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning, the Wolf is getting testy that his heir won’t return home. Your uncle better figure out his allegiances before he ends up dead or replaced.”
Part of me wanted to ask about his relationship with Rafael, but like the cartel leader Cash worked with, I had a feeling Two-Bit wouldn’t say a word. Cousin or not.
“I hadn’t realized he was still in town.” We hadn’t spoken since our argument. I didn’t have time to coddle my grown uncle while he played both me and my grandfather.
“I’m sure he’s aware, though,” Nate said diplomatically, knowing I wasn’t going to reach out to Rafael. “He’s a big boy who knew what he was risking if he stayed in town against Emmanuel’s wishes.”
“Very well. I just wanted to be sure you knew.” Two-Bit stood, adjusting his clothes as he headed for the door, only to stop before he left.
“Was there something else?” I asked carefully.
“We can get you in to see him.”
I glanced at Nate, whose face was drawn and uncomfortable, only to find Dominic already checking on him. “When?”
“Tomorrow. I think it’s best if you leave Greyson where he is. Better not to draw attention to your separation if you want him to survive.”
“I’ll be fine,” Grey assured me. “Go ahead.”
Nate took a deep, cleansing breath. “We’ll be there.”
“I’ll send you the information in an hour. We’ll stay close while you’re visiting.”
“That’s fine. It’s not like he can do anything to me now.”
“Exactly.” With nothing else to say, Two-Bit nodded at all of us and disappeared out the door.
When it shut behind him, leaving my family and me alone, I pulled Nate to the couch and sat down on his lap, forcing him to be still. “Are you nervous about tomorrow?”
He wrapped his arms around me carefully, keeping me close enough to feel the frantic rush of his heartbeat. “I don’t know. I don’t want to see him.”
Dominic cleared his throat and shifted, obviously uncomfortable. “We’ll be with you the whole time. He won’t get to you.”
Nate’s smile was strained. “I’m not worried about me, but thanks.”
The three of us sat silently, watching Cash’s catastrophe filter through every news station in town.
Tomorrow, we’d go see his hero in the flesh.
Tomorrow, we were having a chat with Ace Beckstrom.