Chapter 16
Everleigh
The meeting with Viper and his men had been completely terrifying, but by the grace of God, I managed to get through it.
I answered their questions the best I could, and once they had everything they needed from me, I was escorted out.
When I got back to the family room, Rebecca and Cat were finishing up their movie.
I felt guilty intruding on their time together, but Lynch and his president had left me with no choice.
I walked over and reclaimed my spot in the recliner.
I hadn’t been sitting there long when Cat’s favorite song came on.
She sprang off the sofa and started dancing around the room.
A bright smile swept across Rebecca’s face as she and her daughter started singing along with the characters in the movie.
I might’ve joined in if I didn’t have a giant knot that was growing in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t even seem to concentrate on anything else. Rebecca must’ve sensed something was wrong and asked, “You okay?”
“No, but I will be.”
I wanted to believe that was true—that I would be okay, but I wasn’t so sure. Antonio DeLuca was a powerful man who had pure evil running through his veins. I feared no one, not even the mighty Ruthless Sinners, would be able to take him down. I also feared that nothing would stop them from trying.
They were enraged by the fact that Antonio had the nerve to take one of their own, and it was evident by the questions they’d asked that they were devising a plan to get her back—a plan that would put all their lives in danger.
I couldn’t let that happen, especially when I had the power to make this whole thing go away. It was that thought that had me getting up from the recliner and rushing toward the door. I hadn’t gotten far when Rebecca called out to me, “Are you leaving?”
“I have something I need to take care of.”
I stopped when I heard her ask, “Do you want me to go with you or...?”
“Thanks, but this is something I have to do on my own.”
“What about the guys? Should I let them know that...”
“It would be best if you didn’t.” I could tell by her expression that she didn’t like my response, but the last thing I needed was Viper trying to stop me. “Like I said, this is something I really need to do on my own.”
Without saying anything more, I turned and darted down the hall.
As soon as I made it outside, I rushed over to Billy’s truck and opened the door.
I checked the ignition for his keys, but they weren’t there.
I checked the visor and under the floor mats, but no luck.
I wasn’t ready to give up, so I checked the console.
Relief washed over me when I spotted the familiar leather with his initials.
I quickly grabbed them and put the key in the ignition.
I felt like things were going as planned when I started the truck and headed up to the gate.
Then, I spotted the guards, and they spotted me.
When one of them started approaching the truck, I froze.
I couldn’t decide if I should just barrel through him and the metal fencing or try talking to him and tell him I had somewhere to go.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to do until he made it over to the truck. I rolled my window down and feigned a smile. “Hey there. I um... I’ve gotta head out and take care of something.”
“Not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Oh, it’s fine.” I was beginning to worry that they might not let me go, so I did the only thing I could. I lied. “Rebecca knows I’m leaving. I’m sure she’s already been in touch with Viper, so it’s all good.”
“When should we expect you back?”
My throat tightened as I answered, “I won’t be back.”
He gave me a nod, then stepped back and waited as I eased through the gate.
I was oddly calm as I started driving toward Antonio’s home.
I knew what was in store for me. My fate had been sealed the second I walked out of the Ruthless Sinners’ clubhouse, and while I wasn’t ready to die, I couldn’t live with myself if Kiersten or anyone else died in my place.
I held onto that thought as I entered the swanky subdivision where Antonio lived.
With every mile I drove, the houses seemed to grow more and more elaborate and harder to differentiate.
But Antonio’s stood out from the rest. While it was just as beautiful as all the others, his house was sitting on three acres, and there was a ten-foot brick wall that wrapped around the perimeter of the home.
Like the Ruthless Sinners, he had a metal gate that secured the entrance to his drive, but Antonio’s was much more elaborate.
The bars were scrolled into a decorative design, and there were intercoms and cameras on either side of the drive, making it difficult for anyone to enter the premises without him knowing.
I considered driving right up to that gate and announcing that I was there but ended up chickening out. I needed a moment to collect myself, so I decided to park across the street. After I said a quick prayer, I forced myself to get out of the truck and started walking toward the gate.
I was just about to step up to the intercom when I heard a familiar voice say, “Everleigh? What the fuck?”
I looked up, and my brain stuttered with disbelief when I saw Matteo standing at the end of the driveway.
I knew it couldn’t be him. He was dead, so I figured my nerves had gotten the best of me.
But as I stood there looking into those familiar dark eyes, I wasn’t so sure.
I was still struggling to believe my eyes when he stepped closer and said, “What the hell are you doing here?”
He was standing right there in front of me, and I could see that he was wearing the same black suit he always wore. He even had on the same crisp-white shirt, but I still had to ask, “Matteo? Is that really you?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” He looked over his shoulder, checking to make sure no one was behind him, then stepped closer to the gate as he whispered, “The guys said you were still alive, but I didn’t believe it. I saw Antonio shoot you. I thought for sure you were dead and gone.”
“Yeah, well... I thought the same about you.”
“Why would you think that?”
Even though I was curious to know how his necklace had ended up at Billy’s, I didn’t have time to get into it with him—not when someone could spot us at any second. “It’s nothing. I was just surprised to see you here.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you did. If it had been one of the others...” He nervously glanced over his shoulder again, then fussed, “You shouldn’t have come back here. Antonio’s been looking all over for you.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Then, you know you can’t be here. You gotta go.” He placed his face right up to the metal bars as he pushed, “You gotta go now before someone sees you.”
“I can’t.”
“Why the hell not?”
I’d gone there thinking all hope was lost and I would surely die, but seeing Matteo and feeling that same camaraderie that I’d always felt when we were together, stirred something inside of me.
I started to feel hope that there might be another option.
“Remember how I helped you make the money for your car and then your house?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I remember.”
“You remember how you said you owed me one?”
“Yeah? What about it?”
“It’s time to pay up.” I wrapped my fingers around the metal bar as I pleaded, “I need your help.”
Matteo looked up at the security camera, and a concerned look crossed his face. He glanced over his shoulder again, double checking that no one was around, then he eased the gate open and tugged me inside. He led me over to a tall, thick bush and asked, “Help with what?”
“Is there a young woman in the house?” I didn’t want to say too much, but I needed to be clear, so I added, “Someone Antonio has locked away somewhere?”
“Whoa.” His eyes narrowed as he asked, “How did you know that?”
“Because I’m the reason she’s here.” I knew there was a good chance that he would refuse, but I had to try. “I gotta get her out of there. I need you to take me to her.”
“What!”
“I have to help her, Matteo. Her life is in danger because of me!” I didn’t have the time or luxury of going into lengthy detail about who Kiersten was or why she’d been taken, so I simply told him, “I have to help her, and there are only two ways I can do that. I can either turn myself in to Antonio and end this thing now, or I can...”
“You’re not turning yourself in!” Matteo fussed. “He’ll kill you if you do.”
“Then, you have to take me to her. It’s the only way.”
“You know what Antonio will do to us if he finds out!”
“Yes, I know perfectly well what he’ll do.” I reached over and placed my hand on his arm. “But it’s something I have to do. And if you help, I promise to make it worth your while.”
“And how are you gonna do that?”
“I’m going to help you get out of here. I’m going to help you start a new life and…”
“That’s never gonna happen, Everleigh.” He sounded utterly disheartened as he muttered, “I’m in this for good. Antonio’s never gonna let me walk away. You know that.”
“Yes, but he won’t be an issue— at least not for much longer.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
I heard a couple of men’s voices off in the distance, which startled me. I feared we might have been seen, so I stepped further into the bushes as I urged, “I don’t have time to explain. You’re just going to have to trust me. Antonio won’t be a problem for much longer.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“There are people who are upset with him for taking the girl. They’re coming for him.”
“Yeah, well, people have come for him before.”
“These guys are different.” I thought back to Viper and his brothers, remembering just how big and intimidating they were, and added, “These guys are like nothing you’ve ever seen before, and they’re going to kill Antonio for taking her.
No doubt about it, and if you’re still around when they get here, they’ll kill you, too. ”
“You trying to scare me?”