JOSHUA
“For God’s sake, Ryan. Tucker is right, stop acting like an asshole,” I say, feeling my blood boil.
I can’t believe after everything Amber just told us that he’s still doubting Caitlyn.
My sharp words silence my brother, so I continue, “Caitlyn wouldn’t lie about something like this.
She told me when we got together that she and David hadn’t slept together for months before he cheated.
The baby is mine and I won’t let anyone hurt them, or Caitlyn.
We need to formulate a plan to rescue her from David and ensure he doesn’t retaliate. ”
“I agree, we can’t just do nothing,” Antony says, and I appreciate the fact my second oldest brother seems to have come around to my side. I glance at Sebastian and Tucker, who both nod their heads. I have everyone’s support apart from Ryan’s.
“Lorenzo Esposito is a dangerous man. If he’s really in David’s pocket, he could ruin us,” Ryan says evenly.
“He has Caitlyn and she’s carrying my baby. You’ve always said family is most important. Then prove it.”
“What do you want me to do? Storm over there and challenge Lorenzo Esposito myself?”
“Actually, that isn’t a bad idea. If we can get to him first, we can pay him more than David is offering,” I say, already formulating a plan in my mind.
“Are you crazy? We have no idea what Esposito will do. If he’s really as close to David as he’s making out, he might kill you on sight,” Ryan says fiercely. “I agree, we have to help Caitlyn, but we need to be smart about this.”
“So what do you suggest?” My gaze focuses on Ryan, but I’m directing the question to all my brothers, and Amber too.
“Could we try reasoning Christopher Morgan?” Antony suggests. “Maybe he has no idea what his son is up to.”
Ryan shakes his head. “No, Christopher is worse than David. He will just laugh in our faces. There’s no reasoning with him.”
“Are any of you good on the computer? Maybe you could hack David’s emails or bank account or something?” Amber suggests.
“No, we’re not hacking the Morgan family. Even if any of us knew how, it would only lead to more trouble,” Ryan says, dismissing Amber’s suggestion.
I don’t know if he’s saying that because it really is too dangerous, or just because he doesn’t like an ‘outsider’ being involved with family business.
“Then we go to the police,” Sebastian suggests.
“And tell them what? We have no proof, it’s all hearsay. David will deny everything,” I say, my shoulders slumping. There has to be something we can do.
“When I spoke to Caitlyn, she told me she’s going to search David’s office, and find some evidence against him,” Amber says.
I shake my head. “I won’t have Caitlyn risking her safety and the safety of the baby. We have to get her out of there. Now.”
“We can’t just go over to David’s, and demand he releases Caitlyn. If we do, he’ll take a hit out on all of us,” Tucker says, and unfortunately, I’m inclined to agree.
We continue discussing our options, but none of my brothers or Amber have any viable suggestions, and the more time we spend talking about it, the longer Caitlyn is that creep’s prisoner.
“We’re getting nowhere,” I growl. “I’m going to see Esposito.”
I stand from the table, and everyone else does the same.
“Joshua, you can’t. You’d be walking to your death,” Ryan says, his intense glare holding me in place.
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t do the same if it was Alicia and your baby in danger?” I ask Ryan, and then look at my other brothers. “Or any of you? Wouldn’t you fight for the woman you love? For your child?”
“I’d die before I let anyone hurt Lana or Noah,” Sebastian says. “But please, Joshua, be careful. We can’t lose you. That’s not what Caitlyn would want.”
“How do we even know Esposito is that close to David? That guy is a manipulative liar. For all we know, they’re not even friends,” Amber says. “I know Caitlyn wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, Josh, but I also know we can’t just leave her.”
“I agree. Someone needs to teach David Morgan a lesson, and you need to fight for the woman you love,” Tucker says, surprising me. We all give him a hard time about going from woman to woman, and not knowing what love is, but when it comes down to the wire, he’s the most loyal of us all.
I flash him a grateful smile, then direct my gaze back at Ryan. “You’re not going to stop me. I have to try something to save Caitlyn.”
Antony nods his head. “I’d do the same for Erin and the baby. I’ve got your back, Josh.”
Finally, Ryan holds up his hands. “I won’t stop you. But you can’t go alone.”
“I have to. I won’t drag you all into this,” I insist. “Besides, Caitlyn is my love. It’s down to me to fight for her.”
I down my glass of Scotch, and walk towards the dining room door, before pausing.
“Erm … where would I find Lorenzo Esposito?”
Tucker bursts out laughing and is silenced by a hard stare from Ryan. “I’ll text you his address.”
I don’t ask how my oldest brother has the address of the crime boss of East Hampton. It’s better I don’t know.
I turn to the door again, and Amber rushes to my side. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, it’s too dangerous. Please, Caitlyn would never forgive me if anything happened to you. I can take you home. Wait there, where it’s safe.”
Amber looks as though she’s about to argue, but then, she nods. “Okay. Just promise me Josh, you’ll get our girl back.”
“I’ll get our girl back,” I vow, meaning every word.
As I drive Amber across the city to her home, I can’t help but ask, “How did you even have Tucker’s number anyway?”
Amber glances out of the window. “We slept together a few weeks ago, while you and Caitlyn were in Southampton.”
I chuckle. I shouldn’t be surprised.
“Don’t worry,” Amber says, turning to face me again. “I don’t intend to become a crazy stalker or anything. I knew sleeping with Tucker was a one-time thing. I only called him because I had to help Caitlyn.”
I smile. “And I appreciate it. For what it’s worth, I think my brother could do a lot worse than seeing you again.”
Amber blushes and shakes her head. “Never gonna happen.”
After making sure Amber is safely inside her house, I head to the address Ryan gave me.
Ironically enough Lorenzo Esposito doesn’t actually live that far from Ryan.
It figures all the rich and powerful people of East Hampton live in the same area.
While Ryan’s townhouse is massive, Esposito’s mansion dwarfs it in comparison, and the whole complex is surrounded by a thick concrete wall.
I pull up outside the security gate, where a man in a dark uniform is waiting.
“Excuse me, Sir, I’d like to see Mr. Esposito.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Esposito only sees people on an appointment basis,” the security guard says, his gaze drifting down to the gun concealed on his belt, making it clear if I try to force my way inside, it will only end badly.
“Please, this is important. The life of the woman I love, and our unborn child are at stake. Can you just tell Mr. Esposito Joshua Braddock is here to see him?” I ask, hoping the weight of my surname will be enough.
“Fine. I will ask Mr. Esposito, but I’m telling you now, Kid, he won’t care.”
I have to pray the security guard is wrong.
He unholsters the two-way radio on his belt and presses a button.
A moment later, a man with a slight Italian accent asks, “What is it, Hancock? I told you not to interrupt me unless it’s an emergency.”
“I have Joshua Braddock here, begging to let me see you. He said it’s a matter of life or death.”
There’s a pause, and my heart hammers in my chest. What will I do if Esposito says no?
Finally, the reply on the two-way radio comes, “Let him in, Hancock. I’m very interested in what one of the Braddock brothers could possibly want to see me about.”
“You got it boss,” Hancock says with a shrug, then inputs a code into the security keypad, so that the gate swings open. “Good luck, Kid. You’re gonna need it.”
As I walk up the long driveway to Esposito’s home, I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into. Has David already spoken to him about his threat to kill me and my family? Am I walking into the lion’s den unarmed? Even if Esposito isn’t friendly with David, who's to say he will help me anyway.
I honestly have no idea if I’m walking to my doom, but it’s worth it. My life is worth it, if it means I can free Caitlyn and our child from David.
As I reach the front door, it slowly opens and a man in his early sixties, his dark hair streaked with gray, greets me. Judging by his expensive suite, I assume this is Lorenzo Esposito.
“Mr. Esposito, thank you for agreeing to see me,” I say, offering my hand to the crime boss.
Lorenzo Esposito doesn’t shake my hand, and instead stares me up and down steadily. “I already know you’re unarmed, Mr. Braddock, so I have no concerns there. What I want to know is what motivates you to seek out the most dangerous man in East Hampton?”
“The life of the woman I love and our unborn child,” I tell Esposito. My heart is beating so hard in my chest that I’m sure Esposito can probably tell.
Lorenzo Esposito smirks. “And how much is the life of the woman you love and your unborn child worth?”
“Everything. I’ll give you everything I have to save Caitlyn and our baby.”
Esposito smiles smugly. “Come on in, Mr. Braddock. It seems we have lots to discuss.”
I follow Esposito as he leads me though his lavish house, the floors covered in marble. We make our way to an expansive office, where a large mahogany table dominates the room.
Esposito sits in the large, leather chair behind his desk, leaving me to take up the smaller chair opposite.
“So, what can I do for you, Mr. Braddock?” the crime boss asks.
Seeing no sense in lying or beating around the bush, I say, “David Morgan is blackmailing my girlfriend to stay with him against her will. He says if she doesn’t, he will have your men kill me.”
Esposito regards me carefully, before finally asking, “And what? You want me to just refuse one of the most powerful, wealthy men in the city? What do I care about you or your girlfriend?”
“I don’t imagine you do, Sir, but David Morgan isn’t the only wealthy man in the city.
You obviously know who my family is, or you never would have agreed to see me.
If you know who my family is, you know I can afford to pay you triple whatever David Morgan has offered you if you refuse to carry out the hit.
That’s all I’m asking. I will rescue Caitlyn myself.
I’ll beat David Morgan to a bloody pulp if I have to.
All I need to know is that my actions won’t have repercussions.
That saving the woman I love won’t cost me my life. ”
I don’t know what I was expecting Esposito to say in response to my request, but I wasn’t expecting him to start chuckling. A broad grin covers the crime boss’ face, and I worry if I’ve said or done the wrong thing.
Finally, Esposito stops laughing, and says, “People say there’s no room for love in this business, but I think love makes us stronger.
Do you think I built all this,” he gestures around his office, where expensive art hangs on every wall and I know he means his entire criminal empire.
“For anything but love? I do what I do because I love my wife and children and would give anything to keep them safe.”
“So, you’ll help me?” I ask, hope starting to bubble in my stomach.
Esposito smirks. “Yes, Joshua Braddock, I’ll help you. Because love is important. And because I like adding to my substantial wealth. And also, because I despise that bastard David Morgan.”