“Xavier made you take birth control?”
“No,” she hisses. “My maid had to bring it to me in secret, Heath. He wants an heir. If it were up to him, I’d have three children already.”
“It’s good that you never did.”
“Why?”
“Because now you’ll start having mine.”
“What about... What about Xavier?”
Rain worries her bottom lip with her teeth.
“I’m not letting that bastard lay a hand on you or my child.”
“Heath, you know he’ll want to take me back. You told me he was going to kill me if I go back untrained.”
I remember the lie guiltily, realizing how terrified she has to be.
“He won’t get you back,” I promise, pulling her closer even though she tries to push me away. “You’re never leaving this house again.”
She groans just as there’s a knock on her door.
“Fuck.”
I glance around the room that looks like a bomb site. There’s a needle on the floor, the sheets are stained with cum, and Rain looks... Rain looks like a good girl that finally got what she so desperately wanted. She looks... broken in.
“One moment.”
I put on my shirt and boxers and open the door.
“She in there?”
“What do you want?”
Liberato tries to sneak a look over my shoulder, but I block his way. He sighs, rolling his eyes at me.
“We need to talk.”
“About fucking what?”
Liberato’s eyes bore into mine as he says, “About Diego, Heath. We need to talk about Diego.”
Groaning as I realize he’s held back for long enough, I motion for him to give me a moment and close the door on him. Rain is waiting with the sheet pulled around her waist.
“Let me guess, business calls again. Got another toy you need to train?”
“Don’t start, you little fucking brat.”
I cover her with the duvet, kissing her forehead. “Don’t move. Get some more rest. Remember what the doctor said, Sunshine.”
“Since when do you care this much?” she asks, making me smirk.
“Since always. See you soon, Rain.”
Still feeling on cloud nine as I walk into the hallway, I follow Liberato to our office. But the thought of what we have to talk about is making me worry. I’ll have to tell him the truth about Diego, and Liberato will be fucking pissed.
I get into the study and quickly realize this isn’t a meeting, but an intervention. All the guys are in the room and I groan, collapsing onto my desk chair.
“Just get it over with,” I mutter.
“Tell us what Diego said first,” Liberato demands. “We’ve been waiting for it. We need to make a move on the Dragon cartel situation.”
“Why?” I grunt. “Did something happen?”
“Well, while you were busy dealing with your dramatic girlfriend,” Cannon speaks up from behind. “The rest of us have been dealing with the fallout from the docks... situation.”
I look at Liberato for confirmation, but his stony expression tells me everything I need to know.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I hiss at my brother.
“You seemed preoccupied with that walking set of holes, and her husband,” he replies.
I’m so shocked by his answer I don’t smash my fist into his face, something I regret as he goes on.
“Fact of the matter is, we left witnesses. Witnesses that have now spread the news about our cartel.”
“Fuck,” I mutter. “How many people know?”
“Heath... Everyone knows. And this is really fucking bad, because we needed to build up our numbers before we got in the radar of every gang member in this city. But now we’re fucked.”
“What about the Dragon cartel?” I demand.
“Well, they’re pissed with good reason,” he says, rubbing his temples. “They know it was us, too. So tell us now. What did Diego say?”
I glance at the other guys, remembering that night on the docks. This is so fucked up.
“I can’t... I don’t want to share that with the class, L.”
“You have to,” L snarls. “We’ve lost too many men over this. Who is the leader of the Dragon cartel, for fuck’s sake?”
“He didn’t tell me,” I roar, jumping to my feet. “Okay? Diego whispered in my ear and asked for a merciful killing so his daughters wouldn’t suffer when they found out he was tortured. And I gave it to him.”
“What?” Liberato looks dumbfounded. “And you killed him? Without getting the truth out of the bastard? What, is he a goddamn charity case? Who gives a shit about his daughters, Heath! The guy was a criminal.”
“So are you, L.” I glare at him with venom in my gaze. “So are all of you. Including me. So whatever the fuck this is, get off your high horse and get the fuck out of my study.”
The other guys mutter to themselves, and I slam my fist on the desk.
“Now!”
They file out of the room, but Liberato doesn’t follow, and I glare at him as I take a step closer.
“Didn’t you hear me, L? I want you out of here.”