Exodus (The Ravenhood)

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine.” His eyes drop, and I know it’s anything but fine. “I just couldn’t leave him the way I found him.”

“You did a good thing.”

“Did I?” He swallows. “I don’t know. The way my mother spoke about him.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know.”

“He’s being cared for, that’s a good thing.”

He runs his teeth over his lip and eyes me, and I know that part of the conversation is over.

“When I found out what was happening, of how they were hiding you, I flew home to handle it. And fuck,” he runs his hands through his hair, and it’s all I can do to keep from touching him. His guilty eyes roll over me, and he darts them away.

“Their punishment wasn’t just about you. I had to remind them of why we started this in the first place. I sent them to live with one of the partners I trusted in France. He kept them focused, let them in on everything I’d been building while I refocused on our original plan. I was one move and a handshake away from taking over when you and I struck our deal.”

I’ll still never be able to place how I should feel about the betrayal on all sides, nor the guilt of being Roman’s heir.

Tobias sighs, setting the book on the lounger and clasping his hands together between his thighs. “I understood your need to care for her, Cecelia. And you had been through enough already. And I railroaded you out of anger when I returned. You were never supposed to be a part of this for good reason.”

“You keep saying that, but that’s not the way it played out.”

“No, because I allowed myself to get lost in you the way they had.”

I bite my lip, eyes stinging.

“I found myself wanting so much to protect you from it all because you were so innocent. The first time I saw you, you were just some kid that had no idea her father was crooked, and that’s the way I always pictured you until the day I came to you at the pool.”

Everything changed the minute our lives collided.

He keeps his eyes lowered, his dark lashes blinking the snow away. “You were the most terrifying thing I’d ever seen in my life. You went from the awkward bratty kid to the most beautiful, most vivacious, fucking temptation I’ve ever come across. I was so mad they discovered you and hid you from me. And then I was run over when I walked up and was confronted by the most infuriating damned woman,” he shakes his head. “but it felt like a punch to the gut knowing…”

“Knowing I was with them.”

He nods solemnly, his voice bittering with every word. “I kept my distance and kept watch over you. I had no intention of anything happening. But when you came out in that clearing calling their names, wearing that necklace, I got angry all over again. Mostly because I’d kept you safe and away from us for all those years and you went headfirst into a trap that was never supposed to be set. Sean thought he was doing the right thing by bringing you in. Dominic was so hardcore, he didn’t give a shit if you got hurt, at first.”

“They warned me. They tried, but I didn’t care,” I admit freely.

“I knew you weren’t built for this back then,” he whispers heatedly. “Even though you told me you knew what you were getting into, you didn’t. I saw the reality set in on you the night Dominic died in your arms. I don’t know,” he exhales. “Maybe I didn’t give you enough credit then,” he says, “but that was a lesson I never wanted you to learn, and now, you…” his voice breaks with more resentment. “You were never supposed to be a soldier in a war I declared.”

“They made me one. And how could I not step up with you as an opponent? You are just as guilty.”

We share a sad smile.

“Please tell me what happened that night.”

His expression dims as his eyes again dip.

“That afternoon, I received a tip that Andre and Matteo had accepted a bid and were coming for Roman,” his eyes lift to mine, “that tip came from your father.”

I gape at him.

“He knew about you?”

He slowly nods. “Shortly after he called me, we met in his office in Charlotte. I knew Matteo and Andre well. Andre was one of my first recruits. And when they made a hit, they made it personal. I knew they would strike Roman at home either here or in Charlotte. As soon as I found out, I had to make a fast decision to play my hand and plan an extermination. There was already a divide in Florida, a loyalty struggle, and it came to a head and presented itself at the perfect time. So, Roman and I struck a deal. In exchange for your dad’s pull with the local police and media, I told him I would eradicate the threat to him and his daughter and clean up the mess if he kept it quiet.”

“He knew about you the whole time?”

“I’m not sure when he caught on, but I underestimated him. But he didn’t get to where he was by being oblivious. It took me a while to figure out he’d been onto us for some time. It occurred to me after the first few weeks of staying here that he’d all but pulled back completely on security. Why would a man worth so much leave his only heir so vulnerable? After years of keeping eagle eyes on you, which he did, suddenly he was leaving you in his mansion, alone? It didn’t make sense.”