Scarred Regrets (Bellandi Crime Syndicate 5)

59

SCAR

Leaving the city in the middle of a war had never been in my plans. I’d never intended to put Irina on Matteo’s private jet and fly her to fucking Arizona, of all places.

Yet here we were, with Ryker and I having to leave Irina behind with Calix and a team of men stationed in the penthouse suite to keep her safe. I didn’t anticipate any problems. While the Bellandis didn’t have any enemies in Tucson, the cartels that fought for dominance on the other side of the border could be unpredictable at best.

I wouldn’t risk Irina for anything. I just hadn’t been able to tolerate leaving her home in Chicago while knowing I would be too far away to do anything to help her if something were to happen.

“I think my dearest cousin deserves a massage,” Calix joked, opening up the brochure the hotel had left on the coffee table in the living room of the suite.

“I will gut you alive,” I warned, leaning down to touch my lips to Irina’s. She gazed up at me with all the affection I hadn’t thought I deserved, her lips tipping into an amused smile.

“Don’t worry. I’m only going to order far too much room service and watch a movie to distract myself until we have our talk when you get back,” she said, her gaze knowing. I was very much not looking forward to the conversation I’d promised we’d have after Bradley Bennett was dead and his name was crossed off my list.

I’d spent so many years working toward this moment, and it made me hate Darragh even more that he’d added one last name to it and taken away the feeling of accomplishment that should have come with knowing it was all over.

That Cesca had been avenged.

“Right,” I said, swallowing past my nerves as I separated from her. Ryker nodded to her from the doorway, seeming to promise her silently that he’d keep me safe and make sure I came home to her. The fucking audacity of the man implying I needed any protecting.

I just needed his help to scare the fucking shit out of my prey and chase him right into the trap we’d spring. We’d had a few too many years to plan exactly how Bradley would know true fear before he finally died.

“I’ll see you soon, Butterfly,” I murmured, kissing her one last time and giving Calix a knowing look. I didn’t care who the man was and what he stood to inherit once he returned to Philadelphia to take what was rightfully his.

I’d kill him if anything happened to her.

He grinned, waving me off with a disobedient hand as he wrapped an arm around my woman’s shoulders and led her toward the couch and the room service menu waiting there.

Ryker and I exchanged a glance, our faces twisting into smiles that were born in the pits of Hell.

And we went hunting.