Their Reign (The Rite Trilogy 3)

17

JUDGE

Icall Ezra as I drive to Santiago’s house. “He delivered a fucking package to her doorstep!”

“Judge, calm down.”

“How did he do that, Ezra?”

“Have you checked your messages?”

“What messages?” I ask, digging my phone out of my pocket, which I’d muted due to a full day of hearings.

“The three I left you a few hours ago.”

I see the notifications on my screen.

“He slipped the guards. Must have gotten out overnight.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I’m sorry, Judge. I’ve let both men go, and we’re scouring the city for him. He won’t get near her.”

“He delivered a fucking package to her doorstep! I’d say he got near her!”

He mutters a curse on the other end, and I force a deep breath in as I near the gates of De La Rosa Manor.

“He’s not done with this. With her,” I say.

“No, you’re right. But we’ll find him.”

“I need to go. Let me know as soon as you know anything.”

“I will. I am sorry, Judge.”

I know he can’t control everything but fuck, this? I disconnect the call and look into the security camera outside the gates of the manor. I’m not sure Santiago will let me in, but I’m unwilling to leave until he sees me. But then, without a word through the intercom, the gates begin to open, and I drive to the entrance where, before I even come to a stop, I see my once best friend standing, arms folded across his chest, mouth in a thin line, his face closed to me.

But I don’t care about that. I can’t. Not right now.

I bring the Range Rover to an abrupt halt, and I am out of the driver’s seat the moment I jerk it into park.

“You didn’t think I needed to know about the death threat at her door?” I stalk to him. I haven’t even closed the car door.

He straightens, gaze cool. “No, I didn’t think it was any of your business.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I shove him backward. “She receives a death threat, and you don’t think it’s my fucking business?”

He gets in my face. “No. I didn’t think it was. And how do you know anyway? Did you go near her again?”

I clench my jaw and raise my chin.

“For fuck’s sake. She doesn’t want to see you. Get it through your thick head.” He looks me over from head to toe. “You look like hell. Go home and get some sleep. There’s nothing for you here.” He turns to walk back inside.

“Yeah well, she’s carrying my children, so get that through yours!”

He spins on me, the same rage from the day he learned about us burning like a brand on his face.

“Santi?” Ivy comes running out and catches his arm.

He stops and snarls. But gets himself under control. “I’m very aware of what you did to her, Judge,” he says, hands fists at his side.

“We need to talk.”

Ivy looks from him to me and back.

“No, we don’t. I said all I needed to say to you.” For a moment, I think he’s going to walk away, but then we all turn at the whine that comes from inside the Range Rover.

“Shit.”

“What is that?” Ivy asks, smiling when Kali pops her head up to the window.

“I need to let her out. Can you watch her? I need to talk to your husband.”

“I said…” Santiago starts, but Ivy squeezes his arm.

“I’ll watch her. What’s her name?” she asks as I open the hatch for her to scoop Kali up.

“Kali.”

“Oh,” she says, clearly confused.

“Mercedes named her.”

“Ah.” She stifles a smile and clears her throat to set Kali down. “You two go ahead. Kali and I will play.”

I look at Santiago, who only turns to walk into the house. I follow him through to his study, where he sits in his chair behind his massive desk. I close the door and remain standing.

“He was at her house?”