“You could have killed me.”
“You took out a couple of my best soldiers and you’re still alive, but that’s going to be short-lived.”
Just then, Randy’s body was being dragged into the room.
“This is mighty convenient though.”
“You’re going to frame him?”
“Why not? Everyone always suspected him. I bet even my son did. The bastard that he is. He should have been terminated in the womb. Stupid sentimental assholes. I don’t understand them.”
“Why weren’t you going to kill me?” She needed to keep him talking until Damon arrived. He had to come and save them.
Glancing at Randy, she couldn’t allow herself to think of him being dead, but she knew he was. Tears filled her eyes. Pain, anger, rage, everything built up inside her, ready to explode. She wanted to kill this man. To hurt him, to destroy him.
“I wanted you out of this house. You see, your father and I, we had a rather interesting conversation not long before he died and he kind of knew a few little facts about me that I really don’t want to get out.”
“You’re a monster.”
“We’re all monsters, Isabella. Some of us just wear our colors differently.”
She stared at him, trying to figure it out. “It’s you, isn’t it? You killed Daniella, and you framed that accountant. You’re stealing money.”
“Let’s just say I’ve got plenty of deals going down and I’m a man who’s tired of taking orders. It’s time for me to make my own way, but as you can see, I can’t have the Family or anyone else following me. Your father had a knack for finding out all this useless information, and well, it’s now up to me to make sure it stays dead.”
“Did you kill my father?”
“No. He died without me, trust me. I actually liked your father. He was a little weird but then, he put his faith in a woman. Nothing ever good comes from trusting a woman.”
“You’re disgusting.”
“No, I’m a realist. Look at you now, you’re too busy being overly emotional at this man’s death. He had nothing to do with you. He is a no one. His own father doesn’t even want him here. He is a disgrace to all that we hold dear.”
“You’re the disgrace. A despicable excuse for a human being. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
He hit her again and she relished the pain.
“You hit my wife one more time, and I will make sure you long for death before I even get tired of hurting you.”
She lifted her head in time to see Damon stepping into the room.
“Damon, what a pleasant surprise.”
“No, it’s not. You think I wouldn’t know? I wouldn’t figure it out?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. The distress of losing your wife is just too much.”
“Cut the crap. The Boss heard everything you said. He’s already on his way.” Damon shot his father and the man went to his knees, screaming. Another shot rang out. “That should stop you from running.”
“Damon,” she said. She got to her feet and rushed toward him. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he asked.
“I wanted to get you a present. I told Randy, and he’s—” She sobbed. “Oh, God, Randy.”
“I’m still here,” Randy said, rolling over. “I’m still alive.”
“Wait, what? I watched you die?”
“No, you watched a planned attack.” Randy pulled out an earpiece. “Damon set this whole thing up. To show the Boss and the other capos what was happening.”
“Fucker!” Damon Romano Sr. cried out.
“Wait, if that’s … does that mean you heard?” she asked, looking at Damon.
Her husband smiled and cupped her face. “I love you too. I love you more than anything else in this world and I didn’t even think it was possible to love anyone or anything.” He took possession of her mouth, and she wrapped her arms around him.
She pulled away. “Wait!” She looked past his shoulder. “Henrietta.”
“Was a plant too,” Henrietta said, coming into the study.
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“I suspected my father and took all the evidence I had to the Boss. He’s been working with a couple of the MCs, as well as feeding information to the cartels. He intended to leave, to give all of our enemies the necessary information to take our turf, to kill our families. He’d start somewhere else, becoming the Boss.”
“Oh.”
“So with Randy’s help, and Henrietta’s, we plotted this.”
“How did you know I planned to come here?”
“I didn’t. I heard you arrange to go out with Randy. He had a hunch of what it was you were after.” Damon reached into his pocket. “You don’t think I’d let something of your father’s stay here while I took you with me, did you?”
She took the ring from him and smiled. “I don’t know. I’m a little shocked.”
Randy stood up. “Don’t worry. Damon’s got an eye for the dramatic and this … I could have gotten my head blown off.”