Page 143 of Savage Don

As far as I know, airplane mode is still on.

So, what the hell is going on?

Pushing through the apprehension, I force myself to march over to the nightstand and open up the drawer.

Just as I do, the phone stops vibrating.

Still, I instantly understand why the buzzing sounded so off.

I only catch a glimpse of the emergency text notification before the screen goes black again. But I quickly grab my phone and open it back up.

I’ve gotten these things before. Usually, it’s for an active kidnapping. Once, it was a false alarm for an approaching nuke.

This emergency text isn’t from the police or the government, though. And I only need to read the first few lines to realize who actually sent it.

Father.

He’s still alive… for now.

My left cheek is still stained from the tear I shed earlier, and I can feel more on the way as I read through the text that he’s somehow managed to send me.

My dear, sweet Francesca. I am so sorry for last night. You did not deserve to experience that hate and that vitriol. It is clear to me now that it was all simply a trap set up by Ray Byrne to make this separation seem like a good idea.

But please, listen to me when I tell you, it’s not a good idea.

Ray Byrne is a cheater and a liar and a murderer.

I’m well aware that you and your step-mom don’t get along, but she’s not just a pretty face. She knows things, Francesca. She knows Ray.

And now I know that I can’t let him take you.

Some silly contract won’t stop me from protecting my daughter.

I’m only sending you this text because Ray has stumbled into a trap I have set for him. The Irish dog will never be able to outsmart us, honey. No matter how powerful he has become, we will defeat him. He won’t be coming home.

We will rise again.

I’m sorry for what happened last night, dear. Everything will change.

But first, I need something from you.

I’ve had a path cleared for your escape. All you have to do is walk out of the front door. But you don’t have long.

The guards in the back are still on duty. They will find their friends soon enough.

Leave now, Francesca.

Before they blame you.

Leave. Come home.

I love you.

Those last two lines twist into my heart like a wicked dagger, especially as I realize that the place I grew up in doesn’t feel like home anymore.

I’m still reeling from the secret message when I realize that I haven’t taken a single breath since I started reading.

But when I try to breathe, it comes out in a messy sob.