Page 78 of Forgotten Vows

"We had him." Declan coughs. "I thought we had Gio cornered. But someone tipped him off. He knew we were coming. He was ready. He left a skeleton crew here. They're all dead, but Gio and anyone who mattered wasn't here."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Who?"

"One of mine." He gives me an apologetic, ashamed look, and jerks his chin toward the corner of the room. I follow his gaze to where another man is sitting, his hands zip-tied behind his back, his face bruised and swollen. "Brad. Been with me for three years. Thought I could trust him."

I stand up, my gun coming back up, aimed at Brad's head. The rage that floods through me is white-hot and consuming. "You sold us out?"

"Boss, I didn't—" Brad is shaking, his eyes wide with terror. "I swear, I didn't know what Gio was planning. He said he just wanted information, that's all. He said nobody would get hurt?—"

"Shut the fuck up." Declan's voice strengthens and cuts through the air like a whip, and Brad flinches. "You told him we were coming. You got my men shot, and you're sitting there trying to tell me you didn't know?"

"I needed the money," Brad's voice breaks. "Gio said?—"

"I don't give a fuck what Gio said." Declan tries to stand, but his leg gives out, and he slumps back against the wall with a grunt of pain. "Lachlan. Help me up."

I move to his side and haul him to his feet, supporting most of his weight as he sways. He's heavier than I remember, more solid, but he's also weaker than he should be. The blood loss is catching up to him.

"You should sit down," I say. "You need a doctor."

"I should—" He reaches for his gun and sees it's still on the floor where he was sitting. "Fuck."

"Don't worry, brother." My jaw tightens, and I ease him back down. "I've got this."

I look at Brad. "You know anything about where Gio went? What he's doing?"

He shakes his head rapidly. "No! No… I don't know nothin', I just…"

"Then there's nothing stopping me from doing this."

I draw my gun with one quick motion, and the report of the bullet makes my ears ring. Brad slumps, blood trickling from a hole in his forehead.

"I'm sorry," Declan says quietly. "He betrayed everything we stand for. I told my crew what Gio was doing, why we were helping you, and that fucker still?—"

"It happens." My jaw is tight, teeth gritting together. "I don't blame you. But we need to figure out where the fuck Gio went. And we need to get you patched up."

I crouch beside him and start checking his wounds again. The shoulder wound isn't as bad as I thought, but the thigh wound is worse. The bullet's still in there. "We need to get you to a hospital."

"No hospitals." His voice is firm despite the pain. "Too many questions. Just get me something to stitch myself up with. I'll be fine."

"You're not fine."

"I've had worse." He leans his head back against the wall, his eyes closing. "You really did it, huh? You came back here for her."

"I told you I would, when I left the first time."

"I know. I just didn't think..." He trails off, then opens his eyes and looks at me. "Is she worth it? All of this?"

The question should offend me, but it doesn't. It's a valid question, from a man who loves me like a brother but isn't in love with Adriana. Is she worth the blood that's already been spilled? Is she worth everything I've built and everything I could lose?

"Yes," I say firmly. "She's worth everything."

Declan nods slowly. "Then let's make sure you get to keep her."

One of the other men brings over a first aid kit. I help Declan out of his jacket and shirt, exposing the wounds. The shoulder is already starting to clot, but the thigh is still bleeding steadily. "This is going to hurt," I warn him.

"Everything hurts." He grabs a leather belt from one of the other men and puts it between his teeth. "Just do it."

I work as quickly as I can, cleaning the wounds and packing them with gauze. The thigh wound needs stitches, and I'm not gentle about it. Declan grunts and groans around the belt, his hands clenched into fists, but he doesn't cry out. When I'm done, he spits out the belt and takes a shaky breath. "Fuck."