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“But what about the girls and Carl?”
“I’ll talk to Carl. We’ve always known this could be a hand we’d have to play.”
“We should talk to him tonight. I’ll come with you. Maybe I can help smooth things over.”
“You don’t have to.”
I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze. “I want to, and I’d like to talk to Ny. I’m sure Gio is going to drop her home if he hasn’t already.”
I’d like to see where Nyla’s head is. I feel responsible for all of this. I’d like to help her navigate things as much as I can. I haven’t told Beth what I found the kids doing. She doesn’t know what has set this all in motion.
Like the soldier she is, she’s just ready to go. I love that about her. I trust her with my life.
CHAPTER3
Baby Soldiers
Ava
“Hey,babe, I’m back, is Ny home yet?” Beth calls into the house as we arrive.
Lizzy comes running into the common area with a smile on her little face. She’s tall for a three-year-old. I get why Carl doesn’t want his youngest child around my life. I’m not offended.
Which is why I don’t take it to heart when he enters the room with a frown once he sees me. Carl has done a job or two for me, but he’s chosen to take a step back in the last few years as Beth has started to train Ny with Jace and Gio.
Nyla has been skilled at hand-to-hand combat for years. However, the trip to Italy with the boys didn’t sit well with Carl. What the kids did disturbed him.
I think he hates my son. He’s not going to be happy to find out Gio and Ny have been dating for the last few months. The two think they’re hiding it from me and Beth, but we know.
Wait until she finds out about Jace.
I sigh at the thought as I scoop Lizzy up into my arms. “Hey, tiny bug. Why don’t you come with your Auntie Ava into the kitchen?”
Lizzy smiles, showing off her tiny teeth. I pinch her little cheek. She’s so adorable.
“Carl, let her take her. We need to talk,” Beth says as her husband gets ready to speak.
He releases a breath as Lizzy and I leave the room. We don’t get far before their voices start to rise. I knew this wasn’t going to go over well. The man has never understood Beth’s loyalty to me.
“How about a cookie?” I coo at the small child in my arms.
“Cookie, yes, please.” She gives me that adorable smile again, revealing the dimple in her right cheek.
I place her on her feet and go into the pantry to grab a cookie. Lizzy steps inside to peek at me as the silent alarm goes off, notifying the household that someone has entered the property with a vehicle that’s not recognized.
Carl designed the system. I stiffen right away. It can’t be Gio’s car, Beth made sure to put the sensor on his birthday gift before I gave it to him. The same goes for Jace’s jeep. This is not the kids.
The lights continue the soft pulse as I rush out of the pantry. Carl and Beth join me in the kitchen with stern expressions. I lick my lip and rub my hands on my thighs. Foolishly, in my comfort I left my pistol and purse in the car.
“Take Lizzy and go into the safe room. We have this. Take care of my daughter, Ava. I don’t care what happens, don’t expose her or you. Hurry.”
I don’t like this, but I nod and grab Lizzy to rush through the pantry into the safe room as Beth requests. Once behind the sealed door, I take the seat in front of the monitors.
Lizzy looks around as she sits in my lap. I brush a hand over her hair and start to sing to her in Italian. However, I stop singing and narrow my gaze at the screen as six men push their way into the house, holding out guns.
I cover Lizzy’s eyes and turn her head as a seventh man enters from the side door and shoots Carl. I bite back a sob. I never had anything against the man. After all, this was why he didn’t want me around.
I push the button for the sound, knowing this room is soundproof. My blood boils as I hear what’s being said.
