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Able to breathe again, I run for the large metal door at the front. Everyone must have followed Lucas because I don’t see another soul as I creep down the path to the dock.
But I hear gunshots and shouting from various spots all over this side of the island. All those poor animals caught in the middle. Lucas will kill anyone who harms them. All that loss of life. Blood for blood. What if Lucas gets hurt? I can’t have that. What I did to hook up with him might seem slutty to some, but I felt our connection earlier. I felt it the first night, too. I can’t explore that if he’s dead.
“No. Not while I can do something about it.”
I duck low and run to the boat and row out to my father’s yachts anchored just past the leaning palms. I guess that is what took him so long to get here. He had to amass an army.
It takes more effort than I expect in the choppy water, but after securing no one is on the closest yacht I douse the entire thing from bow to stern with gas.
“Time to put a stop to all this crap.”
I light her up and haul ass.
She burns fast and just as I step on the dock the rattling boom I want rocks this entire place. Black smoke rises high and just as I expect the gunshots quiet.
“Serenity!”
“Serenity!”
Lucas is the first to appear from one path and then my father from another as I tie off my small motorboat. Guns are drawn and from what I can tell neither has shot the other. The silver lining, I guess, but damn these two are going to give me a heart attack.
Both dare to look worried and fear contorts their handsome faces.
“I thought that would get your attention.”
“Are you out of your mind, girl? You could have been killed!”
My head drops back and I let out a scream of frustration. “Me mad? I know you two are, that’s for damn sure! Look at what you are doing. Shooting at each other for what? Me? Revenge? Hasn’t enough blood spilled?”
I shake my head. “Am I okay? Look at both of you! I’m not crazy. I’m the only sane one here apparently. This has to stop.”
I close the distance and approach my father. “Is what he said true? Did you kill his father?”
My father refuses to meet my gaze and I have the answer I need. I can feel when Lucas approaches me from behind. His heat envelopes me and I know what I have to say next is for both of us.
“You don’t owe me an explanation. But you do owe him one.”
“He already knows how our world works. I owe him nothing.” My father’s voice is raspy and filled with regret. “What has been done is done. There’s nothing to do but live with the facts.” My father looks down his nose at Lucas, signaling he’s said his piece.
Behind me, Lucas growls. “You stole from me and my brothers. All for what? Greed. Power?”
“Your father knew the game. Don’t think he didn’t try to kill me. You can’t blame me for the life we live or for being the one who got the upper hand. Don’t think Bellamy was innocent. You can’t be that naive.”
“No, but I can make you pay all the same. Nothing is free, isn’t that right?”
Lucas winds his arm around my middle and settles a hand over my belly and I know he’s referring to the baby we both know is already growing inside me.
My father’s expression blanches as Lucas’ words take effect.
“No,” he roars. “You can’t have—”
Lucas tightens his hold around me and I can feel the power of his next words bleed through me as he speaks. “I’ll take your daughter as payment, Kingston. She’s already agreed to stay here with me. Blood for blood. Consider your debt to the Bellamy family paid. Leave here and I swear to God if I see your face on my side of Chicago again, in my territory, I will rid this fucking planet of your stench.”
Pain rocks through me. I know Lucas hurts but the man in front of me has done nothing to me but try to love me in his own way.
“Father, please,” I beg. “I’m okay here. Let me do this. For you, for our family.”
I can see he’s torn and ready for the fight he came here for.
