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“He wants to wipe out The Devils. I guess he’s fixing to take over our business.”
Rachel was watching him with patient eyes, giving him space to explain.
“Isobel’s youngest son was taken out by The Devils. His wife and child were collateral damage.”
Rachel groaned softly, her eyes closing against the horror of it.
“The brother responsible for their deaths is dead, but that’s not enough for Isobel. He wants to take out bloody vengeance against us all.”
“He knows about Abby and I.” Fear had crept into her voice.
Zep swallowed, nodded.
“How?”
“Seems like he might have always known.” Zep rubbed his hands over his face. “I need to get you and Abby out of here as soon as possible.”
Rachel reached out, her hand resting over his. He felt a jolt at the contact. Zep turned his palm up and squeezed her small hand in his. Her skin was warm but delicate under his touch, and he held it with a tenderness that tore at his heart.
“Where would we go?”
“Somewhere safe, I’m working on it.”
Rachel sighed. “I can’t see Abby agreeing to leave. She has her work, and she’s…”
“Stubborn.”
She smiled.
“She’s grown into a beautiful woman, takes after you.” He rubbed his thumb along her palm. “Smart, spirited.”
Rachel laughed. “Yes.”
Sitting there with Rachel, discussing their daughter, it all felt so… surreal. A daydream that would quickly turn into a nightmare if he gave it life. “We made the right choice, Becca.”
“As I recall,” she said gently. “You made the choice.”
He looked into her eyes but so no sign of recrimination. He nodded. “It was the right choice.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you.”
In the still of the room, the sounds of the hospital faded. Zep felt the long forgotten pull of a different life—a fairy tale. But the truth of the matter was, he had no regrets about the way he’d lived his life and the choices he’d made. If he had the chance to do it all again, he wouldn’t change anything. Except for that one moment when he’d let Peter Isobel leave their meeting alive. He should have put a bullet in him, then tracked down his remaining son, Brian, and done the same.
“Rachel, you need to make Abby understand the danger she’s in. You have to convince her to leave.” Zep held her hand tighter. “It won’t be forever.”
“And what about Scott?”
“The cop?” He pressed his lips together. “No harm will come to him if he stays out of the way.”
“Zep!” She pulled her hand away. “How do you propose we keep him in the dark about all of this?”
“Just tell him to keep his mouth shut.” He shrugged. If he needed to grease the man’s hand, he would.
“And compromise his career?” Rachel looked incredulous.
“Guess it depends on what’s more important to him, Abby or his career?”
Rachel’s eyes flew to the ceiling, her head shaking. “It’s not fair.”
