Page 129 of Poison and Wine
“Fine. Will you do one thing for me?” When I didn’t answer, Rafe said, “Let me and my brothers be the one to end him.”
Deep within me, I understood Rafe’s need to be the one to kill his father. The exact emotions had coursed through me after finding out what had happened to Maeve. I wanted to be able to give him that privilege, but Alessio burned that bridge when he’d abducted Caterina. “Until I know what he’s done to her, I can’t make that promise.”
“She’s our blood to avenge,” Rafe growled.
“She’s my wife. And she’s pregnant with my child!” I shouted.
Once again, silence echoed over the line. I knew it was the worst way to tell him. But he had to understand everything that was at stake. Even if it had just been Caterina, I still had the right to take her father out for him kidnapping my wife.
“Do what you have to do,” he replied.
“I will.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
“I’ll see you then.”
As I hung up, Dare gripped my shoulder. “Caterina’s pregnant?”
“She just told me right before she was taken.” I shut my eyes in pain. “It’s because of me that those fuckers were able to take her. If she hadn’t been so angry at me for the strip club, she wouldn’t have run out on her own.”
“We’ll get her back, Callum,” Dare replied reassuringly.
There wasn’t a doubt in my fucking mind that we would get her back. But what sent icy fear through my veins and agony through my chest was what torture she might face until we could get to her. The thoughts of her in pain or frightened had me shaking with rage. The fact it was her father who took her didn’t assuage my fears in the least. Alessio had already fired on her once in Sicily, not to mention risking her life when he put the hit out on me. God only knew what else he was capable of.
A red-faced and flustered looking Quinn appeared with Kellan trailing right behind. Catching them up, I said, “Alessio had his men kidnap Caterina. She’s somewhere in the North End, and we have to get her back.”
Quinn didn’t hesitate. “I’ll oversee loading up the van with ammunition.”
Without ceasing my frantic pacing, I replied, “Good.”
He then sprinted back into the club. Dare nodded at me. “Our men are on the way into the area. Some will hit the streets checking door to door at businesses and others are headed to the wharf to check out the water situation.”
Kellan grabbed his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call our contact at Logan and have them ground all private jets for the foreseeable future. Then I’ll have Fionn take a contingency down there.”
Speaking seemed impossible, so I merely nodded. Although I was never one to let fear overtake me, I couldn’t seem to fight the crippling panic spreading through my body. Even with a solid plan, my mind couldn’t shut out the dread. My father’s voice echoed through my mind. You’ve become weak just as I said you would. Loving a woman has emasculated you! You’re going to be the reason she dies. Worst of all, she’ll be the reason you die.
“Don’t,” Dare murmured.
I whirled around to stare at him. He shook his head. “Don’t give in to whatever bullshit your mind is saying.”
I didn’t get a chance to argue with him. A van screeched around to the corner before coming to a stop. “Get in!” Quinn called.
With a renewed purpose, I climbed into the front seat. Dare and Kellan got in the back. As we started for the North End, Rafe called again. “What?” I demanded.
“Twenty-three Boston Street.”
The air wheezed out of my lungs. “What about it?”
“It’s warehouse space my father purchased about two months ago.” After I repeated the address for Dare to track it, Rafe said, “It has a front office along with warehouse space. There’s a loading dock with a truck entrance on Ellery Street.”
“We’re on it.” Just as I was about to hang up, I said, “Rafe?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”