Page 79 of Explosive Union

I drive away from the scene. The towering inferno climbs higher and higher as the plume of smoke fills the sky. My cell phone rings, and I answer it, using the hands-free system.

“Yeah?” I say, needing to get home to my wife and make good on my promise.

“Thought you’d want to know where your wife is,” Hayden says with laughter in his voice.

Fuck. I should have damn well known she was too appeasing with going to bed. “She’s going after the fifth?”

His laughter is confirmation enough. He rattles off an address. “Be there and you’ll finally see your wife in action.” He ends the call and leaves me seething.

“So, your wife is the Chicago Butcher?” Dario questions with a laugh. “God help you, Roc. You’re going to need it.”

What I need is to spank my wife until she’s red raw. Christ, she was beaten today and now she’s off on a killing spree? Why couldn’t I have married someone less homicidal?

“This’ll be fun,” Elio grins. “The two of you are killers. What did you expect? Her to be stuck at home while you play?”

I should have realized she was too eager to see me leave.

But I am looking forward to seeing her put this animal down. I wonder how creative she’s going to be…

CHAPTER21

JADE

Ishould feel bad for lying to Rocco, but I don't. I've grown up with overprotective men. I know what they're like. What Rocco would be like had he known what my plans were for this evening, especially after what happened today. The way his eyes darkened as he took in my bruised body. The way he barely contained his rage. There's no way he'll be able to hold himself back.

He's going to go after Detective Barker. It's just a question of who will get to him first. Rocco or Hayden? Both men are extremely protective, Hayden because I'm his sister and he's my best friend and vice versa. He's always been by my side throughout everything. His love for me has been something I cherish. Our closeness will never change. Rocco, on the other hand, he's protective because he sees me as a possession. I'm his wife, his to use, own, and do with as he pleases.

Thankfully, he's not an asshole. He seems to care about me. It helps a lot with my trust issues. I never expected to be able to trust anyone that wasn't family. But Rocco, he's different. There's something about him that's calming. He's able to get to a side of me that very few do.

I change into my black yoga pants, gray tank top, and black leather jacket, and pull on my tennis shoes. Tonight, I'm using the chaos I've wrought on the police department to get the revenge I've sought for the past five years. Today, Greaves is going to pay for his sins. Unlike the others, he's not going to get away with what he did to me, for the pain I suffered at his hands.

Once I'm ready, I walk out of my house and smile when I see my da, Hayes, Hayden, Finn, and Killian standing by the seven-seater SUV parked out front. Da has a smile on his face, but Hayden's wearing a scowl. His intense gaze on my bruised face.

"I'm fine," I tell them, knowing this is something I'll be repeating for the next few days, at least until the bruising has gone down.

"Yeah," Hayden growls. "And I'm a fucking saint."

I smile. "Well according to Ma, you are."

Da chuckles. "You ready?"

"How did you know?" I question, wondering when I became so predictable.

"We'd have done the same," Killian says. "But it was Hayden who knew what you'd do. It's like you share a brain."

I shrug. We kind of do. It's because we're so close.

"So, you're all coming?" I question, wondering if they'll be able to hold back and let me do what I need to do.

"Yes," Da says. "Now can we get a move on?"

I roll my eyes. It's like he's in a rush. "Da, this is going to take a while."

He nods. “I know that, mo chailín milis. The sooner we get this fucker, the sooner your ma will be able to sleep again."

I'm not really sure what to say. I know how hard Ma's been dealing with everything that's happened. I climb into the back of the car, relieved when Hayes and Hayden flank me. Both of them give me reassuring looks. I know whatever happens, they'll have my back. Once the car starts up, the radio turns on, and I laugh whenAnother One Bites the Dustplays.

"News just in,"the news reporter says once the song’s finished."The home of Detective Barker–the Chicago PD detective that was suspended today pending an investigation on an alleged attack on a suspect—is on fire. Eyewitnesses report an explosion. It's unknown whether or not the detective was inside. We will update you with more as the details come in."