I didn’t waste any time, finding the pried open window easily. I slammed and locked it, combing the rest of the downstairs before taking the stairs two at a time, throwing open the closet door.
Sierra tumbled into my arms, taking gulping breaths, her fists wrapped around my shirt. “What happened?”
“Two assailants. They’re both dead.”
She seemed surprised by the admission, rearing back and searching my eyes. “You killed them?”
“I had no other choice.” I pulled her into a hug, holding the back of her head. “Jesus. Christ.” I had no way of knowing whether there were more. “Listen, we need to go downstairs for the remainder of the night.”
“You think there’s more of them.”
“I have no way of knowing but I want full light before we attempt to leave.” The fact one of them had broken into the house meant they had planned on following through with termination orders. Fuck. “Come on. We’re leaving early in the morning.”
“Who are they?”
“That’s exactly what I’m going to find out.” I held her close as we walked down the stairs, the Glock still firmly planted in my hand.
“God,” she whispered as she glanced toward the body.
“It’s all right. He can’t hurt anyone. We’ll toss him outside.”
“Why did this happen?” she asked, peering at me with wide open eyes.
“It’s clear someone wants me out of the picture.” My answer was succinct.
“You’re certain this isn’t about me?”
I wasn’t certain of anything any longer. “Maybe. That’s all I can tell you until we return to the city.”
Dante had risked turning on a single light. As he came back inside, he shook his head. “You need to see this, boss.”
Assassins rarely carried driver’s licenses or anything that would lead cops or anyone else to who they were, so for Dante to find anything was surprising. I yanked it from his hand, studying the letters. While the scrap of information wouldn’t lead to their names, the writing certainly gave me their nationality.
I held my breath.
What the fuck was going on?
“Let’s get these assholes out of here. We need to stay prepared.” Even though the blinds were closed, I could see a hint of dawn cresting over the horizon. Somehow, I knew it was going to be a shit-kicking kind of day.
Lies.
It seemed my entire world was filled with them, dirty family secrets something I’d always known existed, even though I’d never found the reason why. The thought loomed in my mind more so in the morning.
And for some reason, I knew my father held the key.
He’d always been a secretive man, one who held his keys to the kingdom tightly, but my gut told me our family was near an end of sorts, although I wasn’t certain what the hell that meant.
But I would find out.
I remained troubled by the assassins and their rather crude attempt. However, they certainly weren’t the same kind of thugs that Axel kept in his employ. They were polished, their clothes and even their high dollar hiking boots a clear indication. They’d both had similar papers in their pockets, maybe directions. There was also an insignia that I knew held a specific meaning, one I hadn’t seen before. It was a definite clue that needed to be figured out.
I could certainly use the computer to translate the foreign words. However, I needed to call in an expert to decipher the meaning of the insignia, the meaning behind two goons of the same nationality something that couldn’t be taken lightly.
Dante had found their four-wheel-drive vehicle, although there was zero information inside. I kept the bag of weapons and between the two of us, we’d positioned the assassins inside the truck. Given where they’d hidden the vehicle, it wasn’t likely they’d be found any time soon. What a damn shame.
“What happens when we get back, boss?” Dante asked, keeping his voice hushed. The storm had broken just before dawn, the skies still gray and foreboding.
I scanned the perimeter, my radar on high alert. My gut told me exactly who had betrayed the family, something I’d take care of as soon as I returned. He was the only one who could have told Axel that Sierra was under my protection. I didn’t want to believe he’d go as far as that, but there was no one else.
“I’m going to handle a situation.” I left my answer purposely vague. “When we get closer to the city, I want you to take Sierra with you.”
“Of course, boss. Do you need me to do something?”
“Take her back to the house and do not allow her to leave. Make certain there are at least six soldiers securing the place. I don’t give a rat’s ass what happens, you make certain she’s under your watch at all times. Since the assholes knew where to find me, it’s certain they will try again.” I growled the damn words, as if Axel and his men would be waiting for my return. “You’re going to check with Angelo when you get back. I brought in a friend to supervise certain activities. That will end when I return. Make certain there’s no shit going down and if there is, call me. If there’s any word about Axel, no matter how insignificant, hunt me down. Clear?”
Dante exhaled.
“What?” I demanded, more gruffly than he deserved.
“Nothing.”
I walked in front of him, staring him in the eyes. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
“I’m just surprised you brought in help. I mean, I’m not second-guessing you. It’s just… surprising.”
“Just follow orders, Dante. What we’re all facing will change the course of our regime.”
He nodded but I could tell there was more he wanted to say.