I have no idea what is going on, but I know that I have to get to Trish immediately. When we left each other, we were saying we loved each other. And now I’m supposed to believe she’s done with me?
Like hell.
“Connor… You have to leave me alone. I’m begging you.”
“Beg all you want. I’m never letting you go.”
“You have to! Otherwise – ”
“Otherwise what?”
“Nothing.”
She answered that way too quickly and I think she’s trying to protect me. Storming out of my house, I spot Sully. “She’s gone,” I say without preamble.
“What?”
“Snuck out. I’m going to get her back.”
“Damn, Connor, I didn’t know.” I just wave a hand at him and jog back over to Roberto’s to find him in the yard, hitting the punching bag.
“Rob! Trish is gone and I need your help,” I tell him.
He looks up from the bag, and swipes the top of his arm across his sweating forehead. “What do you mean gone?”
“I think someone told her that she had to come home. Threatened her or me. I don’t know, but I just talked to her and she was scared. I need to get over there and find out what’s going on, but I’m not losing her. No way.”
“Yeah, okay, let’s go,” Roberto says, pulling off his gloves and tossing them on a nearby table. “You think it was her father?”
“Probably. Or maybe Antonio,” I add. “I don’t care who it was; I’m getting her and my baby back.”
Roberto stops in his tracks, eyes widening.
“Oh, yeah. Congratulations, Uncle Rob.”
“Are you shitting me right now?”
The edge of my mouth lifts in a crooked grin. “I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried.”
Roberto absorbs what I just revealed then slaps me on the back. “Congrats, bro. Wow. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any more fucked up.”
“Oh, and bring your gun,” I tell him, a dark note creeping into my voice. “Just in case.”
Roberto lets out a sigh of resignation then nods.
Within 45 minutes, my brother and I are sitting on the sidewalk across the street from the Volkanov’s brownstone mansion, looking up at the iron bars now covering Trish’s window.
“That’s a problem,” he comments dryly under his breath.
With a curse, I glance around, trying to figure out how else we can break in and find her. The fire escape ladder goes all the way up to the roof,” I muse aloud.
“You think there’s a way in up there?”
“Let’s find out.” I start walking across the street and Roberto moves up beside me, matching my long-legged strides.
“Calm down. You have to keep your head on straight and not go in there, shooting the place up. Got it?”
“Got it,” I growl.
“We’ll get her. Let’s just be smart about how we go in and do this. Keep a look out for the guards.”
I give a sharp nod and then start climbing up the ladder. I’m going to do my best to keep my emotions in check and not get crazy. But if anyone hurts Trish, I can’t make any promises. I’ll probably lose my damn mind and go ballistic.
Once we reach the top, we climb over the side and step onto the roof. Just like I hoped, there’s a door that leads into the building.
I motion for Roberto to follow me and once we reach it, I try the handle. Locked, of course.
“Now what?” Roberto asks.
“Now I’m going to open it,” I announce and look around the roof for something to use to bust the door open. My gaze settles on a brick over in the corner and I scoop it up and return. Then I lift it up and slam it down repeatedly against the doorknob.
“Oh, Christ,” Roberto mutters, pulling his gun out. “Way to stay under the radar.”
“I’m done sneaking around. Time to go get my woman.”
After a little pounding, there’s a loud cracking noise and the door swings inward. Stepping inside, I pull my gun out, too, and wait for the inevitable guard to show up. It takes him about a minute, and we swing our pistols in his direction. He instantly lifts his hands, eyes going wide.
“Take me to Trish,” I order.
“You’re the Mennetti twins,” he murmurs and takes a wary step back.
“That’s right. Either take us to Trish now or there’s going to be a problem,” I warn him.
“Okay, but she’s a little busy right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s getting married.”
I let out a low curse and wave my gun at him. “Let’s move. Hurry!”
“They’re in the living room downstairs,” he tells us.
“Lead the way. And move it!”
Roberto and I follow the enforcer down several flights of stairs until we reach the ground floor.
The brownstone is amazing, a huge multi-level mansion in the heart of the city. There’s plenty of room for the entire Volkanov family to live here and it reminds me of my family’s compound in the country.
By the time we reach the living room, my heart is pounding so hard it’s in danger of beating right out of my chest. There are quite a few people gathered, mostly her immediate family I’m assuming, and when I step into the room, I hear the priest asking Trish if she will take Antonio Dombruso as her husband.
“No, she doesn’t take him,” I growl and step closer.
Trish spins around, eyes red-rimmed, and I can see that she’s been crying. Everyone looks in our direction and I tighten my grip on the gun.
“Connor!” she cries. Then she runs straight into my arms and I hold her against my chest, right where she belongs.