Page 111 of Reaper’s Wrath

Happiness expands my lungs as my heart rate finally kicks up a notch. Her making the connection is a little thing, but each piece of our past comes together to reveal the epic love story we’ve shared. I will always cherish every bit of it.

“Yes, I named her Calypso.”

Isa lowers back down and holds me tight. “My heart was empty without you, El.”

I press a kiss to her head. “I know exactly what you mean. And now that we’re back together, nothing will ever tear us apart. I promise.”

CHAPTER 56

ISA

Why is TV at its most boring when you really need a distraction? I guess for the same reason traffic lights are green when you’re in no hurry, and stores are full of cute things when you forget your wallet.

Evie and I have been quietly channel surfing in my hotel room since Michael and Elio left for their meeting. We’ve tried to be reassuring and optimistic, but tension taints the air like a hazy smog. Two of the younger crew have stayed with us. Our guys only have half a dozen crew to back them up. Will that be enough? Why do they even need that many? What are they planning to do?

Elio didn’t lay out the details, and I didn’t want to make a stressful situation worse by bombarding him with questions. I’m trying to trust him, as he asked.

It turns out trust isn’t my forte.

When my phone rings an hour into our hellish wait, my fumbling hands drop the darn thing I’m in such a hurry to see who it is. Once I pick it up, I see it’s my dad calling.

That’s strange. I wouldn’t expect him to call when we just talked yesterday.

“Hey, Dad. What’s up?” I answer.

“Hey, Ees. It may be nothing, but I wanted to give Elio a heads-up.”

“About what?”

“We got a call from our people inside law enforcement—something’s going down at the docks today. After I let Renzo know, I was thinking … if Elio has you out on a boat, I might ought to warn him, too.” His hesitant words are touching. He knows sharing information like this outside the family would be frowned upon, to say the least. He’s doing it anyway to keep Elio and me safe.

“Thank you, Daddy. I appreciate you letting me know.” I'm considering telling him we’re already in the city, but I worry he might insist on knowing where I am, and I’m not sure I should share that information. “I’ll definitely pass it along.”

“Alright, princess. You be safe.”

“You, too.” He ends the call, and I realize Evie has muted the TV.

“What was that about?” she asks, concerned.

“Dad says something is going down with law enforcement at the docks. I’m not sure how much you keep up with the Italian families, but that’s the Morettis’ turf, so they know whenever anything’s happening.”

Her frown deepens.

“Is everything okay?” I ask warily, not sure why she suddenly looks so worried.

She hesitates, as though unsure whether she should tell me, then caves. “The guys are having their meeting at some docks. Did he say which ones?”

“No, but I can call back and ask.” I lift my phone, but she places her hand on mine to stop me.

“I have a better idea. I met Michael while I was doing court-ordered counseling services as part of an offender recovery program. I got to know several people at the district attorney’s office. They usually collaborate with the police on stings to ensure they’re done properly. If there’s anything big going on, they’ll know.”

She makes the call, reconnecting with an old friend, then artfully digs for information under the ruse of following up on an old client. Anyone overhearing the conversation would think she placed the call in a moment of lighthearted nostalgia.

The second the call ends, her forced levity morphs to grave concern.

“This is bad. He didn’t say where the take-down is happening, but he didn’t have to. He told me they got a tip on the Reaper’s location and are going after him. We have to warn the guys.”

We simultaneously scurry from the bed to the hotel room door. The two guards standing outside the room nearly jump out of their skins when the door flies open.