Ashes (Web of Desire #3) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,45
wore nothing, sleeping in the same attire as I. That would change, I supposed, when Ruby was down the hall instead of upstairs. There was so much I didn’t know about being a father, and yet I was eager to learn.
Whether it was living on the street, following orders in the army, succeeding at the University of Chicago, or helping to run Sparrow’s underground, I’d met each trial head-on. Parenting would be a welcome challenge, especially with Madeline to guide me.
Though the sky was still dark, I eased away from her warmth and quietly slid from the bed. Stepping into a pair of sweatpants and slippers, and pulling a t-shirt over my head, I turned one last time to take in the woman I loved, the one I would do anything to protect, the one I’d failed beyond measure.
Yesterday, before dinner, as I’d entered 2, I’d learned updated news from my colleagues. Instead of acting last night, we agreed that for the harmony of the household, it would be better for our actions to wait.
Now the next day was here, and the time was at hand.
We’d been right that Hillman had been planning his own coup. He wanted both Detroit and Chicago. It was a lofty goal for a man with no foothold in either place. The work he’d done within Chicago on Ivanov’s behalf wasn’t as it appeared. Hillman, with McFadden’s backing, was working for himself. His goal was to revive the McFadden empire.
According to prison records, he’d met many times over the last few months with both his father and Rubio McFadden.
Therefore, while Ivanov had been the one to declare war, he’d been deceived from within. His army wasn’t what he’d planned on or presumed to be. That meant that now he was vulnerable—as a leader and as a man. He’d made promises to his men that he couldn’t deliver.
There were men scattered about Chicago and Detroit who were ripe for the picking while suffering from the now widely reported loss of their presumed future leader, Antonio Hillman.
A quick push of the button in the kitchen and I filled a mug with steaming coffee. Making my way out of the apartment, I stilled as a new thought came to mind. Back in my home office, I found a small pad of paper and wrote Maddie a note. It was a new sentiment to be accountable to someone I loved.
Maddie,
I couldn’t wake you. You are too beautiful and perfect asleep in our bed. I’m on 2, the floor below, and will be back up to see if you want to join the others in the penthouse for breakfast.
I love you,
Patrick
Quietly placing the note on the bedside stand near Madeline, I found myself again staring at the sleeping woman, mesmerized by not only her presence but her calm. After all she’d been through, that was my goal, for her to know she’s loved and finally feel safe.
Those weren’t different goals than I’d had when we first wed.
Again, I went down the hallway, made my way out of the apartment, and into the entryway. It was a little after four in the morning, and I didn’t know who I’d find on 2, only that I had my women safe and now it was time for war.
The mug warmed my fingers as I took the elevator down a floor. My palm hovered near the sensor as the steel door opened. Reid looked up at the sound of the door.
“Didn’t expect you to be the first one here,” he said with a grin.
“I’m creating a list.”
“A list?”
“Of who I plan to kill,” I replied. “Andros Ivanov is the first. Let’s get this war settled. Chicago is ours.”
Reid nodded. “And opening up Detroit to the vultures will benefit us how?”
I set my coffee down on a worktable. Pulling out a chair, I spun it around. Straddling the back, I sat. “Don’t fucking suggest a truce. This goes beyond Ivanov’s declaration.”
“I get that.”
I ran my hand over the top of my head. “Fill me in on what you know about what Madeline told us.” Even though Reid wasn’t listening as she spoke, he’d been fully briefed concerning McFadden and the mission.
“McFadden is sitting in a federal penitentiary. I’m not saying we don’t have people on the inside if you’re determined to kill him. I’m saying that doing so will create a new set of issues and honestly, in my opinion, death is too good for the scum. I’d be happier knowing he’s someone’s bitch.”