point I was fearful of crumpling to the floor. I counted the knocks. Three. The pause forced me to suck in my breath once again.
Two. Knocks.
A flood of relief washed into every cell and aching muscle as I moved quickly toward the door. I hesitated even though I had my hand placed on the console. After taking a deep breath, I took another chance. I had to know. “Who’s there?”
“Savannah, it’s me. Please open the door. We need to leave.”
I’d know the beautiful tone of his voice anywhere. I was close to hyperventilating as I disarmed the system, biting back a moan as I unlocked the door.
There was no wait for me to open it, to allow entrance. That was taken from me, the door kicked in.
And his face. My God, his face.
“Savannah...”
Chapter Seventeen
Rafael
“Pecados de nuestro padre,” I muttered under my breath, my thoughts firmly locked on Savannah. I’d made several mistakes during the last few days, one of which had been leaving her alone. I heard the screech of the tires as I rounded a curve. I was still a full ten minutes out, long enough that I’d signed her death warrant.
I could feel the heat of Montego’s gaze. “Sins of our father. Do you think your father has anything to do with this?”
“We all pay the price for what has occurred in the past.” We’d been too careless in our actions, falling into moments of entitlement during the last few years. That had allowed this bullshit to occur. Trusting Don Piero, or the others, had been a terrible mistake. Greed made any type of friendship null and void.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he chortled.
“Fuck. Fuck!” I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, unable to calm my rage.
“You should have allowed me to drive, boss. You’re in no condition,” Montego said offhandedly.
I snarled as I tossed him a look, realizing he could have had no way of knowing what the fuck was going on, or so I wanted to believe. Just how far into the core of soldiers the betrayal went was yet to be determined. Everyone would be scrutinized, loyalties questioned. I had no other choice. And those who failed the test would be exterminated.
I took another corner sharply, allowing my adrenaline to continually push me forward. Jorge had collapsed, falling into a coma-like state before he could explain his last words.
And I’d allowed him to live.
If there was no Alviro Calleja, merely a trumped-up image to enable our organization to buy they had enough muscle to crush us, then why the fuck were there reports that Los Charlines soldiers had seized the Port of Valencia’s shipments fifty miles off shore?
No. Jorge had either been sent as another warning to throw me off or he’d been sacrificed like Manuel for the cause. Calleja did exist, the beast now rearing its ugly head, the true identity of the man prepared to take over easily. I was sick at not following my instincts about the Don.
The moment Montego had burst into the room, a debilitating chill had slithered down my spine. I had to face the fact that Jorge’s accusation had thrown me into an entirely different realm, although I knew there was still another hand to be played.
The call to my father had gone unanswered, further waving a red flag. A man like Sanchez Santiago believed his reputation kept him safe from predators. My gut told me his number had just been pulled, requiring me to dispatch soldiers to his estate. At least Dartanian was on the way to Valencia where I would soon follow, hundreds of our soldiers already in position. If Piero was in charge, the bastard wasn’t going to get away with hijacking our shipment.
And this time, Savannah would be by my side. So fucking help me God.
“If you ask me, I don’t buy the crap coming out of Jorge’s mouth. Why the hell did he betray us, all of us?”
That was the real question. “He will get what’s coming to him.”
“I’m surprised you allowed him to live.” He sucked in his breath. “I meant no disrespect, boss. I’m just surprised.”
“As I said, Jorge will be punished; however, I’m not finished extracting information from him yet. I will find every player involved.” There was a chance I had no taste for vengeance at this point, especially given I had no doubt Jorge knew a hell of a lot more than he’d offered.