forget about the people fucking in the bathroom beside ours.”
My cheeks flame. Red-hot. And I try to ignore the way Sebastian’s fingers clench tighter around Keira’s.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,” Luca snarls. “We’re not fucking.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Hunter waves him away, his focus on Cole. “Can we kill that dog or not?”
“Talk to the old lady who lives there.” Cole pushes from the table, taking his dirty plate with him. “But make sure you’re prepared before you knock on her door. She’s a typical Italian mother. You won’t leave her house with an empty stomach.”
“Speaking of mothers.” Keira turns pained eyes to my brother. “We need to cancel tonight. It isn’t safe.”
Sebastian inclines his head. “I’ll make the call.”
“Cancel what?” Cole continues to the kitchen, placing his plate in the sink before he returns. “What isn’t safe?”
“It’s nothing.” My brother sits taller. “We’ll postpone.”
“Postpone what?” Cole pins his focus on Keira. “If Robert is stopping you from your usual plans, I want to know what they are.”
Sebastian scoffs. “You just confined the women to the house. How is that any different?”
“It’s okay.” Keira remains calm. “We were going out for dinner, that’s all.”
“With who?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Cole smirks, the expression becoming unkind. “Who?”
“My parents,” Sebastian snaps, pushing from his chair.
Luca’s hand presses harder into my thigh, offering adamant support.
“They’re here?” My voice is high-pitched with apprehension. “In Portland?”
“This had nothing to do with you, Pen. We made plans weeks ago for Keira to meet them. They weren’t going to come anywhere near you. And we sure as hell weren’t going to mention anything that’s happened.” Sebastian shoves his chair back into place. “It was just meant to be dinner and drinks. A laid-back welcome to the family.”
I tense, keeping all the threatening panic low in my belly. The thought of Mom and Dad being near is overwhelming. They’re in the same state as I am. The very same city.
“You’re not cancelling.” Cole returns to his position at the head of the table. “We don’t hide.”
“Despite all of us having to relocate to your mega mansion?” Sebastian bites out a vicious laugh. “I’m pretty sure this is the definition of hiding.”
“This is protection. It’s fucking strategy.”
“Call it whatever you want. But I’m not dragging my parents into the line of fire. Not for you. Not for fucking anybody.”
Cole raises his brows. “Not even your sister?”
“Torian,” Luca warns.
“No.” I swallow to ease the dryness taking over my throat. “This has nothing to do with me. I don’t want them dragged—”
“You’re not cancelling.” Cole pulls his cell from inside his suit jacket and frowns as he taps the screen. “This is the perfect opportunity to draw Robert from the shadows. We’ll make it a joint family event. We’ll invite everyone. I’ll even host at the restaurant and pick up the tab.”
“No.” I slide my chair back only to be stopped from making a dramatic outburst by Luca’s hand grasping mine. He demands my attention with the squeeze of my fingers, his determined eyes attempting to assure me.
“It’s okay,” he soothes. “We need to talk this out.”
“I don’t think it requires much talking.” Keira glares. “It’s heartless to bring more people into this.”
Cole slaps his cell down on the table. “How do you not understand that they’re already fucking involved? Anyone Penny cares for is a target. Maybe not right now, but certainly in the future if this drags on. What the hell do you think is going to happen when Robert can’t get his hands on her?” He stares at me. “He’s been successful in finding your friends. How long do you think it will take for him to start coming after us? He already shot at you once.”
“We don’t know it was him.” Hunter stabs a hand through his hair. “It still could’ve been someone looking for me.”
“Bullshit. You don’t believe that. He came after Penny, and soon he’ll come after us all. And not just everyone at this table, but Decker’s parents, and our fucking kids. We need to think about Stella and Tobias.”
“I’m not risking them,” Sebastian seethes.
“There is no risk. We’ll have the neighborhood surrounded. I’ll place guards on the door. We’ll have men scanning the surveillance recordings and on street corners and rooftops for blocks. He won’t get near the party. We only need him to get close enough for someone to take him out.”
“Right…” Sarah glances around everyone at the table. “And you can arrange all that before tonight?”