Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(88)

And then she would pack and be gone again. She needed to work. She needed to make things right because Case had been correct about one thing. Hutch was in trouble because she’d chosen Case’s life over his. Hutch had been her partner. He’d been scared. He’d known something was wrong and she’d watched as he walked away and into the trap.

She had to make that right.

“We’ll be there in no time at all.” Ezra sat down beside Drew. “I’ve informed the pilot to get us in the air as soon as possible. And the good news is this pilot checks out. One hundred percent chance of him not trying to murder us.”

“That’s excellent. Could I get a moment alone with my sister?” Drew asked in that polite but firm tone that meant the answer better be yes.

Ezra immediately stood again. “Of course. I’ll go and sit with the pilot. Let me know if you need me at all.”

He stepped away and she was left alone with her brother.

“Mia, I know you loved that man.”

She had, but she should have known. Tony had told her. When the chips were down Case would always choose his family, and she would never be a part of his family. He’d called her princess. Sometimes it felt like a term of affection, but then he was an expert at making her feel good. Even when he didn’t mean a word of it.

But he’d meant it. He thought she was an entitled princess. Poor little rich girl. Who would love her?

“It doesn’t matter.” She stared straight ahead. That’s what she had to think about. Moving forward. One foot in front of the other.

Don’t think about how much she was going to miss him. Don’t think about how he’d looked at her, how he’d hated her.

She’d made the right decision. She’d seen it in Theo’s eyes. He would have done it. He would have killed Case.

Case simply didn’t care enough to stay and fight it out.

He’s very likely hurting Hutch right now. Did you think about him at all? Did you think about what they would do to him? Or were you so f*cking scared for yourself that you didn’t give a damn?

He’d thought she’d been considering herself, not him. That’s where his brain had gone. He truly thought she was an overprivileged bitch who only thought of herself. He’d never cared about her. She’d been a means to an end and a convenient lay.

“It does matter, Mia. You matter.” Drew leaned forward. “He’s an ass who can’t see how amazing you are. He was a mistake.”

He hadn’t felt like it at the time. He’d felt like perfection, like she’d finally found the man who fit. “Yes. I’ve proven I have shitty taste in men.”

Maybe she would be better off taking her foster moms’ path. Damn it. Why did she need a dick? Especially one attached to a much larger dick.

God, she was going to miss him. It was an actual ache inside her body. She would feel every mile between them.

“He wasn’t the one for you.” Drew scowled and sat back. “I’m sorry I brought them into our lives.”

She had to clear that up. She couldn’t be the one who cost her brother the plan he’d been working on for years. “You can’t fire Ian Taggart.”

“I already did.”

“Then hire him back. I’ll call him myself. He’s the best in the business and he knows this case like the back of his hand. He’s been working on it for months. Riley’s going to New York soon, or have you changed your mind about taking down Steven Castalano?”

“I’m going to take them all down.” His eyes seemed to go a shade darker, as though the mere act of talking about his revenge could change him from the brother she loved into a predator. “They killed our parents.”

“You can’t prove that.”

“Taggart’s working on the proof.” Drew sighed. “He was working on it.”

Three people had benefited from their parents’ deaths. The same people who had paid an assassin to kill them and cover it all up so they could cash in on Benedict Lawless’s brilliance. “Ian was the one who found the assassin. You can’t fire him. Call him now and offer him the plane I came in on. It’s still here. It can take him and his crew back to Dallas. He’s too good. We need him despite the fact that his brother is a massive ass.”

She wasn’t going to send Riley in without the best backup possible and that was Ian Taggart and his crew. No amount of pride was worth risking her brother’s life.

“Ezra’s old boss can do the job,” Drew said stubbornly.

“There was a reason we didn’t hire him. Drew, I’m willing to put up with Ezra when I go on assignment, which I will be doing the minute we get back home, but on one condition. Rehire Taggart. I assure you he’ll keep Case far away from us.”

“He better. I’ll make the call if you’re sure.”

She was sure she didn’t want to f*ck anything else up. She heard her brother begin to speak but looked out the window. There was no Case rushing to catch up with the plane. He wasn’t going to show up this time. He’d gotten what he’d wanted out of her and then she’d become an inconvenience.

Some Dom he’d turned out to be. One mistake and she was out.

Had she been wrong? In the heat of the moment, all she’d wanted was to make sure Case was safe. She’d seen him shot. He couldn’t have taken another bullet.