See No Evil (Brotherhood Trilogy #1)(63)

“Christiana, get in the car.” Dad’s face takes on a hard edge.

In spite of my fear, I shake my head and grit out, “Robbie didn’t kill your son. He had nothing to do with any of that! He deserves justice.”

Dad steps over to me, getting in my face. His nostrils flare, his eyes ringed with rage. “He was a Candella! You let that boy touch you. Marco only did what was right.”

“Robbie was innocent! He was a good person and didn’t deserve to die. I’m not going to stand by while another killer goes free!”

“He is your uncle, not just some killer.”

I raise my chin, not backing away from my father’s venom. “He pulled the trigger on an unarmed man. He’s no different than any of them! And he can rot in jail for all I care.”

Dad’s face puffs with anger. He raises his hand.

“Lucca, no!” Mom darts between us. “Enough! She is already hurt. Please, just let me take my baby home.”

The sound of Mom’s broken whisper makes Dad fold. Stepping away, he nods and tips his head at the car.

But I’m not ready to stop fighting.

Shaking my head, I take a trembling step away from my mother while turning to my father with a heart-wrenching appeal. “Please, you can’t condone this. You have to let me testify. It’s the right thing to do.”

“Family first!” he booms, his eyes popping wide. “He is my brother.”

“He’s the devil. He killed a harmless teenager who was nothing but nice to me! Robbie was my friend!”

Dad’s dark eyes gleam, his voice softening with a husky reply that feels like a knife blade. “He was only doing what I told him to.”

I flinch, staggering away from the righteous fury in my father’s gaze. No. I didn’t want that to be true. I didn’t want to believe it!

“A life for a life,” he whispers. “I always keep my promises.”

Stumbling back, I find my footing and edge away from the SUV.

“Get in the car,” he warns.

“Never.” My black voice is unrecognizable.

Stepping forward, Dad grabs for my arm but I push him off me. “Christiana! If you’re not with us, you’re against us.”

“Please, no,” Mom begs, shaking her head as tears fill her eyes.

I can’t do it.

What makes my life more valuable than Robbie’s?

I won’t be a part of this. I can’t turn my back on what’s right.

Spinning away from my family, I wrap Dad’s coat around my trembling body and start walking.

“Get back here!” Dad roars.

I ignore him, my shoulders set, my will unbreakable.

“Bring her back,” he orders. “Use whatever force you need to.”

“Lucca, please!” Mom screams.

The sound of pounding footsteps approach from behind.

I pick up my pace and start sprinting.





#38:

Save Her!



Trey




Kade screams into the dock. I slam into Riley as we veer around the corner and rocket down the hill. The gates are already open and we bump our way through, praying like crazy that Riley found the right place on the map.

The dock is lit, revealing a rusty warehouse with smashed-up windows…and the one person we’re looking for. She’s sprinting like crazy, a winter coat flying off her shoulders as she swerves towards us. Her face is bloody and bruised, the fear in her eyes stark and unnerving.

Kade slams on the brakes. The truck screeches to a halt just as Chris hits the hood.

“Help me!” she yells as her hands slap onto the metal.

Then she sees me.

Her face crests with relief, her body trembling as she trips around the car. Riley’s out the door in a second, making way for me to reach her when the bullets start flying.

“Shit!” Kade hits the seat, covering his head while the windshield smashes into a million pieces.

“Chris!” I crunch over the glass and slip out the door, leaping over Riley to reach her.

Riley grabs my arm and yanks me back. “You crazy?”

A bullet pings off the door we’re hiding behind.

“Let me go!” I growl, shaking him off me. “I’ve gotta get her!”

I’m not letting fear stop me this time. I’m not hiding from bullets so Chris can die in a different way to my mother.

I go to move but another bullet warns me away, this time followed by a wailing woman. “Stop shooting! Don’t kill her!”

I glance through the glass and spot a lady running across the space. She looks middle-aged, with long brown hair and mascara running down her pale cheeks.

“Ana!” she cries.

Ducking down, I spot Chris’s feet and ease around the door to reach her.

“Chris,” I whisper, holding out my hand. “Come on.”

She looks up at me, her eyes bright with fear. “I don’t want them to hurt you.”

“I’m not leaving without you.” I shake my head, flicking my fingers for her to take my hand.

A barrel-chested man runs past the crying woman and stops next to the towering guy aiming a gun at us.

The woman stops between them, slapping the gun wielder and cursing in a language I don’t understand. “He told you to catch her, not kill her!”