Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Jake

I put Nia in one of the bedrooms where she falls instantly asleep. I lay next to her for a few minutes just stroking her hair before I finally push up to find my family and my partners.

My current partners.

Because if they don't fall in line, we're going to have a brawl. That single punch I gave Toni wasn't even close to enough. If Nia hadn't been present, I might have kept going.

But she didn't need to see that. Or maybe she did.

But the state troopers certainly didn't. It's bad enough that I pulled a gun and punched him out. Not that there will be charges for either. Mason's lawyers are already working their magic.

We try to help them out by only dipping toes over the legal line, not large limbs.

But no one is going to arrest me if I clip Roman again. I saw the text that Nia read while I waited for her to wake up in the hospital. No wonder she bolted .

She knows they want to dump her and the way she's been clinging to me, she's worried they'll get their way.

Or maybe she's worried that I won't keep my word. Who could blame her? I told her we were there for a mutually beneficial relationship when I planned to set her free and let the Italians do their worst.

The very thought of it has my fists clenching as I step into the library at the back of the compound where the other Kincaids have already gathered.

They sit quietly, several of them holding drinks in their hands. Leo holds a beverage too, it's just Diet Coke. He gave up alcohol a few months ago.

"Jake," Roman says as he stands.

My finger points. "You really fucked up, Roman."

He holds up his hands. "The day did end with Toni in handcuffs."

"After Nia nearly died."

Leo clears his throat. I'm still getting used to him being delicate instead of charging into the conversation. "But she didn't. And we've accomplished our goal."

I don't like that answer at all. "How did you feel when Kim was in danger?"

Leo runs a hand through his hair. "First. Kim is pregnant. And my wife?—"

I hold up my hand. "She was not your wife when little Anthony held a gun to her head."

"I know. And that's why we're here. Because Toni needed to be stopped."

"We're also here because you put out the call to protect Kim and we all answered," I remind him.

"What are you saying?" Mason sets his glass down and stands. "Are you putting out the call for us to protect Antonia?"

The room goes silent.

I feel my chest puff. Fuckers. "You aren't going to answer if I do?"

Mason shakes his head. "She's Toni's daughter," he starts. "She isn't like Charlotte and Kim. "

I scrub my hands down my face. "You're right about that. She's much worse off than either of them."

Silence meets my words.

"Taking her into our family will cause far more problems than putting Toni in prison solves," Luke adds.

My mouth drops open as I look from man to man. I don't even know what to say to them. I knew they'd resist, but they haven't even asked a single question. They were all there when Toni tried to suffocate Nia with a pillow.

I turn around, stomping out of the library. "Where are you going?" Mason calls but I don't answer.

Opening the door to Nia's room, I stop, watching her sleep. "Baby girl?"

She doesn't move.

It's been shit day, I hate to wake her. So instead, I close the door behind me and walk over to the bed.

I was going to have her come plead her case, but I can't do it to her now. Afternoon sun tilts through the windows so I close the blinds and then slide into the bed next to her, place my hand on her hip.

I close my eyes too.

Those fuckers can wait.