78. Olivia

Chapter seventy-eight

Olivia

M emories begin to flood back. Leo got shot. Maybe he’s at the hospital getting taken care of. Victor turns to me, so I focus my attention on him. That’s when I see it. My gut tightens and I hold my breath.

“Olivia.” He swallows and takes a deep breath. “Leo didn’t make it.”

Tears form in his eyes, and he rubs a hand over his chest. The breath I was holding whooshes out. Mia stirs in my arms. I turn to Caroline, who’s sitting next to me, and hand her back. Placing my elbows on the table, I put my head in my hands.

Victor wraps his arm around me and lays his forehead on my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Olivia.”

His voice is gruff, like he’s trying to hold it together. I don’t even know how long Leo worked for Victor. As much as I grew to love him, I’m sure this is even harder for him. Tears fall down my face as I turn to Victor and climb into his lap. He pushes his chair back and wraps his arms around me as I curl into him.

“He was like the brother I never had,” I whisper. My words are meant for Victor. He runs his hand down my hair.

“I know. He wanted me to tell you that you were the best little sister.” His voice shakes slightly. I clutch at his shirt, my tears soaking it.

“Victor,” I whisper. “I’m sorry. You’re going to miss him as much as I am.” I’m trying to not sob, but everyone is giving us a moment. They can all hear us because it’s so quiet in here.

“I am,” Victor says as he holds me tightly.

I take a few deep breaths, trying to bring my emotions back under control. Later, when everyone is gone, I’ll cry for him. I sit up and wipe my face. A tissue shows up in front of me and I look up to see Caroline extending it toward me. Giving her a grateful smile, I take it.

I move to get in my chair, but Victor holds me tighter, making it clear he’s not ready for me to move. So, I adjust myself, grimacing slightly at the sting in my arm. Once I’m positioned so I can see everyone, I swallow and sigh.

“What happened today and what’s going to happen next?” I ask.

“Lane, let’s start with you,” Victor says.

He glances around the room and runs his hand through his black hair. “The first day that flowers were delivered to Olivia, I swear I saw someone get out of the back of the van when the guy got the flowers out. I got out of my car and leaned against it watching the entrance and the van, but when the delivery guy came back, he nodded in greeting to me, got in his van, and drove off.” Lane shakes his head slightly and puts his hands in his pockets.

“That’s why I followed him, because something was off. He got out of the van and went inside. When he came back out, he had some more flowers that he put in the back. He and another person made a few trips then took off to deliver those. I followed him and he delivered all of them.” Lane shrugs.

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” Victor asks. “Or Leo and Arden?”

Lane’s face flushes slightly as he looks around the room. “Looking back now, I realize I should have, but I felt so guilty when I realized the flowers came from Donovan. I should have been there instead. When I came back, I did sneak into the parking garage trying to find something, but didn’t find anything. Then we had our meeting, and I knew I had really fucked up, so I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to upset you more than I already had.” He takes his hands out of his pockets and folds his arms over his chest. “If I had spoken up, maybe Leo would still be alive.”

“Don’t do that,” Arden tells him. “That kind of thinking will mess you up.”

Lane gives him a nod, but I’m not sure if he’s listening. “Well, after you told me to be a bouncer at the nightclub, I decided during the day I would snoop around. I followed Donovan around and noticed you had Leo tailing him too. Leo confronted me one day about it.” Victor stiffens under me. “I told him the delivery of the flowers didn’t sit well with me and I couldn’t let it go. He told me to be careful and let him know if I found out anything.”

Victor huffs and looks at Arden. “Leo never told me that. Did he tell you?” Arden shakes his head.

“He probably didn’t want to worry you, but I never found anything until last week. The guy delivered the flowers and when he came back out with the flowers still in his hands, he called Donovan. Told him the flowers were rejected and asked what he should do with them. Of course I didn’t hear, but when he hung up, he walked around to the parking garage, found the same place I had been using to sneak in and out, dropped the vase of flowers, then left.”

I squint at him, wondering why the delivery man would do that. “I snuck into the garage and searched through the small mess and found what looked like some kind of chip or bugging device. So I took it and threw it in the Mississippi River. The reason I was there today is because I had planned on searching as much as I was able to before talking to Leo and you. But I never got the chance to do that. I heard the bomb and came to help however I could. I saw Donovan and his guys drop into the garage where the gate had been damaged, so I followed them and you know what happened after that.”

Lane exhales hard. Everyone remains quiet for what feels like minutes, but it may only be seconds.

Julian shifts and sits forward. “So, you killed Donovan?” I look at him and the tension in his features is obvious.

“He didn’t give me much of a choice,” Victor says. “Donovan said he was there to take back what belonged to him.” He looks at me and gives me a small smile. “I’m proud of you for standing up to that asshole,” he says. My cheeks heat up, knowing everyone is looking at me, but I still melt at his praise.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“I want to hear more about that,” Ansley says.

I shrug. “I just told him I didn’t belong to him. That’s not something I would have done before Victor, though.”

Ansley beams at me with a proud look. “Good for you.”

“She was definitely a badass,” Lincoln says, and Arden nods in agreement. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth, not used to this kind of attention.

“Arden and I had a plan if anything like this were to ever happen. He was to get Olivia away. When Lane showed up, I saw our opportunity. Arden grabbed her and took off. Donovan raised his gun, but I was prepared. I always carry a gun at my ankle, so I dropped to my knees, grabbed it, and shot him in the head. Malachi showed up with some of The Outsiders too.” Victor looks at Malachi. “I don’t even know how you knew to come there.”

“We heard the bomb too. James tried to call me, but it got cut off, so I sent out a text to everyone and told them to meet me there,” Malachi explains. “Not everyone received it, but enough did.”

I sigh at the mention of James. “Is James alright?” I ask.

Malachi nods. “He broke his ankle, but he’s fine.” Everyone looks back at Victor, waiting for him to continue.

“There was so much chaos it took me a few moments to realize Leo had been shot. Lincoln and I pulled him behind a car. Arden and Lane came to where we were and Arden took him to get help. Everything was over by that point. All of Donovan’s men were down, and those who weren’t ran away. Then I came out to find Olivia.”

“What happened to the men that got killed?” Julian asks.

“We took care of it,” Malachi says. Julian looks around the table and sighs. Bailey pats his arm.

“Julian, baby, I know this goes against your moral code, but it was them or our friends. What would you have done?” she asks.

He interlaces his fingers with hers and takes a deep breath. He looks around the table. “I don’t have a problem with what happened. I killed for Bailey, then I let the police handle it from there,” he says.

“Julian, that guy wasn’t part of the mafia or connected with others that would come and try to take vengeance on his behalf,” Victor tells him. Understanding lights up Julian’s eyes.

“You’re right. I saw my fair share of those types of crimes when I was a detective. I’m not trying to be difficult, but it’s part of my DNA to do things within the law and allow justice to handle things,” he says. Bailey leans up and kisses his jaw.

Victor nods in understanding. “I get it. I really do.” He looks at Malachi. “Your turn.”

Malachi is standing with his hands in his pockets. He has brown hair that always looks like he’s run his fingers through it, a close shaved beard and mustache, and both of his arms are covered in tattoos. He’s wearing a white T-shirt under his leather motorcycle vest and jeans.

“I’ve heard of Donovan and the things he did. I didn’t care so much about the weapons he moved or even the money laundering until it affected one of my own.” He looks at Victor, and I know he’s referring to how Donovan used one of his restaurants. “Then he was on my radar, so I paid closer attention. That’s when I found out about the human trafficking. I wasn’t aware of him doing that, but when he disappeared for a while, he became a back burner problem for us.” He gestures to the other members that were there.

“I saw him one day and that put him back on my radar. So, we kept an eye on him, then found out one of The Outsiders was involved with him. I gave specific instructions to everyone not to do that. I interrogated him and found out he was involved with a woman by the name of Alice Brighton. The girls he got off the street he would take to this auction that Alice was a part of and sell them against their will.” I gasp at that name and Victor stiffens under me.

I glance back at him as my stomach swirls with anxiety. Did he recognize that name too? “That’s who took me,” I say.

He nods like this isn’t news to him. “When I was searching for you, one of the EMTs said she was supposed to be taking care of you, but she drove off with the ambulance.”

“Oh.” I look down. “The doctor that stitched up my arm. His name was Dr. Chamberland. I recognized him,” I whisper the last part so only he can hear.

Victor raises his eyebrows at me. “From where?” He keeps his voice low too.

I swallow, trying to wet my dry throat. “He was the doctor that Donovan used.” I’m being cryptic, but he understands what I mean right away. He pulls me close and kisses my forehead.

“I’m so sorry, Olivia.”

No one asks what’s going on because I’m assuming they all understand if I wanted to talk about it, I would. I’m grateful they don’t ask questions because I don’t know if that’s something I’ll ever talk about again. Betsy comes in at that moment, pushing a serving tray. The smell of fried chicken and bread fills my senses.

“Dinners served,” she says, heading for me.

I scoot off Victor’s lap. She places my plate in front of me and I smile at her. “Thank you, Betsy.”

She winks at me and serves everyone else. My plate has more food on it than I’ll probably be able to eat, but it looks delicious. Everyone grows quiet as we all begin to eat.

“What happens now that Donovan has been dealt with?” Bec asks.

“We get some much needed rest,” Victor responds.