by L. P. Dover
The terror on her face absolutely gutted me. “I would never do anything to hurt you, Layla. As far as your mother’s plans, I know she wants him out of the picture, permanently. If she doesn’t get him first, the FBI will when they raid the home.”
She slapped a hand over her mouth and choked on a cry. “Oh, my God. What are we going to do? If you’re there when the FBI comes, could they take you away as well?”
And the time had finally come for the truth. “No, they won’t,” I said, averting my gaze. I was a man afraid of nothing, but in this moment, I was terrified to look her in the eyes.
“Why not?” she asked, taking a step back. “I know you have ties to the government, but that can’t keep you completely safe, can it? You’ve killed a lot of people.” She knew something was wrong. “Look at me, Bryce.”
I did as she said and reluctantly looked in her eyes. “I have killed a lot of people, hundreds of them as a matter of fact, but it was my job. The Circle of Justice is part of the FBI.”
She stared at me with narrowed eyes. “Which means you’re…”
“An FBI agent,” I said, finishing her sentence.
By the look on her face, it was as if everything had fallen into place, but she hadn’t fully grasped the whole truth. “That’s why you were able to hack into all those security cameras and find out things no one else could.”
I nodded again. “Among other things.”
Brows furrowed, she turned away from me, and paced the floor. I could almost picture that same look on her face in the courtroom as she took down an opponent. In this case, I was the one on trial. “If you’re an FBI agent, what were you doing getting involved with my family?”
“I was supposed to get close to your dad,” I answered truthfully.
She paused and turned her fiery green eyes my way. “And then what?” It was clear she’d already figured it out, but wanted to hear me say it.
“I think you already know.”
“Say it,” she demanded.
Nodding, I blew out a heavy sigh. “My job was to kill him. I’d been working undercover a few months before he sought me out. I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist having a Collman in his ranks.”
The muscles in her jaw tensed. “I see. Did you use me to get to my father?”
I grabbed her arms, and pulled her to me. “I tried not to get close to you, and you know that. I knew if I did, I’d lose myself and the whole reason why I was there in the first place. I had a million chances to kill your father, but I didn’t. The last thing I wanted was to lose you.”
At first, I thought I was getting through to her, but she jerked out of my hold. “Is Bryce even your real name?”
“Yes,” I stated, feeling the bile rise up the back of my throat, “but I’m not a Collman. I only used that name to get close to your father.”
She sucked in a breath, and her face paled. “If that’s not your name, what is?”
“You already know it,” I murmured.
Eyes wide, she moved away from me, tears falling down her cheeks. “Chandler. That’s it, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I answered. “When you met Logan Chandler, you met my cousin. He’s an FBI agent, along with Micah.” I tried to reach for her hands, but she flinched, and I pulled back. All I wanted was to gain her trust again. “You know me, Layla. From day one, I’ve been myself. I might’ve used a different last name, but everything we did and what you mean to me is real. I love you, and I’ll do anything for you to forgive me.”
She turned her back on me, and huffed. “Right now, I need to be alone. I can’t think straight. It’s too much all at once.”
As much as I didn’t want to leave, I knew I had to respect her wishes. “I’m not giving up on us, Lemon Drop. What we have is real.” I waited for her to speak, but she kept her back to me. I had no choice but to go.
Chapter Thirty
Layla
My eyes burned like fire from crying and lack of sleep. When the sun came up, I was awake to see it. The world I thought I lived in ended up making no sense at all. Everything I believed in was a total lie. My mother was alive, my father was a cold-blooded killer, and I was literally sleeping with the enemy. The man I loved was supposed to kill my father. As much I hated my father for what he’d done in his life, I didn’t want him dead.
I stood at the window, peering out at the sun shining across the dew on the grass and the flowers in the garden. It all shimmered like colorful diamonds. I wanted to see the beauty in the world, and in people, but it was hard when surrounded by darkness.
A soft knock tapped on the door, and I glanced over my shoulder at it, wishing for Bryce but knowing it wouldn’t be him. I didn’t know if I was ready to see him yet, anyway. The door opened slowly, and my mother walked in, still wearing the same black pants and blue silky blouse from last night.
“No sleep for you either?” I asked, my voice raspy and dry.
She shook her head and closed the door. “We had a lot of planning to do.” No doubt it was planning the destruction of my father.
With a heavy sigh, I moved away from the window and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Was Bryce with you?”
She sat down beside me and placed a hand over mine. “Yes.”
“How is he?” I asked.
“Terrible. He’s worried sick about you. Apparently, Peter’s never seen him like that before. Bryce is well-known in the Circle of Justice as being a ruthless assassin. Falling in love with you wasn’t part of his plan.”
Hearing that actually made me smile. “I don’t think I gave him a choice.” I looked over at her. “I pursued him, and he fought me every step of the way. God, I wanted to smack the shit out of him for being a dick.”
That made her laugh. “He’s a good man, Layla. He could’ve already killed your father, but he didn’t, because he was afraid of losing you. When you wanted to run, he went with you and kept you safe, when he could’ve easily left you and went back home to be with his family. He hasn’t seen them in over a year.”
A twinge of guilt tightened in my chest. I’d spent the entire night thinking about anything and everything, and it all boiled down to one thing: I still loved Bryce. Deep down, I had a feeling there was more to his story, but I didn’t want to see it at the time.
“So what’s the plan about Dad?” I asked, trying to get back on track.
She sat up straight, and a dark glint flashed in her eyes, ruthless and strong. “The raid is set for tomorrow. You don’t have to be there, but Bryce and I could use your help.”
“What about Dominic?”
Lips trembling, she turned her focus to the window. “Not a day went by when I didn’t think about you two. Facing Dominic terrifies me. He might see what I’ve done as a betrayal instead of a choice to live.” A tear slid down her cheek. “I love you both so much. I just wish I could’ve gotten this over sooner. It kills me to know I caused you so much pain.”
I didn’t think I could cry anymore, but I was wrong. Wrapping my arms around her neck, I rested my chin on her shoulder. “It was agony being without you, but I understand why you did it. Dominic will understand too.”
She sniffled and turned her head to me. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“Yes. Just promise me you’re not going to leave me again.”
A sad smile spread across her face. “I promise, my darling. Things will be different…better.”
“I hope so,” I murmured.
I let her go, and she wiped away her tears as she stood. “We should probably get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow.” She kissed my cheek and then started for the door.
“Mom,” I called out.
She stopped and faced me. “Yes.”
“Do you know where Bryce is?”
Her eyes twinkled, and she smiled. “Last I saw he was by the pool.”
“Thanks.” I took off past her and heard her laugh the entire time I raced down the hallway. My heart pounded. All I wanted was to see him. I didn’t know whe
re to go in the house, but I ran around until I found the double French doors that led out to the pool. I flung them open, and stepped out…only Bryce wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
“Dammit,” I growled, feeling the impatience well up in my gut. I couldn’t wait another moment to see him.
“Looking for me?” Hearing his voice made my pulse race. I quickly turned around, and there he was, standing in the doorway, looking just as tired as I felt. I ran to him and jumped in his arms, pressing my lips hard to his. He kissed me back and held me so tight I could barely breathe. “Please tell me it’s not over,” he said, resting his forehead to mine.
“Far from it,” I cried. “I’m so sorry I made you leave last night. I just needed time to think.”
He set me down and cupped my face with his hands. “You have a right to be mad at me. There were so many times I tried to tell you the truth, but I was afraid of losing you.”
I placed my hands over his. “I know, and it’s okay. I understand why you did what you did. In a way, you didn’t really keep your identity from me. We were both Chandlers there for a while.” Sliding out of his grasp, I stared up at him. “From this day on, no more lies. I want to know everything about you and your family. I have a feeling they’re not going to be too keen on you being with the daughter of a mafia leader.”
He shrugged. “I don’t care if they are or not. When they meet you, they’ll see who you really are. However, there is something you should know.”
“What is it?” I asked, dreading more bad news.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his wallet and slid out a tiny, wrinkled photo. He handed it to me, and my mouth dropped when I got a good look at it. It was a picture of a man and a woman and four boys, three of which were teenagers and one slightly younger. Two boys of the boys looked exactly alike. One had a smile on his face, sly like a trickster, and the other stared at the camera, serious and regal, like the older brother and their father.
“I can’t believe this. You’re a twin,” I said, staring at him awe. “I can’t imagine someone else out there looking like you.”
I gave him back the picture, and he looked at it, his lips tilting in a sad smile. “Ian and I are completely different. You can see that in this picture. He’s just like my mother, even though he looks like me and our father. This picture is one of the last ones I have of her before she was diagnosed with cancer.”
My heart broke for him. “She was very beautiful,” I murmured. She had light brown hair and kind eyes.
He nodded and slipped the picture back into his wallet. “Yes, she was. She would’ve loved you.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I leaned my head against his chest. “At least now you can see your family again. I know you’ve been away from them for a long time.”
“I will soon. Right now, we have a lot to deal with. We should probably go over the plan for tomorrow.”
I shook my head and listened to his heartbeat. “Not yet. All I want to do is be with you and not think of anything involving strategies, killing, or my father. Just you and me.”
He rubbed his hands down my back. “If that’s what you want, I know exactly what we can do by ourselves.”
My body shivered in anticipation, and I grinned up at him. “Let’s go then.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Layla
The time had finally come. I’d called Dominic and told him that Bryce and I were going to visit the estate, and that we had information he should know. The only people there were him, my father, and Isaiah. The FBI were keeping tabs on Roger and James, ready to take them down when they got the chance.
We all congregated in the library, and it was the first time I’d seen Penelope and the two men who chased Bryce and I that one night. The long-haired one was Travis, and the bald one was Alexander. Michael, my mother, and Peter stood together in the front of the room to explain everything one last time.
Bryce leaned down close to my ear. “Why didn’t you tell me there were secret passageways in the estate?”
I winked. “Because I was going to sneak into your room one night, but it never worked out.”
He smiled and shook his head. “You were relentless back then.”
“I still am.”
My mother smiled at us as Peter finished going over everything. The plan wasn’t that complicated, but it was still very dangerous. My mother shared the hidden tape recordings to the FBI, incriminating my father of numerous heinous crimes. It turned out that he was planning on joining Tony Greco in the human trafficking business. I didn’t know if I’d be able to look at my father again without getting sick.
“All right,” Peter called out. “Everyone’s in place. It’s time to go.” He looked over at us, and Bryce nodded. Was I ready? Bryce and I were the ones who had to go into the lion’s den. It was the only diversion we could think of. Distract my father so that the FBI could take down the security’s computer system and get inside.
My mother walked over to us and pulled me in for a hug. “Are you ready?” she asked.
I shook my head. “How can anyone be ready for this?”
“You’ll do fine, Ladybug,” Michael said, squeezing my shoulder. “It’s time for us to go.”
My mom released her hold and kissed me on the cheek before following everyone out of the library. They all got into their respective cars and waited for Bryce and I to leave. Once we were on the road, they weren’t far behind us.
The closer we got to the estate, the worse my stomach hurt. “What if my dad goes crazy when he realizes what’s going on, and he tries to kill you?” I said, trying not to picture that in my mind.
Bryce reached over and held my hand. “Then I’ll do what I have to, Layla. I know you don’t want him hurt, but a man like your father is unpredictable. I’ve seen a thousand men like him over the years. When they feel caged, they lash out. I’ll have to take him out.”
Closing my eyes, I leaned my head against the window. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
The ride to the estate went by quicker than I wanted. The gate closed in behind us as we drove down the long driveway. In about thirty minutes, a contingent of FBI agents would be storming in, and it’d all be over. My mother had her own way of getting onto the grounds through a hidden door she’d had built into the brick wall when it was constructed. It was like she knew she had to have an escape route in place.
Bryce parked the car, and I looked at my phone. The countdown had already begun. We had twenty-nine minutes left. We got out and walked up to the front door. Dominic opened it, and I rushed straight up to him and hugged him.
It took everything within me not to tell him the news about our mother. I wanted him to know. “At least you’re excited to see me,” he teased, hugging me back.
“You’re my brother, Dom. I’ve missed you.”
“Same to you, sis.” He let me go and held a hand out to Bryce. “Always a pleasure, Collman.”
Bryce shook his hand. “Likewise.”
Isaiah walked through the foyer and nodded at us in passing. He was one of the wild cards in the operation. The goal was to run interference with the video feeds for a few minutes so the FBI could get inside. Once they were in, it’d be over.
“Where’s Dad at?” I asked.
Dominic nodded toward the staircase. “In his study. You ready to see him?”
I held onto Bryce’s hand. “Yep. We have something to tell you both.”
Dominic started for the stairs, and glanced back at us, grinning down at my stomach. “You pregnant?”
“No,” I gasped. “Definitely not that.” I narrowed my eyes. “Why? Do I look it?”
Dominic laughed and held his hands up. “Hey, I had to ask. If you’re coming here to tell us something, it must be huge. I’m surprised you didn’t just tell me over the phone.”
“It’s something you need to hear in person.” And see, I thought to myself. He was about to find out just how huge our announcement was. It was lifechangi
ng. The door to my father’s study was open, so we walked right on in after Dominic. My father had his back to us, staring out the windows toward the field.
“Feels like I’ve waited forever for you to come see me, cara mia.”
And just like that, the burn behind my eyes came back with a vengeance. It was so hard to imagine him being the monster that I knew he was. But I couldn’t lie to myself about him any longer. “I’m sorry,” I said. “Bryce and I went to Wyoming and California for a while. It was good to get away.”
He turned around and stared at us both with a small grin on his face. “Glad things are working well for you two.”
I nodded. “They are. I’m also going to begin working again, once I find a place to start my law firm.”
“Is that the big announcement you were supposed to tell us?” he asked, narrowing his gaze curiously at us.
Bryce squeezed my hand, and I looked up at him, my resolve hanging by a thread. My phone vibrated in my back pocket, signaling that my mother and Michael were in place. Heart thundering in my chest, I swallowed hard and took a deep breath.
“No, it’s not,” I answered, looking straight into my father’s gray eyes. “Bryce and I know who killed Julian and Adrian Cartwright at the gala.”
His gaze hardened. “And the same person who shot me?”
I nodded. “Yes. Before I tell you who, you should know that Julian did have plans to abduct me, just like his family did with Penelope. Luckily, he was taken care of before that could happen.”
Dominic stepped forward. “How do you know all of this?”
“Penelope,” I said, letting Bryce’s hand go.
“Penelope?” my father said, sounding confused. “Last I heard, she was still missing.”
“Maybe it’s because she doesn’t want to be found. I don’t want to imagine what my life would be like right now if the Cartwrights had taken me.”
My father growled. “They’d all be dead. I never would’ve let them have you.”
The pain in my chest grew sharper. “And I know that’s the truth, Daddy. I’ve never doubted your love for me, but you’re not who I thought you were.”