As soon as we’re all safely in the car, I call Lorenzo.
“Yeah?” he barks.
“We got her, Loz. She’s okay. We’re on our way home.”
I hear the deep sigh of relief. “Thank fuck. And she’s okay?”
“Yes.”
“And Viktor?”
“He’s in the trunk. Sedated.”
“I’ll make sure to get a room ready for him.”
“Yeah, do that. And Kat might need to stitch him up a little.” We don’t want the piece of shit to die before we can kill him.
“I’ll let her know. Get her home soon.”
He ends the call, and I sit back against my seat, casting glances at Joey every few seconds to make sure she’s okay.
We’ve been driving for a few minutes when she speaks. I guess the adrenaline seeping out of her body is allowing her some space to think. She sits in the back seat with me, as far away from me as possible. Although I’m burning to touch her, I give her the space she needs.
“Is Ash …?”
“He’s fine. He’ll be in hospital for a few days, but he’ll be okay.”
“Oh, that’s good,” she says with a sigh and sinks back against the seat.
“Henry didn’t make it though, baby.”
She stares at me, eyes brimming with tears. “Henry? No.” She shakes her head.
“I’m sorry.”
She sobs quietly, and I stare out of the window because her body language screams do not touch me, and I’m not getting into a fight with her right now and definitely not in the back of her brother’s car.
“What happened to him?”
“Viktor slit his throat.”
She wipes the tears from her cheeks and glances back at the trunk where Viktor currently lies, sedated. “Evil fuck,” she mutters.
Joey barely speaks for the rest of the journey home, and as soon as we arrive at the mansion, she jumps out of the car and runs to Kat and Anya who stand in the driveway with Lorenzo, awaiting our return.
“Joey!” Kat throws her arms around her, hugging her tight. My girl clings to her, sagging against her sister-in-law, finally showing vulnerability. Anya hugs her too, and the three women stand in the driveway embracing. Tears are shed, but no words are needed.
When they pull apart, Lorenzo tugs his sister away and kisses her head. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She nods.
“Let me deal with this sack of shit.” He nods at Viktor as Dante and I take him from the trunk.
“No. I want to,” Joey insists. “I need to, Lorenzo.”
He nods his understanding. “Of course, but it’s late. Everyone’s tired, and he’s not going anywhere.”
“Kat can stitch up that knife wound. Then we leave him chained in the basement tonight and we can handle him tomorrow,” Dante adds.
Joey opens her mouth to argue but sways on her feet. Kat wraps an arm around her. “Your brothers are right. You need to rest right now, and then tomorrow you can decide what to do.”
Joey looks at her eldest brother. “You won’t do anything without me, will you?”
“No. I swear.”
She glances at me. She’s barely spoken a word to me since she told me she hates me.
“Let him wake up alone and cold and wondering when someone is coming for him and how he’s going to die,” I suggest.
“Okay,” she finally agrees.
