“I didn’t know what the hell to think. I got these pictures and”—she dug through the pictures—“and this.” She shoved a note in my face.

Your father murdered Geovini. Stay away from Jag, or this all comes out, and your family dies. Tell anyone of this, and the death will be painful.

What would Jag think?

Ice cold rage took over my body through every single cell.

“Any other notes?” I asked.

Catarina laid out several more.

What would Jag think? You think he wants to be with the kid of his father’s murderer?

Mouth closed and stay away from Jag.

Don’t even think of telling your father. He deserves to die for what he did.

Kiera will be the first to die. Keep your mouth shut.

“What in the fucking hell is this?” I rifled through several notes, each one more disturbing than the last. “So some motherfucker is following you, scaring you, and you’ve told no one.” I didn’t need her to clarify it; I just needed the words to come out of my mouth to clarify it for myself.

“Yes. And this whole fucking time, the pictures were fake! I wasted the past three months on this!” Her anger rose to the point that she was screaming, her entire body shaking, and her face was as red as a tomato.

“Why didn’t you tell your father?” My anger matched hers as we started screaming at each other. Not pissed at each other, but needing to get the anger out somehow.

“I thought everyone would be killed! I stayed away from you to keep you safe! I did everything to keep you safe, and it was for nothing!” Catarina paced the room, walking back and forth in a huff. Her hands were balled into fists as she swung them with each step she made. I could tell she was trying to work it out in her head, but I didn’t think she was accomplishing much of it.

I stepped into her path and grabbed onto her waist, pulling her to my body, hers vibrating. She kept her fists at her sides, her forehead crinkled and her brows furrowed. So much was going on in that head of hers, and most of it was her beating herself up over what had happened.

While she was totally to blame for not speaking up, I would keep that to myself for now. She was too raw in that moment, so there was no use adding to it.

“I know now. I’ll find out who this is and take care of it. You need to trust me to do that. Trust your family to do that.”

Her eyes snapped to mine. “What if he tries to kill everyone now? He’ll know it’s out and come after everyone.”

I brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face. “He won’t. We won’t let him. We’ll hire extra security until we find out who this is and take care of it. Trust me to get that all in place.”

She nodded yet didn’t seem convinced. “I want to, Jag. I’ve just been dealing with this for so long now. But I have to say, having someone know is a relief. I couldn’t take it anymore. It was driving me crazy. If someone gets hurt because of this, Jag, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

The fear in her eyes pierced me so deeply it was etched in my soul. While I knew she didn’t know much of the business, I would have hoped she would understand we would take care of each other, but apparently the fear had gripped her a little harder than some. This fucker, whoever he was, seemed to know this and played on it. And I would find out who it was.

I rubbed up and down her back, trying to console her. “It’s all right. I’ll take care of it now.” She shuddered. “I’ve gotta go get some guys on this and talk to Vino and Sal.”

She silently shook her head into my chest. It was not the least bit surprising she didn’t want her father and uncle to know what had been going on right under their noses.

“I’d like you to go up; take a long, hot bath; and climb in bed. Can you do that for me?”

She pulled away and looked in my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Jag. I screwed up.” Tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

I pulled her back to me and kissed the top of her head. Her arms wrapped around my body as I felt her pain as if it was my own.

“I know, baby. Let’s find out who this is. I’ll do anything to keep you safe.” I squeezed her, loving the sensation of her body wrapped in mine and not wanting to leave, even for a moment, but I couldn’t wait. Too much time had already passed, and I needed to get the ball rolling immediately.

“Thank you.”

I pulled slightly away. “All right. I want you to go to your room. I’ll be back in a little while, okay?”

She stared in my eyes, and regret, guilt, sadness, and a vault full of other emotions swirled around them. No wonder she had been such a mess.

I lay my lips softly on hers, giving her a chaste kiss. Anything more at this point and I would be buried so deep in her I wouldn’t be able to figure all this shit out. I needed her like my last breath.

I hadn’t lied; I would do anything to protect her.

Chapter 16

AFTER SETTLING CATARINA, I called an urgent meeting in the rush. With all the shit that had just gone down with Zan, no one was happy about the meeting. As expected, Vino, Sal, and Val went through the roof, beating themselves up for not seeing it. Planning steps immediately took place, and while I had been up close and personal with this one, it was agreed Matteo would take the lead. I was fine with that. He was smarter than shit. With my back up resources to help him, we would find this guy and I needed to focus on Catarina.

Entering the kitchen, I found Dan and Brett waiting.

“I’m going up for the night. Make yourselves comfortable.” I smirked.

“She’s not here.”

Anger flooded my body, and my hands began to shake as heat rose to the top of my head. “What? Where is she?” I growled, heading for the door.

“Said she needed to work off some steam, so she went to the gym. Scraper’s with her.”

Fury boiled over as I dialed Scraper, who confirmed where she was.

“Let’s go. Now!” I yelled at Brett and Dan.

I swore, this woman was not thinking straight. Someone was sending her this shit, and she just left?

Entering the gym, the first thing I smelled was sweat, and lots of it, along with some overzealous users of perfume. While I choked back a gag, I headed to the front desk. The woman was young and cute in that girl-next-door sort of way, but when her eyes focused on me, they widened until they took up half of her head.

As we breezed right past her, she didn’t protest, but she was undoubtedly calling in reinforcements. Scraper had told me Catarina was in back with her trainer, whoever the fuck that was.

Women on treadmills glanced up, smiling, and men lifting weights stopped momentarily as we walked through. I kept my eye on all of them, not knowing who this guy threatening her was. Chances were he was watching.

After checking the wall filled with stair-steppers and two of the classrooms, we headed down a small hall off to the side.

“Again!” the deep sound of a male voice echoed through the hallway as we followed it. “No, your legs are wrong. Let me show you.”

Turning the corner, my eyes narrowed into slits so small I could barely see. The trainer guy stood with his chest pressed up to Catarina’s back. Her legs were spread wide, as if she was doing squats, with her knees bent and feet pointed out from her body. The guy’s hands were on her thighs as he pressed them down toward the blue mat underneath their feet.

“What the fuck?” I snarled, busting into the room.

The trainer was built, but I would fucking take him in a heartbeat just for touching Catarina.

He stopped and stood up, looking at me curiously. “Can I help you, sir?” His voice was calm and self-contained. I wanted to fucking punch him on the spot.