I peeked over my shoulder, expecting to find a teasing grin curving his mouth. Instead I found the glint of dark temptation dilating his pupils. His green eyes were a deep jade. I recognized that look. I hadn’t seen it in a while, but that right there was the guy who’d bent me backwards on the island. The man who’d promised pain, indefinite imprisonment, and a thirst for my tears.

Swallowing hard, I scooped some chili into a bowl as he and Jax returned to debating the best way to break into Lucas’ estate without setting off the alarms.

On my way back to the table, the image of my father’s face on TV froze me. The newscaster’s lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. I moved across the room and flipped up the volume.

“…was arrested on charges of corporate conspiracy and embezzlement. Authorities say De Luca—”

“That’s another example of the old man’s power,” Jax said, pointing toward the TV. “He learned De Luca paid off a judge in your trial, so he went after him too. He’s been planning his downfall from the beginning.”

I stared in shock at the image of my father’s face. “That’s why Lucas wormed his way into the business, got on my dad’s good side…wanted to marry me? To ruin us?”

Jax didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to.

Rafe cursed under his breath. “Abbott’s arrest is the only good thing that came out of this.” He crossed the space between us and tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Your father can’t hurt you anymore, and once I find Zach, he won’t be a threat either.” His mouth formed a determined line.

“No.” The idea of Rafe going after my brother terrified me. The moment Zach shot him replayed in my mind. Rafe had lost his memory because of what happened that night. We’d both lost so much. “Let’s just get far away from here. I don’t want you going after Zach.”

I didn’t want him going after Jax’s father either, but I understood why they needed to do it. Those women were still prisoners, their whole lives spreading before them, just out of reach because sick and perverted men saw them as nothing more than possessions.

“Where’s this coming from?” Rafe asked. “After everything that happened, you know as well as I do that Zach won’t give up. Don’t you want him to pay for what he did?” He narrowed his eyes. “Or is it something more? You feel something for him?”

“No!” I blinked, fighting tears. “He shot you. I just…I can’t—”

The newscaster’s voice interrupted, and we both focused our attention on the TV at the mention of Mason Vineyards.