I faced forward, catching Hudson’s eyes, and I knew that look. He was concerned about me. And well, fuck, he had good reason to be. My son is out there alone, heading into enemy territory. New driving skills and no idea what he was up against.

“There’s no way the Sicilians are in league with those mercenaries,” I said with conviction.

“Listen to Constantine. I just got off the phone with Giuseppe myself.” My father joined in, having my back. And if he was listening in, was Juliette as well? “I can assure you he’s not involved. He’d never cross us. Think outside the box.”

“Dad, this can’t be a coincidence,” Izzy told him, and I took a deep breath as the pieces clicked into place.

“It’s not a coincidence,” I confirmed. “Someone wanted us to see that footage, and those men from the garage were unknowing sacrificial lambs. That’s why they sent amateurs.” Taking my father’s advice to broaden our horizons, I unloaded the rest of my theory: “The mercenaries knew they’d never be able to get Colin away from me out in the open. They couldn’t send a small army to a public place. It was all a setup for tonight. A diversion. Pitting us against the Sicilians. They’re hoping we show up and start a war with them. And while we’re distracted with them, Colin will wind up a million miles away from me.” The blood drained from my face as it hit me. “Because Colin won’t make it to the location they sent to him. They’re going to intercept him.”

“What?” Juliette shot out in panic, confirming she was listening.

Before I could say anything to comfort or reassure her, I overheard my mom urging her from the room and out of earshot of our call.

Tension coiled tight beneath the surface, and bile rose in my dry throat.

“They don’t need you alive for their plan with Sebastian to succeed as long as Easton’s still involved,” Izzy added, following along, and I wished I wasn’t right this time. “He was their original target for the deal. You were an unexpected issue for them.”

“He’s stopped moving,” Alessandro gritted out.

Despite my best efforts not to, I couldn’t help but fall back into parent mode, terror grabbing hold of me.

“We’re right on the ass of the SUV. He’s a block away,” Alessandro alerted as Hudson slowed down so we could locate the Suburban Colin stole. “It’s parked somewhere here, but . . . fuck. His phone went offline.”

I secured a firm grip of the Ruger on my lap, as if its lethal familiarity would keep me from getting sick. “Whoever baited Colin must assume we’re not far behind. They won’t risk us seeing his abandoned SUV. They want us to reach that final location where the Sicilians are.”