“I don’t know. That’s . . .” Sebastian let his words hang for a moment. “Maybe. I suppose power, or maybe the fear of losing power and money, may be a strong motivator.”

“This was probably supposed to be a simple snatch and grab. Have the Sicilian mafia take you,” Izzy said to Colin, “and then have you transferred to Dublin for the trade. Then she’d orchestrate your save and be the hero.”

The side of Colin’s mouth lifted, eyes shooting to his father. “Then Dad showed up and effed up her plans thanks to Daniel’s lies and mistakes.”

“And with Giuseppe refusing to help her, Aurora had to outsource to those mercenaries to get Colin away from us,” Izzy continued. “She’s gone this far. She probably feels trapped. Like she has to see this thing through to get herself out of the mess she created.”

“I don’t know. Why not just kill her brother?” Enzo asked, speaking up for the first time, then he winced as if regretting the idea had ever crossed his mind.

“You mean, Cain and Abel it out?” Colin threw me for a loop with the unexpected Bible reference.

“Wouldn’t that be a hell of a lot easier to eliminate her competition?” Sebastian asked as if on the same page as Enzo.

“Aurora didn’t want to turn her brother into a martyr,” Izzy whispered, lightly shaking her head. “Or get pinned for his death by her father.”

“But what better way to ruin the image a father has of his son,” Colin said solemnly, eyes moving to his dad as his voice broke, “than for his son to turn out to be a disappointment?”

49. Constantine

Chapter 49

Constantine

“Like hell are you coming with me. That’s not happening,” I said, zipping my bag inside the guest room I would no longer be sleeping in. “I’m meeting Easton and”—I swallowed at the regret pushing up into my throat at this next part—“Carter in Dublin. Not to mention we have The League there for help, so you’re not joining us. End of story.”

Alessandro shut my bedroom door and stood in front of it as if I wouldn’t fight his ass when I was ready to leave. “I need to be there with you.”

“No, you need to get back home to your pregnant wife who could have your baby any minute.” I dropped my bag on the bed and slapped a hand to the side of my neck at the throbbing vein there ready to pop. “There’s only one person getting on that plane who has the Costa last name. Me.”

“Izzy’s coming,” he guffawed.

“She’s an Ashford now.” I winked just to be a dick, but maybe he deserved my anger. He was pissing me off trying to have my six. I didn’t want him leaving his very pregnant wife to help me save my son’s girlfriend.