My family had taken down two Italian crime families here in New York in the last few years, but mafia-types were like cockroaches. Take one out and three came in their place.

“Get up,” I told Colin, stepping around one of the men I’d used as my bulletproof vest. I offered him my free hand, and his gaze darted to my Glock, then up to my face.

I had to remind myself I was a stranger, a guy he’d mugged. He had no clue why I was there or who I really was.

But when he looked over at Jamie next, and I glanced back to see Jamie nod at him, an unexpected flutter of pain filled my stomach. I shook off the hurt and worry, needing to get him to safety. I’d yell at him later.

With Jamie’s permission, Colin stood but rejected my hand.

“Take him in the hall, will you?” I asked Hudson after we’d navigated the room littered with injured, groaning men.

I opened the door and waited for them to step out before turning my attention toward Jamie.

“Tell your boss who I am. And if he doesn’t know me, make it clear to him his life will be much better if it stays that way.”

Jamie stood quietly alongside Daniel, his gaze warily shifting between the Sicilian in charge and me.

Fear, a whole fuck load of it, filled Daniel’s eyes when they met mine.

Yeah, I’ll be coming after you. You better believe it. I let him read the silent warning in my stare before shifting my focus back to Jamie, since he was the one in charge of him. “Stay away from Colin and his mother.” I tucked my 9mm at my back, concealing it beneath my shirt. “If I even find out you’re breathing within a three-block radius of them, I will come for you. And I will kill you. Do you understand me?”

Jamie shoved his hands into his pockets, forehead creasing. His Irish accent cut through the tension as he bit out, “I suggest you tell that kid to stay away from me fuckin’ sister, then.”

11. Constantine

Chapter 11

Constantine

Colin stopped at the top of the stairs, defiant arms boldly crossing his chest.

“Are you hurt? Bleeding?” I snapped out.

“No.”

“Then why the hell are you not moving?”

“I heard what he said to you, and I’m not leaving without Lennon.”

I slapped a hand to the banister, my forty-plus-year-old eyes battling the strobe lights to try and locate this girl he cared about.

I knew he’d never leave without her. I also didn’t obey threats by gangsters, so fuck what Jamie had said. “If she wants to come, then fine.”

“But Jamie⁠—”

“Did you hear me agree with him?”