Feathers and Thorne Series Books 1 - 3: The Complete Collection

Chapter Forty

Carter

I slam my hands against the table hard enough to make it rattle. “What the fuck do you mean our man on the inside has disappeared?”

Paul winces and takes a step back. “I’ve tried all the usual methods to contact him, but nothing.”

I sweep everything off the table, and a few cups shatter, sending shards in every direction. Abruptly, I push myself away from the table and begin to curse.

How in the hell are they still one step ahead of me? Even with a man on the inside, feeding us information about their next moves?

Without him, we’re going to have to go in blind, and I don’t like our odds. I don’t fucking like them one bit. We’re already drawing too much attention to ourselves, and with the police in the mayor’s back pocket, I know they’re circling us.

How long is it going to be before they come knocking?

The only thing keeping them at bay is the knowledge of what’ll happen if they target us directly. While the police might be in the mayor’s back pocket and on his payroll, I know the chief of police isn’t stupid enough to go after me directly.

Or any of my men.

Because he knows the Blackthornes have ties beyond the borders of the city. Unless he wants fire and brimstone to rain down on his precious city, the chief of police is going to keep turning a blind eye and find excuses to let me off the hook.

Even as the pile of dead bodies grows.

I’ve already lost too many of my men to consider this a sweeping victory.

Right now, we just barely have the upper hand, but I know it won’t be long until our enemies throw something else at us. I’ve spent all week fending off attacks from the Philipses and the Natoris, just barely keeping them at bay. As for our dear mayor, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him, and I know exactly why.

When push comes to shove, Mayor Hughes is a fucking coward. This might be the only good thing he’s ever done for me.

And I know that he’s hunkering down in his fortress and waiting to see who emerges victorious. When the smoke clears, and he’s left to clean up the debris, Mayor Hughes will be free to claim victory for himself and clean up the city for his constituents. After that, it’ll be a matter of allying himself with the winner.

Fucking asshole.

I should’ve taken care of all of them before this spiraled out of control.

When I spin around to face Paul, he’s eyeing me warily, and his hands are clenched into fists at his side. “Find me another man on the inside. I don’t care what it takes, and I don’t care how much it costs. We need to stay ahead of them.”

And I need to know what Rich is planning next. Because a man like that doesn’t just disappear.

As soon as Paul leaves the room, I fish my phone out of my pocket and dial Tristan. He answers on the second ring, and I hear Isabella’s voice in the background.

It soothes some of the anger pumping through my veins. “Has anything happened? Are you safe?”

Tristan pauses. “We’re safe. Isabella wants to talk to you.”

Before I can protest, her voice comes on, and I have to press my head against the nearest wall. “You have no idea how much I fucking miss you, dove.”

“Carter, I miss you too. When am I coming home?”

“I don’t know yet. There’s still a lot of shit that needs to be taken care of, and I don’t want you here until it’s safe.”

Isabella exhales, and I hear her footsteps. Moments later, I hear a door open and close. When her voice comes back on, it’s clearer than before and filled with sadness. “I wish you were here.”

“Just pretend that I am,” I tell her in a husky voice. “Pretend I’m behind you right now, running my fingers over your soft skin and kissing the back of your neck.”

Isabella’s sigh is full of longing and yearning. “I can feel you.”

“Can you feel me pressing myself against your back? Can you feel how much I miss you?”

Isabella makes a low noise, and it’s all I can do not to snatch my keys off the counter and race to her. I imagine pressing on the gas and speeding past all the traffic lights and all the traffic until she’s in my arms. Then, I see myself kicking down the front door and taking her into my arms.

I need to feel her.

I need to taste her.

“Imagine me tying your hands together,” I continue in a thick voice. “Are you imagining it?”

“Yes.” Isabella’s voice is low, breathless, and full of hunger. “I’m imagining myself pressed against the wall in your study, completely naked, while you stand behind me.”

I release a harsh breath. “I had no idea you were so good at this, dove. What other hidden talents do you have?”

Isabella lets out a low moan. “You could come over here and find out.”

I groan. “Don’t tempt me, dove. I want to bend you over and fuck you so badly.”

Before she can respond, the door to the dining room opens, and Paul emerges. I wheel around to face him and give him an angry look. A few more men linger in the background, all of them waiting for our next plan of action. With a frown, I stand up straighter and clear my throat.

“We’ll finish this later, dove. Enjoy yourself for me.”

Without waiting for a response, I hang up and shove the phone into my pocket. In silence, I motion for everyone to spread out, and they take up their usual spots around the dining room table. For the rest of the afternoon, we discuss one plan after the next, trying to find a way out of the labyrinth that’s been created.

Without someone feeding us information, I’m all too aware of our blind spots.

Because of our consistent barrage of attacks, the Philipses and Natoris have closed in on themselves and hunkered down. Every warehouse and every safehouse they have is now heavily guarded, leaving us with fewer areas to attack. A part of me races to find a solution and think of a way to draw them out.

Another part of me wonders if it might be time to broker a treaty.

Before disappearing, Paul’s inside man was convinced they were going to reach out to discuss the terms of surrender on the condition that we stop attacking them. Unfortunately, in the two days since, there’s been nothing but silence. They’ve even stopped going after my businesses directly.

I have no idea what they’re planning, but I know it can’t be good. How can it possibly be?

“Since they haven’t reached out to discuss a truce, we’re going to keep hitting them,” I announce, pausing to let my eyes sweep over the room. “We’re going to keep attacking for every Blackthorne man who has given his life for this war because those sons of bitches need to learn who they’re messing with.”

Blackthorne isn’t just a name. It’s a reputation, and I’m not going to rest till the streets of the city are soaked with their blood.

After reviewing a few more details, I gesture to Paul, who waits until everyone leaves. “We need to find fucking Donahue. Even if we manage to beat the Philipses and the Natoris, it won’t mean anything unless every last threat is taken care of.”

Paul nods. “Do you want me to increase the bounty?”

I shove my hands into my pockets. “Change the terms of the bounty. Make sure that every hitman out there knows that Rich Donahue is wanted dead or alive.”

***

Isabella

“I know you’re cheating.” I throw my cards onto the table and fold my arms over my chest. “I just haven’t figured out how you’re doing it. But I’m going to kick your ass when I find out.”

Tristan lifts the beer bottle up to his lips. “I’m not cheating, Isabella. You’ve got a terrible poker face.”

“I do not,” I insist with a shake of my head. “You’ve just had more practice.”

Tristan takes a long swig of his beer and sets it on the table between us. “I keep trying to teach you, but I don’t think going fish is your thing.”

“Maybe Texas hold ’em or something.”

Tristan snorts. “Are you trying to stroke my ego or something? Whatever you want, the answer is no.”

I push my chair back with a screech. “I honestly don’t know how Sam can stand to be around you. You’re a pain in the ass.”

“It’s exactly why she likes me,” Tristan replies with a quick grin. “Can you get me another bottle?”

I step into the kitchen and roll my eyes. After retrieving the bottle of beer from the fridge, I grab the pitcher of iced tea. Then I pour myself a generous amount and eye Tristan over the rim. He has his chair pushed back, his gun on the table, and is scrolling through his phone. From where I’m standing, I can see the security camera footage.

Tristan has everything set to maximum security. It doesn’t make me feel safer. If anything, it makes me feel more trapped.

“You could stop staring and ask me what you want to know,” Tristan says without looking up. “This is a state-of-the-art security system. Carter had it installed after the last time we were here. The barbed wire, too. It’s electric and programmed to render anyone useless.”

“How do you turn it off?”

“Biometric scan, fingerprint, and voice recognition. The works.” Tristan places the phone down and looks up at me. “You and the baby are as safe as you’re going to be, Isabella. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

I choke on my drink and sputter. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I know you’re pregnant.” Tristan holds his hand out, and I bridge the distance between us. After handing him the bottle, I lower myself into the chair across from him.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice the throwing up, the weird food cravings, and the vitamins you ordered?”

“I thought you’d give me a little privacy,” I grumble, mostly to myself. “Or are you going to be hovering over everything I do?”

Tristan has the good sense to look apologetic. “I got worried when I noticed how often you were throwing up. Then I watched you and put two and two together. I take it Carter doesn’t know?”

I take a long sip of my iced tea. “I left him a note. He should find out when he goes home.”

“He’s been spending all his time at Anita’s,” Tristan replies between sips of his drink. “I don’t think he can stand to be in the house without you there.”

“That makes two of us.” I sit up straighter and set my glass down. Then, I link my fingers together and clear my throat. “Have you told him yet?”

“No, and I’m not going to. It’s not my business.”

“You didn’t seem to have a problem getting involved before.”

Tristain winces. “Fair enough. I know I fucked up, Isabella. I’m not going to do that again. For the record, I didn’t have anything against you. I just didn’t like how Carter acted around you.”

“And now?”

Tristan exhales. “Now, I know you’re here to stay, so I might as well make peace with it.”

It’s not the ringing endorsement I’m hoping for, but it’s the most I’m going to get from Tristan.

For now.

I can’t expect anything else, given our history.

Tristan takes a long sip of his drink and sets it down. “For what it’s worth, I think that is one lucky kid. You’re both going to be great parents.”

I raise an eyebrow. “So, you think Carter will want to be a part of the baby’s life?”

Tristan pauses, and his expression turns thoughtful. “It’s hard to say, but yeah. I think he will, and it’s going to make him more insufferable.”

His words ignite a spark of hope inside of me.

And the warm feeling stays as I climb up the stairs and turn in for the night.