Page 74 of Redemption
“Of course I am. Do you think he could stop me from coming?” Marco asks with a grin. “He’s my brother, and I’ve already seen a glimpse of his world. He needs me. He doesn’t even know why he needs me, but he does.”
“Only if you’re truly prepared for the potential consequences of that decision.”
Alessandro lifts his chin even higher than his younger son’s. “Marco’s life has prepared him perfectly for this, even those choices of which I did not approve. I taught him to shoot and shoot accurately. We are both deadly at short and long range. This was simply a hobby, but in your world, it could mean the difference between returning home and not.”
“But—”
“No buts,” Francesca says, stopping Lachlan from adding any counterarguments. “If there is a chance that Marco accompanying you will bring you home safely to all of us, then how could he not go with you?”
I know Lachlan and Marco have already discussed Marco going with him, and I agree with the decision, even if my agreement feels a bit selfish. But now, it seems like my husband is having second thoughts. He looks around the table, his gaze stopping on me.
“Keira, how do I make them understand that this isn’t a game? That maybe Marco should stay back with the family?”
All eyes turn to me. I take a deep breath and reach out to squeeze his hand.
Lachlan’s right. They have to know what Marco could be walking into, and the only way I can do that is to lay everything out as simply and as truthfully as possible.
“Your son is the king of the criminal underworld in New Orleans. He’s feared, and he’s loved. He has greased more palms and broken more laws than anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t know why this Federal Agent DuFort has it out for him, but taking down Lachlan Mount is probably the quickest way to make his career in law enforcement. Whoever could achieve such a feat will likely get all sorts of medals and commendations and awards for doing it. We all know there’s a chance he might not come back, and while I don’t want to focus on the negative, if Marco goes with him, there’s a chance he might not come back either. If he goes, there’s a chance you could lose both your sons. Is that a chance you’re willing to take?”
Stating it bluntly makes me realize exactly why we all want Marco to go. Without Marco, Lachlan might not have a chance.
And I know what they’re going to say before they say it.
“I’m going.”
“He’s going.”
“They both go.”
“You’re all insane,” my husband says, releasing my hand and bringing both his palms to his face. “How could you?—”
“For love. For hope. For a chance that you both return. Sometimes, you have to lay it all on the line and trust in the power that has protected you this far,” Francesca starts, her tone inviting no further arguments. “You would never have believed the faith that I have kept all these years. And by your return, that faith has become a knowingness deep in my soul that God did not spare you, only to take you both from us. You both go. You both return. Then, we shall celebrate like we have never celebrated before. You cannot change this, my son. You both go. You both return. Of that, I have no doubt.”
Where Lachlan’s mother gets her faith and soul-deep knowingness, I have no idea, but I definitely want to get some for myself. I suppose after over forty years of praying when nearly everyone else gave up hope, you learn things that others don’t understand.
“As long as you’re all aware of the risks,” Lachlan says as he capitulates.
“I am more than aware of the risk I am taking. I’ve already lived in your life, as brief a time as it was, brother. Without me, you are walking into a lion’s den alone. That is not something I will ever let happen as long as there is breath in this body.” He gives me a nod. “We leave at dawn. We’re taking a different plane. Different tail numbers. Nothing to alert anyone to the fact that you’re returning. This must all be done precisely in order to ensure our safe return.”
Lachlan stares across the table at his brother, as if stunned by his statements. “How can you possibly be ready for this?”
Marco shrugs. “I have been preparing my whole life for this moment. Whether I knew it or not, that is the truth. Every single experience I’ve had has made me the perfect man to have at your back as we free you from your past so that you can live your future. This is the moment I was made for, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lachlan
“My family’s insane. Nuts. They don’t get it. They don’t understand what I’m dealing with. They don’t understand the risks,” I say to Keira after we’re alone in our room with Aurora playing on the bed.
Earlier, I saw the advantages to having Marco come with me. He’d been extremely helpful to have as backup before. But now that I’ve spent time with my family, I can’t bear the thought of my parents losing both sons. It seems wrong to allow him to come with me on what might very well be a suicide mission.
“Oh, I think they definitely understand the risks, but they’re willing to bet on you and Marco rather than on failure.”
“Insanity.”
“Or they have trust in life that you don’t.”
I stare at my wife incredulously. “You agree with them? You really think he should come with me?”
