Page 23 of Revealed

We pull into the airfield and park right outside the private plane that will take us to the island we’ve been hiding on for the past month. There were connections I made in my life that allowed me to secure safe travels, but anxiety follows me everywhere. I can’t let my guard down knowing someone could betray me on Ashton’s behalf. My heart doesn’t calm down until we’ve taken off and are above the clouds, away from danger. This past month has been a journey to say the least. In the planning before we left, I secured a beach house on an island not known to many. Francesca doesn’t leave the island, as everything we could need is there, but this trip is my first of many to the mainland. We realized quickly that if I was going to go after Kennedy, I would need to build my own name in the criminal world. Be as ruthless as Ashton, become a thorn in his side until I find a way to my girl.

I take a deep breath and begin planning out how to gently update Francesca that Kennedy is safe but is being made to believe she’s dead. What could possibly be Ashton’s end game with telling this to Kennedy? Is this all to make her fall in line with the training to take over the empire? All we can do now is wait.

The sizzle of food greets me as I enter our new home. I kick off my shoes at the door before scooping them up and going in search of Francesca. Passing through the kitchen, I spot Maria at the stove. In a last-minute decision, Francesca’s mother decided to go on the run with us. The tension between Maria and I has reached a fever pitch, but having her here means I’m not leaving Francesca alone when I need to handle business.

“How is she today?” I ask, hoping that Franny is having a good day.

Maria turns, assessing me with the narrowed gaze she seems to reserve just for me. She doesn’t like me and I don’t fault her for that. My good intentions have driven her only child into a–hopefully temporary–mute state and left her only grandchild trapped with a psychotic drug lord.

“Well, she didn’t fight the idea of bathing and getting herself ready for the day, but she’s spent most of her time writing in that journal,” she answers dismissively. “Did you see Kennedy?”

Her eyes light up with fragile hope.

“Yes. She was with Kathy and Nathan. They all looked safe and healthy,” I answer honestly.

“What aren’t you telling me?” she prods, seeing right through my carefully crafted words.

“I need to speak with Francesca first,” I say, moving past the island to the staircase.

“Michael!” she snaps.

I pause, dropping my head, not wanting to give her more bad news and additional reasons to hate me. But in the end, the desire to ignore her and keep walking doesn’t override the need to be truthful.

“Today, Ashton Rose had a funeral for Francesca. Kennedy and Nathan now believe that she is dead,” I say softly. “Francesca deserves to know, but I’m scared of how she will take this news.”

Maria gasps, her eyes widening as her hands go to her mouth. Her reaction makes me even more apprehensive of telling Francesca.

“You can’t tell her,” Maria whispers.

Chapter Fourteen

MichaelEllis

Undisclosed Location – 2025

The sound of waves crashing against the shore is a calming balm for my scattered thoughts. The last day on the island never fails to assault me with a spectrum of emotions. This time’s no different. Over the years I’ve learned that sticking to a routine helps me feel in control of my day. So, I’m the first person awake in the house, up with the sun. Starting my day with coffee and quietness, I ground myself in the purpose of why I do what I do.

When I was younger, making enough money to care for my mother was all that mattered. After she passed, I was alone, so making enough money to care for myself and live my life how I wanted was the goal. Then Francesca entered my life and with her came Kennedy. My world firmly sat on the axis of their existence. It’s been twenty years since Ashton took my daughter away from me. Even with my baby girl being half a world away, every decision I’ve made has been to get her back and keep her mother safe.

Ashton had us at more of a disadvantage than we were prepared for. If we would’ve gotten out with Kennedy and Nathan, we could’ve gone into hiding and lived our lives in peace. Instead, I had to find a way to keep Francesca and her mother safe while I made moves, making my own name in the criminal underworld. There was no way I would be able to get to Kennedy without that kind of power, money, and loyalty behind me. The only problem was that Ashton already had those advantages with the empire ready and waiting for him to step into his role as leader. I had to start from scratch and watch from the sideline as he manipulated Kennedy.

She believes that her mother died the night we left that house. What’s worse, she is convinced that I was the cause of her death. The most painful lie of all is that she believes Ashton Rose is her father. That hurts worse than knowing she wants to kill me. My desire to create a better life for both of my girls put us in this fucked up situation. Francesca and I have watched her hate for me grow as she suppressed the grief she felt for her mother. Francesca’s worst fear was Kennedy being forced into a loveless marriage, but the reality of Kennedy’s future has been much worse. Watching Ashton manipulate her into a killing machine, cold hearted and ruthless like him, has been a nightmare.

My pencil moves across the paper quickly as I sketch the bird that landed on the railing in front of me. Even after all these years, the act of guiding graphite across paper quiets my brain, if only for a short time. The vibration from my phone on the table beside my lounger breaks my concentration. My head of security back in Georgia appears on my screen and I answer immediately, considering the time.

“Ellis,” I snap out quickly.

“Boss, we have a movement on Kennedy and Nathan.” Hedoesn't hesitate to jump right into business. “We have a location where they will be living outside of the city. A two-year lease was signed.”

“And Ashton?” I ask, sitting up and setting my drawing aside.

The man has never lived permanently anywhere other than the Rose compound, and I doubt he would change that now. Intel has informed us that the Rose estate in Georgia is up and thriving, but I use every chance I can to fuck with his business. He knows I’m watching and waiting for my chance to strike. He has lived up to his reputation in attacking me back over the years. I’ve even gotten reports of how close Kennedy has come to confronting and possibly killing me but was always stopped at the last stage of her plans. Ashton’s keeping her on a tight leash. To this day, I still don’t know his end game.

“We’ve only spotted Kennedy and Nathan here. Our undercover contact hasn’t reported that Ashton is on the move.”

“Keep one of ours on them. Especially Kennedy. Don’t be seen,” I demand.

“Boss, there’s more. We’ve been clued in that they’re running recon on Antonio Garcia.”