“Is Willow okay?”

“For now. She went into labor on the way to the hospital, but they stabilized her. Someone found her alone on the ground,” he growled. Dash rarely ever lost control, but right now, he seemed to barely hold onto it. “This is the second time she’s fucked with what’s mine. I want that bitch dead.”

Well fuck.

I hung up with Dash and made it to LA with about six hours to spare. When Di opened the door. I didn’t bother with a greeting and shoved my way inside. “If you’re looking for your girlfriend again, she’s not here, and I’d appreciate more than just a knock the next time you show up at my door—you know…like a hello?”

“You’re mother is coming and she has Lake.” Her mouth opened and closed, but then she chose to remain silent. She closed and locked the door as if she didn’t know the real danger wasn’t already inside.

I heard the catch in her throat. “How did she find me?”

“She needs Lake to lead her here.”

“Lake won’t tell her where I am.”

“I know. That’s why I’m going to tell her to.” It was highly unlikely that she would still have her phone, but I sent the message anyway just in case. If she got it, she’d follow her instincts.

“She’s not after me. She’s after the money, you know.”

“I know.”

“What are we supposed to do when she finds out that most of it is gone? Keenan and I spent it years ago. He built his shop, and I made daddy pay me back for each time he made me spread my legs.”

“She’s not going to ever get to the money because she’s not leaving here alive.” I hated waiting, but it was all I could do. There was a lot of highway between here and Nevada.

“You can’t kill her.”

I faced her and saw that she was completely serious. “Why not?”

“She’s my mother?” she answered sarcastically.

“She was an incubator, not a mother, and there are a lot of people who want her dead.”

“I don’t care. I can’t watch my mother die the same day I meet her.”

“She kidnapped my girlfriend and attacked her friend for the second time, and you expect me to let her live?”

“I’m not saying she has to get away. We could just call the cops.”

“I’m not calling the fucking cops.”

She was starting to piss me off and I actually began to debate killing her as well as I wondered if Di was really friend or foe. Her mother likely came to do her harm, yet she wanted to protect her.

“Are you going to be a problem?” The conversation had taken a dangerous turn.

“Really? You’re threatening to kill me?”

“I’m asking you if I need to.”

“Look, Lake’s my friend, and I don’t want her hurt, but I don’t think I can watch you kill my mother. You killed yours and look how screwed up that made you.”

I pulled out my gun and pointed it at her head. She maintained eye contact even as I threatened her life.

“Answer me.”

“No,” she shouted. It was the only crack in her tough exterior. “I just can’t do this.”

“Then leave.”

“This is my apartment,” she argued.

My patience had run out so much that the threat I spewed next took us both by surprise. “Get the fuck out, or I swear I will bury you beside your mother.”

Fortunately, she was smart enough to know I was completely serious and left.

Six hours later, a knock on the door pulled me away from the window I kept watch through. With my gun at my side, I answered the door to find Esmerelda alone. “Hello, Esmerelda.” Her eyes widened with panic, but then she recovered just as quickly and attempted to pull her gun. I caught it and slammed it against the molding, causing the gun to drop and then threw her inside the apartment behind me. I then slammed the door shut and locked it.

“Why are you here? Where’s my daughter?”

“Your daughter couldn’t watch you die so I sent her away.”

“You’re not going to kill me,” she challenged and smiled. Her eyes shifted wildly around the apartment as she stood to her feet.

“Why the fuck would you think that?”

“Because you’re a slave, and I order you not to. I’m also the closest thing to a mother you have. Can you watch me die?”

Her attempt to mind fuck me was not lost. “Think again. Where’s Lake?”