Page 12 of Dangerous Intent

I placed my hand on Lissia’s shoulder. She turned and gazed at me for a moment, and the sadness in her expression gutted me.

“You have to understand, I don’t freely discuss my business with just anyone, especially not with people outside of my organization,” my father said. “I need you to understand why I did what I did.”

Lissia gulped the vodka, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head when she removed her lips from the glass. My father’s knack for manipulating the situation to remain in control wasn’t lost on me.

He ran his hand along his jaw. “When a prominent member of another family found out his sister had been targeted for an auction, he acted on instinct and murdered Miguel. But if he would have come to me and told me what was going on, I would have protected him.”

“Instead,” Milo said, “he hid this information from us because he feared retaliation.”

My father stood and went to his desk.

I rested my hand on Lissia’s shoulder.

He pulled a file from the drawer and brought it back to the couch. “When Danny put out the word that you would be put up for auction next, I found someone on the inside who could get me the information I needed to find out who had the balls to coerce Miguel to run such an operation in my territory.”

She studied the file my father held “It’s Danny, right?”

“A low-level arms dealer doesn’t have the resources to act alone,” my father said.

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with my father. You found Miguel’s killer, and it led you to Danny. You’re home now. Your sons are alive. Why did you…” She chugged the rest of her drink. “You came to his house. Everyone knew you were responsible. I don’t understand. Are you saying my father is responsible for the trafficking?”

“Lissia.” I rounded the couch and sat next to her. “Let my father finish.”

“This file was given to me by a trusted source,” my father said. “These are text messages between your father and Collins. They were sent a few days ago.”

He handed me the file.

I quickly read the texts, and if Gian wasn’t already dead, I would have blown his brains out myself. I glanced at my father, and he nodded.

“These texts were sent the night we left your father’s house,” I said. “After you tried to call a truce.”

“What do they say?” She peered at the open folder. “What did he do?”

“He signed your death warrant.” I handed her the folder. “He told Danny to set up an auction and offer you to the highest bidder.”

“What? That can’t be…” She read the papers in front of her. “No.”

She dropped the glass she had been holding, and it shattered on the hardwood floor.

“Lissia.” I tried to take the folder, but she tugged it from me.

“He said whoever finds me gets a reward.” Her hands shook. “He told Danny to find the most brutal men to bid on me.”

“That’s fucked up,” Milo muttered.

“That’s enough.” I put my arm around her trembling frame as my father pried the folder from her fingers.

“Those texts were sent a few days before the transaction was made,” my father said.

“What transaction?” Lissia asked.

“A day before Thanksgiving, you were sold to a powerful, ruthless man from South America. He has remained anonymous, but I’ll keep looking for his name. Your father accepted the money a few hours before I intervened.”

Her body shook harder as she slumped against me.

“The bidder wired the money into your father’s account.” My dad tossed the file onto his desk. “Which means if Collins or any of his men get their hands on you, you will belong to this man.”

“I’ll never let that happen.” I held her tight, swallowing my rage. “I promise you.”