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“That's awfully nice of you.”
“I needed time to get things ready. Now I’ll take her.” I run a hand down my face.
“And do what with her?”
“That’s not your concern.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter. “How do you think that’s going to work out for you?”
“Again, not your fuckin’ concern.” I can see Church is losing his patience. “I know your girl has been around Angel. The brother is around her. I’m putting you on notice of what he’s capable of. You’re welcome.”
“I’m welcome.” I bark a laugh. “You’ve lost your mind.”
“Long ago.”
I pull out my phone. If Angel disappears without a trace, people will notice. Her father is a senator. Riley will be alone at book club. I know her. She’ll ask me to look into it. But I can’t stop Church. Matteo might be able to, but I doubt it.
“You have the blocker on?” I ask when I see I’ve got no service.
“Shit.” Church reaches under the desk and flips the switch. Both of our phones start going off.
“The fuck!” I shout when I see Riley’s text. I also get an alert for the tracker I have on her.
When she turned eighteen, I left her a birthday gift. It was a necklace with a tear-shaped diamond. Behind the diamond, there was a tracker. I don’t think she even knows it was from me. But she’s been wearing it since then. I don't think she’s tried to take it off either, because the latch locks into place. I would say any guilt I had about putting it on her would now be justified, but I’ve never felt guilt over it. Especially when I see it hanging around her neck, knowing it belongs to me.
“Your girl is over at Angel’s.”
“Are you tracking Riley?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Then how do—” Never mind. He’s probably got eyes on the house. The less I know, the better. “I’ve got to go.”
“The blonde girl and Brent are home.” I hear Church's words from behind me, but I'm already sprinting toward my car. I get in and floor it.
I start spam-calling Riley over and over again. When I can’t reach her, I call Zero.
“Here,” he says when he answers.
“I’m going to pull up to a gate. I need you to open it,” I tell him. He’ll track me and figure it out. I can hear him clicking away. I see the gate in front of me, and it’s already opening. “Cut all camera feeds and clear out the last five hours.” I don’t want anyone knowing Riley was ever there.
“Done.”
“Thanks.” I end the call flying through the gates. I come to a screeching halt in front of the house. Sal jumps out of his car.
“The fuck?” I ignore him, heading into the house. The second I open the door, I hear a scream. My blood turns to ice. I could pick out Riley’s voice anywhere. Fear runs through me for the first time in a long time.
I take off on a dead run, following the sound. When I burst through the bedroom door, I lose my ever-loving mind at the scene in front of me. As I lunge for the motherfucker, everything bleeds red. I don’t stop my attack until Riley is screaming my name and pulling at my arm. It snaps me back to reality.
“Holy fuck.” I hear Sal say something, but my attention goes to Riley. My hand cups her face.
“I’m okay,” she reassures me. I realize there's blood on my hands and now on her as well.
“Take her and go.” Sal says it calmly.
“The warehouse,” I tell him, glancing down at both Brent and the blonde from school laid out cold on the floor. Another scream sounds in the house.
“Angel?” Riley tries to take off, but I snag her around the waist, stopping her. There is no way she is stepping foot out of my sight.