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“You say the Russians are probably going to give him a time limit to get one of us, and if he doesn’t deliver—” He gestures a slit throat.
“That’s right.”
“Well, what if we lure him out with an anonymous message that you have his ‘package’?”
I rub my chin.
“You can even take a picture of me tied up.”
“Out of the fucking question. Never leave a trail,” I say.
“He can’t go to anyone with it. The Russians would take his head if they knew the magnitude of his blunder, he can’t go to the cops with it…”
“Hm. What’s something special that only Ferraro would know comes from you? Badge number is too obvious,” I think out loud.
“I’ve got something.” Patrick snaps his fingers. “We can send him a letter with this date.” He rolls the sleeve of his wrinkled shirt, showing a numbered tattoo on the back of his arm. “It was our first big bust when we were only four years on the job. It started our promotions rolling.”
“Alright. That’ll work.” I pace. “We send him that date as proof, tell him to meet alone, and scoop him up? Hm. That means he’ll bring snipers—”
“Ferraro doesn’t have snipers,” Patrick scoffs.
“Just like he doesn’t have enough gall to put his own wife in harm’s way and have you abducted, right?”
Patrick’s face loses its color.
“Who do you think directed the bratva straight to your room? The man is not who you think he is. And he’s not the only one the bratva has on the inside. Trust me when I say,he has snipers.”
Patrick looks at me in awe. “You’re not just some mafia grunt, are you?”
“Did you take me for one?”
“Not really.”
“You want me to make this plain as day for you?” I pace up to him. “Consider me retired special forces. That’s about the equivalent in your world.”
“And I’m captain of homicide. Maybe if you stop with the dick measuring, we can put our heads together and make a decision.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” I grumble.
“Suppose it is.” He leans on the kitchen island.
Just then, Quinn comes down the stairs, dressed this time, with a towel drying her hair. She gasps. “I thought we’re both not allowed up at the same time?”
“Your father had ants in his pants.”
“Ugh. Who even says that?” Quinn starts to flirt, but quickly stops herself. “So… what’s the plan?”
Chapter 21
Quinn
For the past week, Silver’s been a complete gentleman, except for locking us in the basement one at a time whenever he takes the other out. Yeah, we’re back to that. I know he leaves me down there for show because he doesn’t want my father to wonder why I have special treatment. Spoiler alert—I’m falling for this man. And I can’t wait for the day he trusts my father enough to let him roam the house.
Ha, listen to me… acting like a school girl that I never was. What can I say? I’m giddy because I’m in Silver’s new rental, with his thumb caressing my palm as he drives with one hand over the wheel, speedingto our destination—the date he promised me.
Honestly, I’m shocked Dad hasn’t asked if I’m interested in him when we were alone. He could literally be a model—albeit an older one. It’s like David Beckham and Al Pacino had a baby. I guess it has something to do with Silver confessing about his lost family. It was either enough to stop my dad from prying… or he’s scared to pry.
One way or another, it’s going to come out.