Page 45
My leg is in bad shape, but everything else is fucked up too.
My thoughts are spinning in every direction.
Heart thudding in my chest. Stomach feels like it’s full of sour bile that will come up at any second.
Felt something like this when my sister went missing.
And I’m sure Massimo isn’t doing any better. He’s been through this before.
“We’re going to find them,” I say firmly, unsure if I’m trying to reassure Massimo or myself. “If they took them alive, they did it for a reason.”
“Which means they left Rowan alive for a reason, too,” Massimo growls. “They wanted us to know it was them.”
“They could be setting a trap,” I muse.
“Yeah,” Massimo sighs. “And we’ll have no choice but to walk right into it, if that’s what it takes to get them back.”
I nod in agreement. I don’t care if it’s a trap. I don’t care who or what is standing between me and the woman I love.
I’ll take on Solitude, their mercenaries, and the entire Bratva alone, if that’s what it takes. And God have mercy on their souls, because I sure as fuck won’t.
The doctor stitches me up. I did some damage, but it’s nothing serious, since I was already starting to heal. It’ll just delay things a little. I decline the pills. I don’t want anything to cloud my judgment. The pain is a good distraction, anyway.
“Still nothing?” Massimo shouts, jerking a monitor off the wall in our war room and hurling it across the room. Two Capos have to move out of the way to avoid getting hit. “I need some fucking answers!”
“We’re trying, boss! We’re doing everything we can!” Dante says, then he bolts from the war room before Massimo directs more anger his way.
It’s been twenty-four hours since Lea and Sarah were taken.
I haven’t slept a wink. I’m still simmering with rage.
There’s a half dozen empty coffee cups in front of me.
Two empty disposable vapes are crushed beside them, and I’m going to need another one soon, because the one in my hand is almost finished too.
I look up and see Cadence standing in the doorway, holding her laptop. She looks terrified, probably because she heard the monitor get thrown across the room. Or maybe because Massimo is snapping at everyone right now, even me.
“Do you have something?” I ask, motioning to Cadence. I keep the edge out of my voice, because I know she’s just trying to help. “Talk to us.”
“It may be nothing, but the guys in the Waldorf Astoria were using frequency maskers, just like you do,” Cadence says hesitantly. “Except yours had a flaw in them, and I was able to decode them before.”
“Yeah, then you fixed it, and nobody can track us now,” Massimo says. “I know all of this.”
“Except Solitude’s jammers still have the same vulnerability,” Cadence says. “They haven’t been updated. I’ve been able to decode some of the footage from the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria. Like I said, it isn’t much, but if you want to see it…”
“Show me!” Massimo demands, clearing a spot on the table.
Cadence walks over and puts her laptop down, then turns the screen to us. There are four angles, and we watch the men in black storm the lobby. Our guys trade shots with them, but Solitude has the element of surprise.
“No audio?” I question, leaning forward.
“No,” Cadence answers. “Just the video.”
Massimo slams his fist into the table when we watch Lea get dragged away after they use some sort of device to scan her face. I see Cadence get shot with a dart and she grimaces, looking down and rubbing the spot where it imbedded in her neck.
Then I see Sarah. Even though I know this is old footage, I feel close to her. Like she will walk through the door at any moment. Except that’s impossible. The bastards scan her face, then drag her away, just like they did Lea.
“When everything happened with Erica, you were able to track us by using traffic cameras.” Massimo leans forward. “Any chance you can do that again?”
“No, I’m sorry,” Cadence sighs. “After I took all the cameras offline, they hired a firm to update the software.”
“What about the group you recommended?” Massimo growls. “Anything they can do? I’ll hire them. I’ll fucking pay them three times what they normally get.”
“A few of them are already trying to help. They really don’t like Solitude,” Cadence says. “But I’ll get the word out that you’re paying. You’ll pay in crypto, right?”
“I’ll pay in pints of Solitude blood, if that’s what they want,” Massimo snarls.
“Money is no object, Cadence,” I mutter, downing more coffee. “Just find these motherfuckers.”
“I can’t sit here any longer,” Massimo barks, slamming his hand on the table. “Call me if we get any new information.”
“Where are you going, boss?” I ask.
“I’m going to hit the streets,” Massimo answers. “Somebody has answers. I know they do.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” I grimace as I shove myself to my feet.
Massimo doesn’t argue, so I follow him.
I’m not sure if we’ll find any answers, but anything is better than sitting on my ass, worrying about what could be happening to the woman I love right now.
Table of Contents
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- Page 45 (Reading here)
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