Page 46 of His Playground

It’s then that I realize something… and it scares the absolute crap out of me. I can’t protect my heart from this man, because he already owns it. He always has.

I turn and walk out of the room, because I need space. I pick up my phone and see a message from my dad.

Dad:

We need to meet. Lunch tomorrow. Come alone.

Chapter Nineteen

“Any luck tracing the plates?” I ask Sammie as I push my way into Louie’s office. I scan the room. There are a dozen men in here.

“Not yet,” Sammie says. “How’s Jazzy?”

“She seems fine. Which probably means she isn’t, right?” I look from him to Louie.

“No idea, man. I don’t know shit about kids,” Sammie replies.

“She will be fine. We’ll make sure of it,” Louie tells me. “Now, let’s find out who’s trying to kill you before they actually do it.”

“Yeah, probably a good plan.” I nod as I make my way over to the wet bar. I fill a glass with Cinque, swallow the liquid gold, and slam the tumbler back down on the table.

I have five guys stationed outside the elevator to the penthouse. It’s not enough, though. I can’t stop thinking that something is going to happen to my daughter or my wife when I’m not with them. How the fuck do people do this caring about others shit? I’ve never had so much to lose before.

“Did you get an ID from any of the cameras out front?” I press.

“Whoever it was, they were covered. This wasn’t amateur,” Louie says. “But wewillfind them, and then we’ll show them exactly who they’re messing with.” The smile he gives me is lethal. I’ve seen it before. He drops it when his phone rings. He looks down before he holds the screen up. Emmanuel’s name flashes across the top. “E, now’s not a good time,” he answers it on speaker.

“It usually isn’t when you’re being attacked. What do you know about the shooter?”

“We’re handling it,” Louie says.

“That’s not what I asked. Someone took a shot at my niece. I want to know who it was.” Emmanuel’s voice is firm. He’s pissed.

But so am I.

“We’re tracing the plates now,” I tell him. “We will find the fucker.”

“Not if I find him first,” he grunts right before cutting the line.

Louie chuckles. “Game on,” he says. “I’m going to find him. You should go home. Make sure your daughter is okay.” He looks directly at me.

“Have you lost your mind? I’m not leaving. I’m going to find this fucking asshole and tear his limbs from his body!” I yell.

Louie remains calm, though.Typical.“Carlo, your daughter’s well-being is the top priority, as it should be. We got this. Go home.”

I have no doubt that neither of 'em will sleep until they find the asshole, but how can I just go sit on my ass when someone could have killed my daughter?

“She could have been hit,” I tell him.

“I know,” Louie replies.

“We’re going to find him,” Sammie repeats. “I’ll call you as soon as we do. You don’t need to be here for the details. Just the result.”

“Fine, but I want to know as soon as you find him.” I point from one to the other.

Louie is on a personal mission to find this guy before Emmanuel does. Although with E’s resources, which vastly outnumber ours, I don’t know how successful the bossman is going to be.

I find Antonia in the living room, textbooks sprawled out around her, while Jazzy is asleep on the opposite sofa. “How long has she been out?” I ask, keeping my voice low.