Page 104 of Madness & Mercy

My thumb hovers over the keyboard for a moment too long.

NICO:Not now.

Cross can wait.

Braga’s my only concern.

The typing bubble appears, stops, then reappears.

LUCA:You sure about that?

I clench my jaw. The answer’s already pulsing in my blood.

NICO:Just get your ass here in minutes.

Don’t make me ask twice.

LUCA:On my way.

I toss the phone down and grab my gun. If Braga thinks he can touch what’smineand walk away breathing, he’s about to learn how wrong he is.

Enzo pulls the Maserati around just as Luca strides through the office door, his expression already sour.

“What’s the plan?” he asks, no greeting, no bullshit.

I don’t look up from loading my gun.

“First, we wake up the bastard downstairs and make him an offer—his life for Braga’s location.”

Luca stops dead, scowling. “You seriously think he’ll flip? That piece of shit is loyal. We had to takefour fingersjust to get a damn whisper out of him.”

I slam the magazine in and crack my neck.

“I’ve thought of that. I want Cross to talk to him.”

Luca stares like I just handed him a grenade.

“You wantone hostageto convince another to snitch?” His voice drops. “You out of your fuckingmind?”

I raise an eyebrow.

“You questioning me now?”

He shifts but doesn’t back down. “I’m saying it’s a long shot.”

“I don’tdolong shots,” I growl. “I do wins. And if Cross really worked under Braga like he says, he’s the only leverage we’ve got that might make this guy talk.”

Luca’s jaw tightens. “You sure you’re not letting your obsession with Cross cloud your judgment?”

I step in close, my voice low and cold. “Choose your next words carefully, Luca. Have Ieverbeen wrong?”

He clenches his teeth. “No, sir.”

“Then shut thefuckup and follow orders.” I straighten, checking the safety. “Here’s the deal. You brief Enzo after this. I’ll bring Cross down to the basement, see what else we can squeeze out of our friend. He told me he’s got intel. Might as well make himself useful.”

Luca crosses his arms. “And then what?”

“Then we move.” I tick the plan off on my fingers. “You take the bike, Enzo takes the Benz, Cross and I take the Maserati.”