Page 20 of Retribution

I’ve seen him fight and he’s not too bad. He had to have been coerced, right?

How the fuck did this happen?

The sub shop had one video camera in the back alley, but it’s pointed in the wrong direction. It caught the van as it drove away, but that doesn’t help me either. Frowning, I search further out until I find a bank video camera that shows the alleyway.

“I see you,” I grunt, brow raising as I see the pretty girl with slight curves that looks like I could bench press her withoutbreaking a sweat. She’s talking to Lucas, but I can only see her lips moving. “Fuck, it’s too far for me to read your lips. I wonder if they’re as pouty as I think they are.”

Shaking my head at that ridiculous thought, I watch their very short altercation, and the way that she fights with his dead weight to get him into the van.

Picking up the phone, I call Alesso as I watch the video again.

“You’re starting to piss me off, cretino,” he curses as my lips twitch in amusement.

“Would you kiss my dick with that mouth?” I ask. “I tried to be nice, but you refused that option.”

“Oliver…?” he asks. “Why the cloak and daggers? I’m in fucking Italy because of you! Have you been calling and texting me this entire time?”

“I have. It may have saved your life,” I say dismissively. “Or I could just be dramatic. Who’s to know?”

“Why are you talking in circles? Having my number doesn’t give you the invitation to abuse it, Oliver.”

“It is fun though,” I murmur. “Talking to me can have its downsides and I enjoy fucking with you. I think it’s adorable when you’re paranoid.”

“Are you done flirting with me?” he grumbles.

“Maybe,” I drawl. “Lucas was kidnapped. Is that direct enough for you?”

“Way to bury the lead,” he breathes. “What the fuck, Oliver? What happened?”

“A tiny forest nymph that likes black leather whisked him away,” I murmur. “She must be like five foot eight. I’m surprised she was able to get his heavy body into the vehicle she drove away. It looks like she’s had him for about two weeks. The police are involved, and his bodyguard is concerned. Frankly, so am I, which is why I’m calling. Lucas isn’t the type to get kidnapped,because his life is pretty boring. I don’t know if this could be related to the work he does or not.”

My fingers start to twitch, and I decide to download the video and wipe it from the security camera. If the police officers aren’t competent enough to check that camera, then they don’t deserve the video. It’s as simple as that.

Next, I begin to see if I can get into the servers at Reid Pharmaceuticals. The security is fierce with a minefield of alarm bells at every possible entrance. What the fuck are they hiding?

I’m not trying to alert anyone of my presence, so I back out with a frown. Damn, what are they hiding in that fortress? Not even most banks or the FBI is this locked down.

I’ll loop back around because while this could be about a ransom, no one has mentioned one. Why else would you kidnap a CEO if not for money?

“I’m still here, Oliver,” a very growly alpha says.

“I want to pat your head,” I tease him. “I think your head would pop off as you exploded. Are all Italians this agitated?”

“You’d be surprised,”he grumbles.

“Come back to America,” I tell him. “I’m going to see if I can find out who this girl is.”

“Is there somewhere specific that I’m flying into?”

“Indianapolis specific enough? Book a room at the Ironworks Hotel, and I’ll come find you,” I say.

Lips pursed, I add finding a nice rental to my list. I despise hotels. There’s too many cameras for my taste, and too many damn people.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,”Alesso promises. “For the record, this is insane.”

“Do you think that I want to feel compelled to message either of you?” I ask. “I would rather not. I have to though, and I found out Lucas was missing because he hadn’t looked at my messages.”

“Does he ignore you? I think he may be smarter than I am,”Alesso complains. “I let you bait me.”