Page 119 of The Devil's Heir

"I think Carmen may also be involved."

My hand fists around my phone hearing this, and through gritted teeth, I ask, "How so?"

"Carmen was also at the shopping center that day. In fact, that's why I hadn't noticed Heath. I was in the middle of having heated words with your aunt because she was taunting Lily. Again, I don't think it was a coincidence."

"Son of a bitch!"

This time, I do throw my phone and it smashes into pieces when it hits the stone fireplace across the room. I then pick up the already broken coffee table and throw it across the room, too.

Jackson just sits there, letting me take my frustrations out. He'd probably let me hit him if it's what I really needed, but he's not the one I'm angry with. I'm pissed at myself for letting my guard down where Liliana was concerned. Now, I don't know what's going to happen to her.

If Jackson is correct, and Carmen is involved, it's got to be because of the baby. I'm no fool—Carmen wants to retain her title as thedonnaof Falcon Estate—she's said as much when offering to have my heir. My stomach churns just at the thought of sticking my dick in her.

"That fucking bitch will pay dearly if she's involved. I now wonder whether Carlos also has his hands in this," I state.

I've always known Carlos Greco craved more power—that's the only reason he married his niece off to my uncle in the first place. He must have realized I'd eventually inherit everything once my uncle was gone, which makes his true motives all the more unclear.

"Having Carmen under this roof is dangerous, Sir. Even if she isn't a part of this scheme, she's still a threat to Lily. I can feel it in my bones. The vibes I get from her presence aren't good ones."

"Yes, I believe you're right. I've felt the same thing," I agree.

I've put off signing the paperwork, giving me complete control of the estate now that we have proof of conceiving my heir. I figured I had time, but it's now run out. I need to sign those papers, so I can get that bitch out of our lives for good.

Grabbing my spare phone from my desk drawer, I send a text to the attorney, I request that he send the papers via messenger as soon as possible. I can't take the time to swing by his office, not while Lily is still missing.

Now that we have more leads, Ialso send out a message to all my top men to come to the estate so we can formulate a new plan. Hopefully, Koval finds something.

Jackson goes to take his leave, but I stop him. "Stay. I want you on the search team, Jackson. I need people I can trust, and I know you care for Liliana—"

"We're only friends, I swear—"

I hold my hand up, stopping his reassurance because I don't need it.

"I know this, which is why I trust you the most. You think I don't watch the two of you, but I see everything. Every glance, every whisper, every interaction you think goes unnoticed—I see. I know there's nothing but friendship between the two of you."

I'll admit, at first, I felt a twinge of jealousy. But as time passed and I watched them closely, it became clear that their feelings for each other never went beyond friendship. If I had ever thought otherwise, I wouldn't have been so willing to leave them alone.

"Your trust means a lot to me, Sir."

I only nod at Jackson's statement, not wanting to veer off the subject of Lily's abduction for too long. We still need to figure out where they are keeping her. I have men working on the city's video footage. We had lost sight of the Bentley when it went into a tunnel. The footage had been tampered with and never showed them exiting the tunnel.

Luckily, the tracking app led us to the hotel, where they had left the Bentley, hidden behind the old establishment. The footage from the bank across the street has them leaving in an older Oldsmobile, the car we're now watching for.

What people need to remember is that I own this fucking town, and I will find them. Hopefully, it's sooner rather than later.

"So the bank's camera feed saw the car heading Northeast. I've already had men searching that area, but we can't dismiss the possibility that they may have switched directions. I want to widen the search area. Are there any places north of town that would work well when hiding someone?" I ask the thirty or so men who answered my text.

"There's not much there unless you cross over into the next territory," Joey replies as he looks down at the map I have spread on the dining room table.

"Exactly. Whose property is north of Rushwood?" I ask.

Joey meets my eyes, and I see the recognition in them. My jaw clenches as I nod subtly. It's Greco's territory.

"Wait a minute," Jackson speaks up, pointing to a small area on the map. "If they continued Northeast, it would have taken them straight to this forest dividing the territories."

"Yeah, what about it?" I cock my brow as I wait for his answer.

"Carmen has a small cabin about two miles into those woods," Jackson exclaims. "It's where she meets up with guys—a little love shack, if you will."