Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
I tilt my head. “No.” This time, I stab the blade into his upper arm, then yank the knife free with a slow pull.
His breath jerks out, and sweat beads at his hairline.
I straighten slightly, letting the silence stretch. “While you were taking swings at my uncle’s business, someone took something that is mine.”
His eyes flicker, but he doesn’t speak.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. A woman went missing.”
His mouth opens and then closes.
I crouch again, fingers closing around his chin, forcing his face toward mine. “You know something, just speak, and I won’t give you to my uncle.”
That makes him swallow. “Fine,” he breathes out. “One of my men saw something. While we were following you, one of my men hung back to see who the woman was and if we could use her.”
My hand tightens around the handle of my knife. It takes everything inside me to stop my need to slash his throat and let him finish. “Go on,” I grit through clenched teeth.
“The man I placed to watch her saw a man drive her out of her parents’ house. We followed.”
My voice stays even. “Nico isn’t working for you?”
The man lets out a shaky laugh. “No.”
“He’s not the one feeding you intel on my uncle’s business?”
“Correct again,” the smug bastard responds.
I narrow my gaze. “But he’s working for someone?”
He hesitates, then nods.
My fingers tighten on his jaw. “How do you know?”
He swallows hard. “Because he met with someone after. At the cottage.”
A chill slides under my skin.
“Let me get this straight. You’re telling me you followed Nico and watched him hand her off?”
“Yeah.”
I stare at him. “Where?”
He trembles. “I don’t know the address.”
I laugh softly. “Of course you don’t.”
I step behind him and tip the chair forward hard. He crashes face-first into the concrete with a strangled grunt. Blood gushes from his now broken nose.
I crouch beside him, knife flat against the back of his neck.
“Try again,” I whisper. “And this time, don’t make me regret being patient.”
He makes one ugly sob.
“Speak.”
He swallows. “He took her north. A cottage. The tracker on my guy’s car will have the location.”
My heart pounds heavy and violent.
Rafe’s voice turns sharp. “That enough for you?”
I look over at Rafe and nod, then glance back down at Connor. “You’re going to live . . . for now.” I decide, voice flat.
His eyes fly open, hope flaring stupidly.
I crouch, close enough that he can feel the heat of my presence. “Not because you deserve it. Because after second thought, my uncle would love to meet you . . . He’d love to know who your source is.”
“Just fucking let me go, and I’ll tell you.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Speak.”
“He’s an Amante . . . one of your own, a cousin.”
Fuck. I don’t need him to tell me which cousin is causing shit. It’s got to be Salvatore. He’s around Matteo’s age, so a few years older than me, but I’ve never met him. After his father was killed by my uncle, Salvatore was no longer around, or so Matteo told me. Fuck. This changes everything.
“Kill him.”
“Wait—you said—” Connor cries.
“Shut up,” I yell at Connor. His eyes go wide. That’s right, buddy, you’re fucked now.
“And the news of Salvatore?” Rafe asks me.
“Let my uncle handle it. Right now, my only priority is my wife.”
I stand and turn toward the stairs. “Get that address. Now.”
Rafe already has his phone out, voice clipped and lethal as he barks instructions to track the car.
I move up the basement steps and head outside. The cold air slices into my lungs, but I welcome it. I pick up the phone and dial my cousin.
“What’s the good word?” Matteo answers.
“I found Connor.”
“Fuck.”
I walk toward my car. “Yeah, fuck is right. You aren’t going to like this. I found out who the rat is.”
“Just spit it out. You know how I feel about foreplay.”
“It’s Salvatore.”
A loud whistle cuts through the line. “No shit. Didn’t know the little bitch had it in him to betray the family.”
“Think he’ll be a problem?”
“Nah. He’s just a spoiled brat. Nothing to worry about.”
“What do you want to do about him?” I ask.
“Leave him to my father. He’ll handle it.”
“Got it. Call you later.” I hang up and get back to my own business. Finding my wife and the place to start is finding Nico.
Fucking hell.
But the more important question . . .
Who is he working for?
61
Victoria
The cottage is way too quiet after Grant leaves.
My mind is spinning out of control . . . trying to figure out what to do.
I sit on the edge of the sofa, rocking back and forth.
Pacing is out. When I was previously doing it, Nico kept pulling his gun on me to stop.
I’m not sure how he thinks he’s any better than Lorenzo, but I’m not going to tell him that. The man is completely unhinged.