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Chapter
Twenty-Two
LUCAS
Iglance around the table at the members of two prominent Mafia families, alongside the security manager of STORM Enterprises, a firm I’m becoming increasingly convinced is a joint venture of theirs; at least the security part, judging how close they both seem with Owen.
Lorenzo Varros has someone on the inside of the FBI disclosing information to help us, but he’s handed the job over to one of his trusted capos, Luca.
“Let me get this straight, the trackers aren’t working?” Luca Varros bites out at Owen. The fury in his eyes is enough to make your balls shrivel—he is the epitome of what a Mafia man is expected to be. Dark and deadly.
Owen is tapping away on his laptop, ignoring the glaring I’m pretty sure is penetrating the side of his head.
“Speak!” Luca slams his hand down on the table so hard it shakes beneath me, and the sound only makes Mia cry louder; she’s becoming inconsolable. “And can you shut the baby up?” he spits out, not taking his dark eyes away from Owen.
Jace stops pacing, spins on his heel, and slices Luca with his glare. “No, I can’t shut the baby up. She wants her momma and sister back, and right now they’re—”
“Kidnapped, we know.” Oscar holds his hand up to stop Jace from speaking further, and I feel the anger radiating from Jace as he breathes through his nostrils with wide eyes.
I’m about to open my mouth to let him know the severity of situation again, but I’m stopped when the door to the office opens and in walks a tattooed woman with piercings that line her ears. She heads straight toward Jace and Mia. “Hey there, little missy. My name’s Angel, it’s so lovely to meet you.” She coos toward Mia as Jace transfers Mia to his free arm farther away from the woman. Her eyes don’t miss the movement, but she doesn’t question it, then she nods as if she’s agreeing with some inner thought. “How about you follow me? I have somewhere you could change her.” Jace’s eyes meet mine, and the look of despair in them makes my heart skip a beat. He doesn’t want to leave the room, but he wants to settle Mia, he’s torn. But there’s not a chance he would leave her in this moment. Cole shifts in his chair, as if to swap places with Jace, but I shake my head at him, and he pauses.
“I’ll have a plan in place for when you return,” Oscar prompts, saving me from having to persuade Jace.
His shoulders drop, and he nods, then glances at his watch, then back toward me. “She should be in bed by now, Lucas.” Our eyes remain locked, a silent conversation between us. He’s scared for them, and truth be told, I am too. No matter how put together I appear, inside I’m terrified for them. I know the danger they’re in.
It’s why I keep my secrets.
To protect my family.
Cole
As soon as Jace leaves the room, Oscar sits forward in his chair, and his calculating eyes settle on Lucas.
Lucas shrinks back in his seat, and the movement unsettles me. This isn’t the guy I know him to be, and I refuse to have him feel intimidated by these jerks, Mafia or not.
“What’s your problem?” I snap out to protect my brother.
Oscar’s eyes flick toward me, then away just as quickly, as if my presence is so insignificant, he refuses to acknowledge I’m even there. This only enrages me further; my shoulders broaden, preparing for battle.
He pushes a folder toward Lucas. “This is the information we have on the Lancasters”—he taps the folder—“but you know what we have already, don’t you? And you also know why it’s so important we get your child back from them, don’t you?”
Lucas pales and his body shudders. The man I know disappears in a split second and becomes a shell of the person he is. Terror strikes his face, and before I know what’s happening, he leaps from his chair, throwing his guts up into the trash can.
“What the hell is in there?” I point toward the folder as dread fills me. The only thing that could have Lucas reacting this wayis the trauma from his childhood, and with that thought, my resolve crumbles.
“The truth,” Oscar breathes out, holding my gaze.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
JACE
The blonde, tattooed woman is sweet and caring. She has this rough exterior I know through my own experience is a shield. I see the emotions swimming in her eyes; she’s genuine and wants to help, but I’m unsure of how much she knows about us.
After all, we’re family.
“Do you know who I am?”
