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My best friend betrayed me, and I beat him to death for it, but I never shed a tear.
This is Emilia. They hurt what’s mine. They’re fucking with her head to fuck with me. Shaming her, humiliating her by cutting off her hair, and probably mocking her while they did. Damn right, I feel something.
Looking up at my brother, I see something I didn’t know I needed—understanding, even sympathy. It’s like he gets it, and this is what it took to make him understand.
This was never a game for me. I wasn’t fucking around with some random nobody for the sake of getting my dick wet. I wasn’t sacrificing my family over a woman who meant nothing.
“They’re going to kill her,” I choke out. Saying the words is enough to make bile rush into my throat, but I swallow it back. She needs me to be strong, dammit.
“We’ll find her before that happens.” He’s certain of it, wearing a determined expression I’ve seen countless times. Normally, he wears it while he’s glaring at me, giving me shit for something or other.
When he extends a hand, I take it, and he helps me off my knees. As I watch, he sits at Papa’s desk and picks up the phone. “He’s upstairs resting,” he explains, cutting off my chance to ask. “Mama wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Who are you calling?” I ask.
“The guard house.” He holds up a finger. “What do you have down there?”
I watch as he scribbles a letter and four numbers on a notepad. They got partial plates. Craig could run it along with a description of the van. He might be able to track down traffic cam footage. Something, anything to track the van’s progress. If the hair came from Emilia, chances are good that the guy who delivered the envelope came from the location where she’s being held.
Reading my mind, Dante ends the call but starts a new one. “Craig’s burner,” he explains.
“Let me talk to him.” I curl my fingers in a beckoning gesture, and he hands me the receiver without arguing, sitting back and letting me take the lead.
“Hello?” Craig’s voice is tight, maybe even full of suspicion when he answers.
There’s no time for pleasantries, not that I would bother when it comes to him. We might need him, but that doesn’t mean I have much respect for him. “Are you free to offer an update?” I ask. He could be in mixed company and unable to speak freely.
“Yes, certainly.” There’s a business-like tone in his voice now, like he’s chatting with a repairman or something. “There has been increased activity in certain circles.”
My heart was already pounding, but now it’s racing. “Any indication of a location?” I ask.
“Not yet, but we’re searching.” He lowers his voice until it’s close to a whisper. “They’ve been talking about a guest. Last night, word started to spread. No specifics yet.”
“Just got a package here,” I inform him, looking down at Dante’s notes. “Security footage gives us partial plates and a description of the vehicle.”
After taking down the information, Craig asks, “What sort of package?”
My throat closes to a pinhole. I should refuse to answer. It’s none of his concern. Yet he knows her. It might light a fire under his ass and make him work harder. “He sent me her hair.”
“Fuck,” Craig groans out after a moment’s silence. “That sick bastard.”
“He won’t be satisfied stopping at that for long,” I grit out. There’s no shaking the mental image of my Emilia shaking, weeping, begging them to stop. No, she wouldn’t beg.
“You don’t have to tell me that.” He clears his throat before his voice returns to its former volume. “We’re searching known hideouts, properties the family owns. It’s an extensive list, though, and I can’t dedicate too much manpower to it without a concrete reason. Unless you want me to get into specifics.”
“No. We want to keep this quiet.” That much isn’t going to change. No spreading the word around. No letting this get out to law enforcement beyond our hand-picked few.
“You know I’m doing everything I can. And not just for you,” he adds, sounding gruff.
“I don’t care who you’re doing it for. Just get it done. Find out where they took her. We’ll handle the rest.” I hang up the receiver, not interested in his response.
We have a lead. We’re that much closer. “We’re going to get her back,” I tell my brother, who nods firmly.
We’ve finally found something we can agree on. I know better than to think it’ll last long, but it’s good enough for now.
21
EMILIA
