“What about Maleciandro? Isn’t he supposed to take over the Capo role?”
Chris rubs her chin, hesitating. “Malec is… aspecialcase.”
I tilt my head, spiraling my finger by my temple, mouthing,Crazy? Special case?
I wouldn’t be surprised. Maybe he really isn’t sane. No one in this world can stay sane and ‘work’in this field.
Kayla spits out her water, coughing, while Chris bites her tongue so hard she nearly draws blood, her eyes pleading with me for understanding.
Did I say something wrong again? I raise an eyebrow at them.
“Well… you can say that,” Kayla finally manages, standing up from the bench and walking toward us. A white towel rests on her shoulder.
In her oversized T-shirt and loose training pants, she reminds me of Diana again. Another sharp pinch stabs my chest.
I wish Diana could have grown up in a place where women could lead and laugh freely, not be molded to a man’s will.
“Now, as I mentioned before—” Kayla starts, then shoots a glare at Chris, a silent warning not to interrupt. “—I might have a way to help. But you must promise not to ask questions, and you have to keep completely quiet about it. Understood?”
Her gaze locks on me, her brows pulled together, her expression dead serious. No games.
“What do you mean?”
I take a step toward her, but Chris’s hand clamps around my arm, firm.
“Kayla, I know you mean well,” she starts, her voice suddenly sharp, all traces of earlier humor gone. “But you can’t make that decision on your own. You need to talk to your mother first.”
Kayla clenches her fists—and for a split second, I swear I see Maleciandro mirrored in her face.
“You can’t—”
“Kayla!” Chris snaps, making both of us flinch.
“You won’t put everyone at risk just because you feel a sudden urge to play the righteous savior.”
Ouch. That cut colder than ice.
But Kayla glares right back at her. For a second, I think her eyes actually glow before she closes them and takes a slow, shaky breath.
“I’m sorry,” Chris finally lets go of my arm, her voice softening.
I’m not sure who she’s apologizing to—me or Kayla—but I don’t get the chance to ask before she keeps going.
“I shouldn’t have yelled,” she says. “But you know this is too dangerous.”
I glance between them, lost. “What’s too dangerous? I honestly can’t keep up. Can you help me find Diana or not?”
“Yes,” Chris answers quickly, her eyes still locked on Kayla. “Our parents are on it. We’ll find her, even if she’s hidden in the darkest, deepest dungeon. You have my word.”
The tension between them crackles so thick I regret opening my mouth at all.
Wait.
Dungeon…
My thoughts spiral.
The client list at Konfetki. My father’s most important VIP—the one who loves playing with the girls in dungeons sometimes. He knows about The Red Dock. He manages most of my father’s shipments to Europe, that’s how he gets cheapest services.
