I slam the door shut and hurry to my car. I try calling my sister; maybe Sophia can help. She could keep an eye on Bristol’s room, make sure that she’s not home and playing some cruel trick on me.
“Hey,” Sophia answers, her voice warm and sunny. My twin is almost always in a better mood than I am.
“Can you do me a solid and check if Bristol is home?”
“That depends, do you have a crush on her?” Sophia asks.
My mouth opens and snaps shut. I ignore her question. “She called me in a state of panic and then hung up on me. I need to make sure it wasn’t her being a brat and prank calling me.”
“I don’t think Bristol would do that,” Sophia says, and I hear the door close behind her. “But I’m walking to the elevator. It’ll take me a couple of minutes to get to her dorm. Do you want me to call you back or text you?”
“Call me, I’m driving.” I hang up and then try Bristol again.
She doesn’t answer. I’m not sure why I expect that she would.
I don’t leave a message and I call her father.
Yep, she’s going to kill me.
“Hello?” Kyler Greyson’s voice holds a hint of curiosity as he answers the call. At least one Greyson is willing to talk with me.
“Sir, this is Liam Moretti. I reached out to you the other day about your daughter.”
“Yes, I remember.” There’s a rustling of papers in the background and then a short pause. “Is everything all right with Bristol?”
“I’m concerned,” I admit. “She called me sounding quite panicked about her boss taking her to a hotel room.”
“Excuse me?” There’s a gruffness exuding from his tone.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but she won’t call me back and I’m concerned.”
“As am I,” Kyler grunted. “Did she happen to mention who she was with at work?”
“Jaxson,” I say, recalling his name.
“Fucking Monroe,” Kyler grumbles. “I swear, if he touches my baby girl, I’ll—” he ends the call without so much as a goodbye.
Nine
Jaxson
Against better judgement, I agree to take Bristol back to her dorm. I’d prefer to drive her to the cabin where her mother is staying, but she’s vehemently against that, and apparently, my mentioning that they bought the place is news to her.
It’s been a trying day. I had intended to bring Bristol to the hotel to help with the girls who were brought in from the trafficking ring. My team has been tasked with handling new identities for those who don’t have families or safe spaces to go. And those who do have families, we’ve been quietly reuniting them, one girl at a time.
We have to make sure their families aren’t the ones who sold them into the trafficking ring before returning them home.
It’s quite a job, and it doesn’t exactly pay anything.
Getting mixed up with Dante Ricci isn’t my favorite pastime, but the girls need help.
I’m doing it for them.
Also, getting on the wrong side of the local mafia isn’t a wise decision. I’ve lived in Breckenridge long enough to know to steer clear of Dante and his men.
They cause their own brand of havoc, and while I’d rather not get involved in their current mess, at the end of the day, it’s for the right cause.
The girls are the priority and going to the police would make things worse for Dante’s men.
