“Very good.”
I turn to my computer screen, intent on spending an afternoon reviewing the backlog of documents I’ve been procrastinating about tackling. Considering how often we operate above the law, the legalities of building a casino are mind-numbingly dull.
But Marco doesn’t get to his feet.
I glance over. “Something on your mind?”
“You approached my daughter about the casino.”
“I did.” I don’t bother trying to deny it.
“Why?”
I give the older man a long look. “I told you, the Guild doesn’t like any loose ends.”
“Then let her leave.”
“Would she go?” I ask. “Tell me honestly, if I made Mia that offer, would she actually take it?”
Marco scowls at me, although we both know I’m right.
“The casino is a good fit for her, Marco. It’s essentially just a promotion from what she’s already been doing, just on our payroll.”
“She’ll be on the front lines!”
“She will be surrounded by the Guild at all times. If she does not accept this position, what happens next will be out of my hands,” I snap back. “I’m trying to help her.”
“Then try harder!”
“I—”
But at that moment, my office doors burst open, and Dante frantically appears before us. Dante doesn’t burst into my office without reason. Whatever’s got him wound up is serious. And I’m not in the mood for bad news today.
He slams the door open, eyes sharp and panicked, which is enough to set my jaw tight.
“Teo, we’ve got a problem,” he says, breathless. “The casino?—”
“What?” I’m on my feet in an instant, trying to ignore the strange pit in my stomach.
“It’s on fire. A few guys ran out here to tell me before they called the department. I thought you’d want to know immediately.”
My mind goes razor-sharp in an instant. “How bad?”
“From the looks of it? Bad. It’s spread to the top floors already,” Dante replies, voice low, as if he can’t believe the words coming out of his mouth.
I grab my keys and push past Marco, who himself seems to be in a state of shock.
Dante follows closely at my side, and we’re in the car in seconds, speeding down the main boulevard toward the casino construction site. The telltale pillar of black smoke is already floating up on the horizon.
There’s only one explanation for this. This fire isn’t some random accident. Not when Isabella is missing.
“It’s Leon, isn’t it?” I say finally, the words a low, bitter growl. “That coward thinks this will stop me.”
Dante clenches his fists. “Wouldn’t put it past him. But why now? Why not wait until construction was complete?”
“He’s trying to burn me out,” I say, a little too defensively. “Catch me off guard. But he doesn’t know how far I’ll go if he wants to make this personal.”
The car screeches to a halt, and we step out into the street. The air is thick with smoke, and I can already see flames licking up the sides of the structure.
