That what they wanted was there.
Alara wasn’t stupid.
She wouldn’t lead them to some random idiot and put them in danger. But shewouldlead them to a hacker who was part of the Costa Family.
That was her thing.
Her obsession with the Family.
She knew everyone.
And as someone who had a growing interest as well, I’d been making mental notes anytime someone said anything that had to do with them.
So I knew therewasone computer genius in the Family.
And with a name like Zeno, I didn’t imagine it would be too hard to find his address.
I tucked the gun into my waistband and typed on my phone, having to keep pausing to end the calls my uncle kept making.
Then I had it.
A fifteen-minute walk.
They’d probably taken a cab. Pretended Alara was drunk or high or something.
That maybe cut it in half.
But it was late.
The streets were empty.
And I could run.
If I was lucky, I’d be getting there just behind them.
So I sucked in a breath, ignored the shooting pain up my side, and hauled ass down the road.
Zeno lived in Hell’s Kitchen in an apartment over a nightclub.
The place was winding down, people spilling out the front doors, but the music was still thumping loud enough to guarantee that no one could hear if there was a whole gunfight going on the floor above.
I bolted up the stairs, the run and the noise making my head scream. But there would be time to wallow later.
I made my way to the door, pressing my ear to it as I reached for the gun.
I heard raised voices.
But it was impossible to make out who they were.
I sucked in several slow, deep breaths, not wanting to rush into who-knew-what situation and not be able to breathe.
Once I was sure I could breathe, I reached for the doorknob, turning it so slowly I felt like it took an hour. But if someone was watching the door, I didn’t want them to see it turning and then take me out before I could do anything.
Once it was fully turned in my hand, I sucked in one more breath, then threw it open as I raised my hand with the gun.
I took it all in at once.
The apartment with the killer computer and gaming setup; the man lounged back in his computer chair in pepperoni pizza-patterned pants; the man leaning over him with a gun; the one holding Alara by the throat.
