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“Open it, Cruz.”
He cast a sideward glance at her. “No can do, Boss Kitty. I respond only to one commander and he’s not here.”
“Open the damn door. NOW!”
“You’re a scary woman, Mrs. Lee but I’ve been on the business end of Jared’s anger. I’d much rather face you than open that door.”
“The next time you call any of us kitty again, I’m going to split your tongue with my Karambit,” Knox growled in Cruz’s ear. “Got it?”
Cruz spun his chair around, forcing Knox to jump back. Her eyes spat fire. Cruz smiled as he looked her up and down.
“Ah, so you’re into knives. Care for some Show and Tell?”
“Get fucking stuffed, Powers.” Knox spun around and started toward the kitchen.
“I’m gonna put a dollar into a jar every time you curse and—"
Knox pivoted around. “And what? If you think I’m scared of your puny muscles, you’ve got a surprise coming.”
She snorted and with her nose in the air, continued to the kitchen. “And you can fucking starve. I’m not making you anything to eat.”
Paxton paced in front of the wall of monitors, glancing at it now and then, still irritated at Jared for walking out on her. She looked at Cruz who was running a facial recognition program through traffic, ATM, and public CCTV cams in search of Marco and Luca Boneiro.
“Who are you working for?”
Cruz peeked at her, noticing they were alone, since Jordan and Kezlin had joined Knox in the kitchen. She waved him away at the look crossing his face.
“I get the message. You’re not telling me.”
“What I can tell you is that we’re not here to humiliate you. Do you have any idea who Marco Boneiro is?”
“No. The only information we got from Senator Wilson was about the transmitter in Courtney’s bracelet. We followed its signal to that house. He made us believe it was only to secure and confirm her location and that he’d have an extraction team standing by. But from Jared’s reaction, it wasn’t you.” Paxton frowned as she searched her memory. The name Boneiro sounded familiar. “We always do an in-depth due diligence before we take a job. But because they were in such a state of duress...”
“I get it but believe me, if you had decided to breach that house alone, you could’ve been killed or worse, captured and sold as sex slaves.”
“With all due respect, Cruz, we’re not rookies. We know how to fight and protect ourselves. We don’t get captured.”
“Marco Boneiro is the Don of one of the five Mafia families in the US. He’s known for being brutal when dealing with anyone who opposes him— a quality that has been inculcated in his soldiers.” Cruz smiled briefly. “Believe me, you wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
“Are you talking about the Boneiro crime family that has direct links to the SicilianLa Cosa Nostra?” Paxton had gone pale as she finally made the connection. She’d read about the barbarous acts and outright slaughter of enemies by the feared Mafia kingpin. It irked her that she hadn’t made the connection when his name came up.
“The one and only.”
“Did Senator Wilson know Boneiro was behind the kidnapping?”
“Look, Paxton, I’d rather you ask Jared these questions.”
“Did he, Cruz?”
“He did. He also knows we’re watching them.” He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Speak to Jared if you want to know more. He wouldn’t have brought all of you here if he hadn’t been concerned for your safety. Ask him. He’s not an unreasonable man.” Cruz smirked. “Well, not too much, anyway.”
“I’ve been trying to get him to talk since you interfered with our job.” Paxton sat down next to Cruz. “If there’s one character trait Bates has shown, it isn’t being reasonable.” She gestured to the monitors. “What’re you doing? How can I help?”
“It’s not my place to get you involved in this, Paxton.”
“We’re already involved. Senator Wilson put us in this situation and I’ll be damned if I become a target for some crime lord out for revenge.”
“Jared isn’t gonna like this.”
