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“I didn’t locate the informant, although I have suspicions.”
“You earned your money. Take it.”
“Perhaps we’ll do business again. One more thing. Vincheti’s condition doesn’t look good. He’s in Stony Brook University Hospital. Someone took him out when he was driving home from meeting with the senator. Imagine that. Something else for you to consider.”
Yeah, imagine.
I kept the door open for a few seconds before slamming it shut. There was no need to reply. As soon as I’d walked around the car, Kostya revved the engine, racing out of the parking lot. As I headed toward the awaiting SUV, I still hadn’t made a determination of how to handle the wealth of information, let alone what to do about her father.
The news changed my entire plan. Of course, she would demand to see her father. However I played this, her brothers would know she was in town. Still, they certainly wouldn’t be stupid enough to risk her safety by spreading the news. The fuckers better keep their mouths shut. This was a volatile situation with no easy way out. Maybe Vincheti had promised more than just allegiance to Rojas or Diez.
Or both.
“Vincheti, what are you up to?” I said out loud as I headed for the other vehicles. I was pissed, so much so I would kill the man myself for placing his daughter in harm’s way. I dialed my father’s number, my head aching like a son of a bitch.
“I suppose you’ve heard,” I said, pacing back and forth beside the SUV.
“Enough to be pissed. What the fuck is going on down there?” he demanded.
Down there meant where I had control. “This is all about Cesare Vincheti. Gather the damn family. We need to plan our next move.”
“Vincheti. That asshole?”
“Let’s just say I think he betrayed you. No, he betrayed all of us, including his own daughter.”
I shoved the phone inside my pocket, enraged to the point I wasn’t certain I could control my anger. I could feel her eyes staring at me, imploring me to share every aspect of my life with her. It would be impossible to keep her protected from the shit we were both going to face. Time was running out. Depending on when Diez had left South America, he could be fully operational in the morning.
Fuck. Fuck!
I eased into the seat. Tonight I didn’t love my job.
“Where to, boss?” Sanchez asked from the front seat.
“Just hold on a minute.” I shifted until I was able to look Giada in the eyes. The moment I took her hand into mine, she yanked it away.
“Something happened. Didn’t it?” Her voice held fear. There was little I could do to sugarcoat the news.
“Your father was shot.”
“What?” Her gasp was filled with anguish. “What did you say?”
“I don’t know the details other than he’s in serious condition. He’s alive; that’s the important thing.”
“Who did this?”
“If my sources are correct, the Colombians.”
“Just like you suspected. They’re coming into New York.”
I nodded, able to cup her face and she didn’t pull away. “We’ll get through this.”
“My father. You’re going to take me to the hospital,” Giada demanded.
I shook my head. “That’s not a good idea.”
“That’s my father, Sevastian. It might be the last time I get to see him. If you don’t take me, I swear to God I’ll find a way to get there.” While she was distraught, I sensed anger as well as confusion, her fury directed toward her father.
I stared at her, debating the odds. At some point, either Rojas or Diez would make an attempt at finishing what they’d started, but the hospital would be completely on lockdown. That much I knew about how Vincheti operated. She’d be safe for a short duration. “I’ll grant you this, but only for twenty minutes. Sanchez and another guard will be there with you. Sanchez?”
