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Caroline’s made it perfectly clear where we stand—married for convenience and nothing more.
That doesn’t stop me from wanting her. My brain knows how my heart feels. Knows how early it is, how sudden and inappropriate.
I’m just not ready to accept it. Not willing to give myself over entirely.
But that doesn’t mean the feelings disappear.
“Nope.” Siena cleans up the bandages and gauze, packing them into the first aid kit Phoebe keeps under the bar. After several beats of silence, she shrugs and leaves, a cloud of perfume standing in the room in her wake. It’s nauseating.
The office door swings open again, revealing both Gia and Marco, flanking each other with matching expressions of stoicism.
“Boss, we’ve got a problem.” Marco hesitates, glancing at Gia before sliding his gaze back to mine. “Make that two problems, actually.”
I stare at a bullet hole in the floor, caused by an altercation with a former employee years ago, trying to calm my racing pulse. Sweat beads along my skin as I rip myself from my thoughts. “I told you I didn’t want to be bothered tonight.”
“We have a concrete lead on the stolen product.”
Sitting up straight, I wait for them to continue.
Gia sighs, walking over and dropping a photocopy of the list Dominic Harrison gave me onto my desk. “We cross-referenced every name on that list; most of those guys have connections to flesh auctions all around Maine, the majority of which specialize in stolen minors.”
“Okay…”
“Well, you know how Dom owes just about everyone money, right?” I nod, and Gia continues. “We think he’s using his network to source young girls and has an inside guy in our warehouse crew skimming blow in an attempt to pay off his debt, now that Caroline isn’t a viable option.”
Anxiety spikes in my stomach, my chest tightening like an overblown balloon.I’m going to kill that fucker.“How is this going on right under our noses?”
“The blow goes missing at some point after leaving the warehouse. It passes through so many hands after that, it’s difficult to determine who’s taking a cut.”
“So, what are we doing about it?”
Gia swallows. “Angelo’s already admitted to helping, and he’s agreed to help with the investigation in exchange for a simple exile.”
I nod, folding my hands together. “And we’resureKieran Ivers isn’t involved?”
“There’s not been a report of activity from his home in weeks, but obviously, we can’t be absolute. My gut says no, though.”
“Well, I’m not paying you to fucking guess. Figure it the fuck out, and don’t let my father catch wind of this.” Leaning back, I rub my temples. “What was the other thing?”
Marco and Gia share an uneasy look, and Gia leans back on his heels, discomfort radiating from his posture. His shoulders slump inward, mouth flattening, and a second wave of bile rises in my throat, making me gag.
“Jesus Christ, what is it?” My fingers cut into the leather on my chair, nails splintering at the pressure.
Marco reaches behind his neck, scratching. “Well, you said to come get you if anyone with Caroline’s I.D. showed up tonight.”
Fucking Juliet. “Where is she?”
“In the VIP lounge, causing a scene with a male patron. People are starting to get uncomfortable.” Gia frowns. “But, Elia, you should know... it’s not the sister.”
My stomach flips, and I push to my feet despite the pain in my groin. Buttoning my suit jacket and ripping the bandage from my chin, I tip my neck from side to side, reveling in the way my bones crack. I move between my soldiers and head out into the hall.
Gia catches up first, stalling me with his hand on my shoulder. “Elia. She’s drunk.”
“Yeah?” I swipe my thumb across my lip, the sting a now-welcome reminder of this afternoon. A balm to my mounting feelings, fuel for the punishment I’m about to serve downstairs. “She’s about to be fucking dead.”
I FEEL ELIA’S presence before I even see him; his soul radiates toward mine like a heatwave in July, hazy and thick and suffocating. I know he’s down here, hunting, looking for me.
But I’ve had too many drinks to care—to consider the repercussions of my earlier actions.
