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“If she steps into a store, I want you following her around that store,” I continue. “And once she’s finished making her purchases, I want you looking through that bag. Got it?”
“Got it. It’s just that…” His brows knit together, and I can barely keep a hold on my rage.
“It’s just that what?” I bark when he falls silent.
“She said it was… feminine stuff she had to buy.”
“And you’re that afraid of maybe touching a box of tampons? Jesus Christ. You’re lucky I don’t blow your fucking head off here and now. Do you like living, Paolo?”
“Sir?” he asks, confused.
“Living. Do you enjoy being alive?”
“Of course, yes.”
“Then I suggest you suck the fuck up and remember who’s paying you. And who’s allowing you to get out of this situation with your life. I promise you, you will not get a second chance.”
“Understood, Mr. De Luca.”
“Get out of my sight.” To his credit, he stops short of running from the room—but not very far short. How the fuck did I end up with these assholes in my crew? And she’s a clever one, too. Telling him she was buying feminine products, knowing he wouldn’t search too hard. If it wasn’t my heir’s life hanging in the balance, I might have to congratulate her for being smart.
As it is, she’s lucky she’s carrying my child, or else she would be in a world of pain. There is such a thing as being too clever, it turns out.
I hardly have time to breathe before there’s a brief knock on my door. “What?” I bark.
Prince opens the door enough to peer into the room. “Is it safe? Or will I get another shoe thrown at my head?”
“It depends upon your reason for interrupting me.”
“Oh, then I’m safe.” He enters the room, and his smile drops away. “We found him.”
“Frankie?” I’m already out of my chair, prepared to go. “Where?”
He winces, and I’m reminded of how unusual it is for a piece of news to be truly good with no strings attached. “That part you’re not going to like so much.”
“Out with it, for fuck’s sake. I’ve had enough games today.”
“He was seen coming and going from the Alvarez compound.”
I knew it. For once, I didn’t want to be right. “That motherfucker!” I sweep an arm over my desk, sending papers, books, and even my phone flying. Prince merely takes a large backward step to get out of the way. “And you’re sure it’s him?”
“Positive. I’ve seen him enough times. As soon as you see him, you’ll know it’s true.”
“Yes, I’m sure I will.” Prince has never come to me with bad intel, and I highly doubt he would have made this announcement were he not completely sure.
Why did it have to be Alvarez? It’s almost sad how very clear everything is. Alvarez obviously lured him in with some promise or another, though I can’t imagine how much the man must have promised to sway Frankie’s loyalties. The man made a hundred-thousand dollars off my grandfather in the days before his death. What more could Alvarez promise?
I’m kidding myself, asking questions like this. There is no limit to the depths some will sink to when it comes to money. There’s no such thing as enough.
“That fucking bastard. I’ll kill him. He’s fucking dead.” I can barely think for the pounding in my head, the rushing of blood in my ears. I want him in front of me, here and now. I want to hear him scream. I want to rip out his beating heart and hold it in front of his face so he can look upon it in his final moments.
My hands shake with anticipation as I pour myself a drink and gulp it down all at once. That lying, traitorous piece of shit. Grandfather trusted him, and look where that trust got us all. The whiskey does little to blunt my fury, so I have a second before slamming the glass down. “I want to see him. I need to see the bastard for myself.”
“I was going to suggest we run surveillance.” Prince glances toward the window, where darkness is about to fall on the other side. “And I have a new toy I’d like to test out.”
“This isn’t the time—”
“Believe me. You’ll understand once you see it.”
