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“Agreed.”
I had it bad growing up. A strict father who thought a childhood was meant to be governed by rules. But Vi had it worse. His father thought learning the family trade started from the second a boy hit the double digits and could hold a gun. Which wouldn’t be bad if the family business was anything but murder. I understand the fear gripping his intestines and shining in his eyes because it has a hold on mine too.
“That’s why you have to get to her first.” D’Angelo takes the paper back from Vi and flicks the edge with a pop. Red colors his cheeks and a wild look replaced the dull look in his eyes.
Augustine grunts. “We don’t have to do anything.”
He’s right. Diving head first into trouble is not how you stay alive. “Tell us more. Why did they wait so long? Taking a year doesn’t make sense.”
D’Angelo sinks back into his chair. “They knew I hid her so they waited until I had something else they wanted. Why simply hurt a man when you can destroy him.”
Fuck. “Your new casino.”
He nods again.
“Is she still in New York? Anything you know for a fact? When did you last communicate with her?” We have friends in New York that we could reach out to. It wouldn’t be hard.
“No. She’s in Chicago and the same club that wants her dead. By chance someone I know saw her. She’s changed her hair and eyes, but there’s no hiding that she's my daughter. I can’t go after her myself. I need you to find her and take her somewhere safe.”
“Chicago? You’re fucking kidding me. She’s working in the very place that allowed some asshole to take a hit out on her?” Vi’s bark of laughter is hollow and cold. “She has a fucking death wish.”
“Don’t blame her. She does not know they have issued a contract. I’m not sure she’s even aware what Club Genesis is. She knew of my life in the fringes of society, but I never let her close enough to know the true depth of my depravity. I coddled her too much growing up. She’s young and impulsive. She saw things she wasn’t supposed to in that safe and when you have a photographic memory…”
Bailey’s father trails off, lost in the past and all his useless wishes of things he would change if he had the chance. None of that will help him recover his daughter.
“She knows more than you realize. Trust me on that,” I offer as hard earned wisdom.
“She’s in the viper’s pit and doesn’t even know it. The Mounts won’t stop now that they have a reason to go after her other than the obvious. They are blood-thirsty savages on a good day. Whatever she saw in that vault wasn’t life or death at the moment, but gave the Mounts a way in and they are finally taking it. What she did is punishable by death. There are codes that crime families live by and she smashed them to hell all while smiling for the camera.” Augustine just his chin toward the TV. “It means death with or without the ability of perfect recall.”
Vi picks up when Augustine says his piece. “And aren’t you the fucking father of the year, old man. You set her out into a world that wants to see her dead when you should have kept her close. This is your fault as her father. All you had to do was protect her. It is your sole job on this earth the second she was conceived and you fucked it up.”
Both of my blood brothers say the truth we all believe.
“I don’t believe in letting people escape the burden of their sins when they have crosses to bear. I carry mine —we carry ours—and others will do the same. You can cringe at what Victor and Augustine say, but you will not hide from the truth. Not and expect our help.”
“I understand. It doesn’t change the fact that I need help and I will pay for it. Help me and you can have anything you want. I’ll double the highest fee on the contract if you can get her out of Club Genesis and to safety. Your reputation precedes you and that is what I am counting on.”
He’s talking about the time before we took over the family business. The time my father used us as trackers and hitmen to earn our bones.
D’Angelo’s face hardens and his brown eyes turn black as coal when he looks at each of my brothers before fastening his attention on me. “But I can only give you forty-eight hours before I send out another team. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.”
“You’ll have your daughter in your arms within forty-eight hours.” I stand, extend my hand and he clasps it. I already know what we want for payment and he’s going to wish he measured his words better. He thinks we want property or money when the only payment we want is his only real treasure.
We head for the door. Vi is already on the phone. I turn back before we take our leave. “And D’Angelo.”
A silver head rises. Our gazes lock. Living honestly as a criminal is not as hard as it seems. Don’t lie is another rule we live by and right now I’m going to love telling D’Angelo the truth.
“If you call another team in, you won’t ever see her again. I’ll make sure of it.”
CHAPTERTWO
BAILEY
Istare out at Chicago’s nightlife. So many people rush about with bundles of presents tucked under their arms and not a care in the world. Or it is not clear on their faces.
People hide their true feelings. Finding anyone who actually tells the truth would be a damn unicorn.
One couple decked out in Christmas red and green looks ready for a party while another couple passing by is out for a date night that will end with both of them naked if he plays his cards right. New love. It’s all bubbly, sweet and so damn sickening to watch. And it makes me jealous as hell. Come morning will they go their separate ways or turn it into a holiday fling?
