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I’ll give it to the old man, he has balls.
“What’s to stop me from going to Salvatore right now and telling him what really happened?” I ask.
He doesn’t so much as blink. “Honor. You, Declan MacKenzie, are an honorable man. You’ve elevated your family’s name in a few short years, and you did it without compromising your morals.”
“And yet, you are attempting to use my morals against me.” My tone darkens. “Make no mistake, Enrique. I won’t allow you to endanger my family with this threat.”
“You’re right, MacKenzie.” He rubs a hand down his tired face. “I’m just at a loss with what to do. Antony Furnari’s presence here is an unexpected complication. One I’m not certain how to handle.”
I take in his defeated posture and digest the apology. While I don’t approve of his attempt to blackmail me, I can’t say I don’t understand the desperate attempt. And Ididsay I’d help bring down the deplorable trafficking ring.
Not to mention, I can’t walk away yet. Not until we find Lisa, at least.
I shake my head once, silently chastising myself for what I’m about to say, “Fine. But there will be a renegotiation of my family’s terms and presence in Harlem.”
He nods. “I expect nothing less.”
Good.
“Fine,” I exhale a heavy sigh. “Then this is what we’re going to do…”
Chapter17
Catarina
The first thing I notice when I wake up is my head pounds in a painful rhythm, keeping time with my pulse. I blink repeatedly to moisten my dry eyes and clear my blurry vision. I lie on a plush mattress and think I’m in my room at the penthouse. But then my memory returns and I remember Ashley stabbing me with a syringe. I bolt upright and immediately wince when the movement increases my head pain.
I clutch my head in my hands, willing the agonizing pain to subside, when I hear the sound of a door opening. “You’re awake.”
Though the pain to do so is acute, I force my head up and look in the direction of the voice. Even through still-blurry vision, I recognize the man from my engagement party.Luis Diaz.
Regardless, I decide to play dumb. “Who are you?” My voice is scratchy from dehydration, making me wonder how long I was unconscious.
“I’m Luis.” His lips widen in a smile that I’m sure is meant to be charming. He wears a pair of tight black jeans, and a gold necklace with a cross sits on top of a plain gray t-shirt. “I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”
I don’t respond to that. “Where am I?”
“The guest room at my apartment.”
“Why?”
“Because you are my guest.” His smile remains, though it starts to look more predatory than welcoming.
I swallow the lump in my throat. My body still feels weighed down from whatever drug I was given, but my thoughts are starting to clear. I’ve obviously been kidnapped, and Ashley played a part in my abduction.
But why would she do something like this? And how does she know the man standing across the room from me?
My so-called best friend chooses that moment to strut into the room. The curvy beauty walks up to the tattooed man staring at me like I’m a zoo creature stuck behind unbreakable glass and grabs his arm. I watch as she cups his face with her free hand and forces him to look at her before she captures his lips in an open-mouthed kiss.
Before I can look away from the sloppy display, the dark-haired man grabs my friend’s shoulders and forces her to take a step back, holding her at arm’s length.
“Enough,” he growls menacingly. The command shoots a warning off in my head, but Ashley doesn’t seem to share my concern.
“I just wanted to say hello, baby.” She flutters her fake lashes, but his attention has already returned to me. My friend’s features darken with anger when she notices.
If I can even call her that anymore…
The memory of seeing Ashley in the café after my first wedding dress fitting fills my head and realization dawns. Luis Diaz is the mysterious man she’s been seeing for months. Of that, I’m certain. But I don’t understand why she would choose to be with a man like him. He’s nothing like the Wall Street or Trust Fund babies she usually pursues. Sure, he’s attractive in a bad-boy kind of way, but the Ashley I grew up with would never give someone like him the time of day. She cares about her image too much. Or so I thought.
