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“El halcón?” Nero might’ve left the Furnari family business behind, but he undoubtedly keeps his ear to the ground about what’s going on in the city. Especially when it concerns his family. “The man who crashed the engagement party with Joey?”
Again, I nod.
“Why would he take Catarina?” His stony features grow even harder. “What have you done, MacKenzie?”
“Nero,” Heather admonishes. “You can’t know Declan is responsible.”
“No, he’s right.” I appreciate Heather’s desire to speak on my behalf. I suspect it stems from her loyalty to Catarina. But I won’t sugarcoat this situation. We don’t have time for that. “Luis Diaz is attempting to seize control of the Puerto Rican gang in Harlem. My family worked with the previous leader and backed his chosen heir. Luis took exception to our involvement and insisted we stay out of their business. I can only suspect Catarina’s abduction is related to that.”
“Suspect?” Nero scowls. “What else could it be?”
That’s the million-dollar question.
Jane had asked me the same question before I left to come here, and I can’t explain why, but I fear Luis Diaz has something else up his sleeve when it comes to my beautiful fiancée. Otherwise, why wouldn’t I have received a ransom note or a list of demands? It’s been hours since her abduction.
I say as much to the couple in front of me.
I barely finish speaking before Nero pulls out his cell phone.
“What are you doing?” Heather asks.
“Calling my father. He might know something.”
“Before you do that, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
Nero’s thumb hovers over his phone screen. He looks up with a scowl. “What?”
This is it.
All the cards need to be put on the table. I can no longer hold them to my chest, hoping for the perfect moment to play them. Catarina’s safety depends on it.
I just hope she can forgive me.
I clear my throat and reach inside the pocket of my suit jacket. I take out a tri-folded piece of paper and hold it out.
Nero reaches around Heather and takes it with an untrusting look. I watch in silence as he unfolds the paper and begins to read the damning information typed out in black and white, followed by images that verify everything written in the report.
The man’s naturally tan skin pales.
“Nero?” Heather places a comforting hand on his knee, looking at him with concern.
He looks up, but his haunted eyes find mine. “What are the chances this is a mistake?”
“Zero. I wouldn’t show it to you otherwise.”
“Why?” He pauses to clear his throat. “Why wait until now to share this information?”
“Because Luis Diaz has the same information, but he’s skewed it to look like I was also involved in the enterprise.”
“And were you?”
“No. You can confirm as much with the police commissioner.” I gesture to the commissioner’s official report that still sits in Nero’s hands. “He’s had a team working to dismantle this trafficking ring for years. He has the names of the big players. Not that Luis is aware of that fact.”
“But why would no one tell my family about this?” Nero asks with a shake of his head. “How could we not know?”
“What is going on?” Heather asks before I can reply. She squeezes her boyfriend’s leg. “What are you two talking about?”
Another heavy silence falls over the room. This one lasts much longer than the first until, finally, Nero says, “According to this, my brother, Antony, worked with Luis Diaz.” He holds up the report.
