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"That's right, Loren. Run. We'll find your kid, we'll find you, and you'll fucking regret the day you turned on us. Ace wants your fucking head, you bitch."
The stairs are just ahead, and then I'm taking them two at a time, flying up to the same level as the security room. As I round a corner at a full sprint, I slam into a solid wall of muscle and immediately begin to fight it, sure that Roulette is about to crack my bones.
"Hacker? What the fuck?"
I blink up at Big Luck. Logically, I know I should open my mouth and tell him that there are hackers in the casino. Dangerous ones that could go toe-to-toe with born and bred mafiosos any day of the week. They're experts at disappearing in broad daylight, out from under anyone's nose. I should warn him.
But the terror is catching up with me. They know about Evelyn. Somehow, they know, and they'll find her. I need to tell Domenic. I need to—
"Tighten the security measures," I tell Big Luck quickly. "Go to the security room and tell them to reset the system. Total system reset. Doesn't matter that there are people in the casino, and it'll go dark for a sec—I don't fucking care.Total reset, and then they need to troubleshoot like no tomorrow. Okay?"
I don't wait for the big lug's response as I dart away out of the backrooms of the casino. I'm getting looks from finely dressed customers as I dash past and up the stairs, ignoring both them and the elevator.
When I get to the top floor, it crosses my mind that I should hesitate. These are important people in here, not to mention Domenic's fuckingfather. Another Caputo and another dangerous man I probably don't want to be on the wrong side of.
But our daughter is in danger. His casino is in trouble. I just need to tell him, and I need to tell him now because if the Wild Seven finds Evelyn—
I can't. I can't lose her. God, no.
I barge into the company meeting, and a dozen pairs of eyes flick to me as they make sounds of displeased surprise. My gaze latches on Domenic. He sits at one end of the table, a stunned expression on his face.
His brow furrows, and he begins to stand. "Loren? What—"
"Hackers," I blurt, heart racing and tongue not working fast enough for everything I have to say. "I—I hacked into the mainframe. I just had a feeling, and there they were. They're—something is about to go down. I said a total system reset, and I don't know if Big Luck will get to the security room in time, but—God, they know aboutEvelyn."
"What the hell is this about?" one of the people at the table grumps.
"Youhackedour mainframe?" Domenic's father growls.
Domenic doesn't spare them a glance, his concern growing as he takes in my appearance and settles on the red marks around my throat from Jack choking me. He begins to round the table, but I don't have time for his concern aboutme.
I'm panicked about my daughter.
"Domenic," I start again, but I'm cut off by his father also standing.
He has a disgusted look on his face. "You're just letting this woman burst in here, a sobbing, emotional wreck? What is a fucking hacker doing in my casino? This is pathetic, Nic. This is an important meeting. Now get her out of here and behind bars or in the back rooms for interrogation."
Domenic's eyes flash, and he grits his teeth as his head snaps in his father's direction. "This is my meeting. Not yours. As of now, I'm rescheduling. Anyone else have a problem with that?"
The others at the table exchange unsure glances, clearly not wanting to upset either don, but Domenic's father makes a sound of disgust.
"Thisis why I need to get involved. You preach about showing control and being a part of the new way things are done, but you're just following your dick, aren't you? You've had this hacker bitch under our family's protection? That's a waste of resources. Get heroutof here."
I'm so flustered and shaky that my panicked look simply returns to Domenic. He sees my terror clearly and turns back to the table. Leaning forward with his hands braced there, his voice becomes a low, dangerous murmur that I feel in my bones.
"If you want to talk wasted resources, we'll discuss cutting off a retired don who doesn't adapt to change from the family's generosity later. In the meantime, keep your mouth shut about the woman I love and get the fuck out of my meeting."
Wait. What? Did he just say…
Love?
That breaks through my panic long enough that I gaze at him in surprise. Domenic looks equally as surprised when he realizes that slipped out, but then his expression hardens into that familiar persistence I've seen on it before. He may have said it by accident, but he's not backing down from this. He's owning it. He meant it.
I can't even breathe. Domenic Caputolovesme? How the fuck did this happen?
And…do I love him?
Yes.
