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I nodded. Rage put his arm around me, and Wylde continued with his report. “Guy’s called Big Hands La Sal. He was thought to be a capo, but word is he’s moved up to underboss of a gang called the Shaws.”
“The Shaws?” Sting sat up straighter. Atlas too.
“Aren’t they outta Rockwell, Illinois?” Brick stroked his beard, glancing at Sting.
“Shadow Demons territory.” Sting swore. “What the fuck are they doing here?”
“The Shaws have managed a takeover of the Max Dino Mafia. Still kinda small time, but movin’ up in the world. Or trying to,” Wylde answered, continuing with his report. “They’re here because of the law firm Dustin works for. Apparently, the firm is representing a company working for Argent Tech. The details ain’t important. What is, is the money flowing into that company is obscene. Which is why La Sal targeted them. Which, again, ain’t important for us.”
“Well, what the fuck is important for us?” Sting snapped.
“The fact that Rage’s brother owes a significant amount of money to the Dinos. Seems he has a gambling problem as well as expensive tastes. He went through his share of your father’s life insurance and what he could get from his mother. When he had no other source of major income, he went to a loan shark. Just so happened that shark worked for the Max Dinos.”
“So this is how they want him to pay off his debt? Why are they coming after Pepper? Are they coming after Pepper?” Sting crossed one ankle over the opposite knee.
“Yes and no. Dustin got caught this time. They arrested him, and he stayed in jail for three months. Big Hands got him another bail hearing and finally got him out. That’s when he told them Pepper was the one to turn him in.”
“But I didn’t!” I was going to be sick. I had fucking monsters after me because they thought I’d run my mouth. That was never something good when the mafia was concerned. “Dustin wasn’t good to me, but he was still my boyfriend at the time. The father of my child!” I shook my head frantically. “I didn’t approve of what I heard going on, but I was loyal to Dustin.”
“I know you didn’t turn him in, baby,” Rage soothed. “Even if you did, it wouldn’t matter. Little shit got what he deserved.”
“He’s been told to make an example of her,” Wylde said softly. “Or they’ll make an example outta him.” He met Rage’s gaze, and I held my breath. “You think he’ll really go through with it? Hurt her?” There was no question who Wylde was talking to.
“He’ll try,” Rage confirmed. “He takes no responsibility for his actions and has always been out for himself.”
“He said he was going to sell me,” I said softly. “And hurt Cassie before he did as part of my punishment.” I was definitely going to be sick. My stomach bubbled with nausea at the graphic image Dustin had painted to me. I wanted out but I was determined to get through this. I hoped I could do it without puking all over the floor. “He called for me to come pick him up after he made bail. He sounded angrier than I’d ever heard him. That’s when he threatened me and Cassie. It’s also when I split. I knew I had at least a bit of a head start since he expected me to pick him up.”
“So you headed straight here?” It was Sting who asked the question.
I nodded. “I did. Rage had given me this address and his number when he brought me back home from the hospital after I had Cassie.”
“Why not call him?”
“I had no idea if Dustin could trace my phone calls or my car. I left my cell at home and borrowed Mom’s old car from Dad. It’s been years since it’s been driven, and it’s not in very good shape, but it was the only thing I could afford that I was reasonably sure he couldn’t track.”
“There a reason you think he’d be trackin’ you?” Rage asked the question softly, kissing my temple as he did.
“No. It’s just… isn’t that what these kinds of people do?” I looked up at him, realizing I probably sounded stupid. “I mean, I guess it was silly to think that, but I was trying my best to protect Cassie.”
“You did good, honey. Other than the car’s a piece of shit. You were thinking through all the possibilities and not running off without a plan.”
“Well, whatever he plans, he’s got this mob boss breathing down his neck. He’s been given a week to take care of her. After that, Big Hands is comin’ for Dustin.”
“Himself?” Sting asked. “If he’s an underboss, wouldn’t he have one of his capos take care of this? For that matter, why did he go to the bail bondsman himself?”
