I nodded. “We are. Okay, pair up.”
Maybe peace in my life was elusive, but I had friends. I had this. I didn’t need anything else.
CHAPTER 4
GEORGIE
Icrouched on the roof and lifted the binoculars. Zooming in, I focused on the front door of Red Neon.
Bright neon lights blinked above the club door, along with a set of singing lips that was the club’s logo.
My hands shook, my throat was so tight that I could barely swallow. There was a long line of clubgoers hungry to get in despite the cold wind. So many young women, dressed in their short, sparkly best, huddled inside their coats. Dressed up the same as Viv liked to do.
Ignoring the crowd, I swiveled and focused in on the two bouncers in black. I’d seen them around. The blond was Sam Alden, and the darker one was Mark Zanotti. They were part of Snyder’s posse.
I’d also seen them in videos, using my sister.
My hands clenched on the binoculars. I kept a notebook. I printed out pictures of everyone and took notes on all of them.
Then the door of the club opened and a man stepped out.
My stomach dropped, a hot wave of rage washing over me.
He was about six feet tall and bulky. The one word to describe him was wide. He had a square jaw, pronounced brow, and a shaved head.
His name was Frank Bruno.
He was Snyder’s right-hand man.
He was also the man who’d taken great delight in beating me up and putting me in the hospital. He’d almost broken my arm, bruised my ribs, and given me a black eye.
Bruno was a man I’d seen violently fucking my sister from behind while she cried and screamed. Nausea filled my throat and I almost vomited, but I fought for control.
I watched as he spoke to the other two bouncers, all of them laughing together. Bruno clapped Alden on the shoulder, his attention shifting to eye two barely legal women in short skirts at the front of the line. He lifted a meaty hand and waved for them to enter the club.
I couldn’t hear from my vantage point, but I saw the young women squeal and follow Bruno inside.
Dragging in some deep breaths, I wrangled my emotions under control. I had to get inside. I wanted to see Snyder without him seeing me. I needed to know everything about his routine, the layout of his club, things he did on repeat.
Then I could find the best spot and time to take him down.
But seeing Bruno… I wanted to take him down, too.
He deserved it. They all deserved it.
I lifted my cellphone, thumbed the screen, and played a saved voice message from Viv. I’d replayed it so many times I knew the words by memory.
“Hey, Georgie.” Her voice was a little shaky, but she wasn’t high. I knew what that sounded like all too well. “I just….” A gusty sigh. “I just wanted to tell you that I love you. You’re the best big sister a girl could have. The Linden Sisters against the world. See you soon.”
I closed my eyes and played it again.
I’d never see her again.
I’d never see her smile, hear her sing, get one of her giant, enthusiastic hugs.
Snyder had trapped her, treated her like shit, abused his power.
He’d stolen something beautiful. My sister with the big laugh, the beautiful voice, and so much love in her heart, was dead.
