"I can make this really painful."
"The orphanage," he croaked out.
I strangled him until he blacked out. Bastard still had a pulse, but that wasn't my call. I stood, retrieved his gun, and called my father.
"Tech's dirty," I said, glaring at my former friend and mentor. "You want him for questioning?"
"Yes."
"Call someone to get him. I'm going after Markie and the twins."
"Did he tell you where they are?" Father asked. "Wait. Don't say anything over the phone. Take Bones, and anyone else you trust. Call me the second their safe."
We disconnected, and I called Bones, opening the door for security to retrieve Tech as I slipped out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Angel
ISNEAKED OUT of the self-storage building hiding Tech's lair and crept into the shadows of nearby buildings to hide and wait for Bones. Before long, a hunter-green Honda Civic with darkened windows pulled into the neighborhood. It slowed and idled at the corner. I kept Tech's Glock in my left pocket and pulled out my Desert Eagle. I switched off the safety and watched the car. The driver's side window rolled down. Bones stuck his head out and looked up and down the road. Relieved, I flipped the safety back on and hurried out to greet my friend.
"Whose ride is this?" I asked, sliding into the small backseat as I waved to Ariana who sat in the passenger's seat.
"My mom's. We had just stopped by her house when you called, and I thought it best to use a vehicle nobody knows about."
"Good thinking."
Ariana turned around, her mouth pressed into a thin line and her eyes red and swollen. "Good. Now that that's settled, can one of you please tell me where the hell my sister is?"
"Ari--" Bones reached for her.
She deflected his hand. "Don't you touch me. I swear to God if one of you doesn't tell me what's going on right now, I'm calling the cops."
"The orphanage," I blurted out. "Get us there, Bones."
He put the car into gear and flipped a U-turn, heading toward the orphanage.
***
The orphanage door was locked, so the three of us took turns banging on it until we pissed someone off enough to open it. A woman I didn't recognize cracked the door and told us Markie hadn't been there in days. Tech had lied. Now I had no clue where to look. I ran a hand through my hair and pulled out my phone to let the old man know I'd failed. Maybe the Pelinos had nabbed Markie and the kids and Tech had lied about that, too.
"Angel. Pst, Angel."
Bones and I both had our hands on the guns in our pockets as we spread out and searched for the source of the whispers. Bones nodded toward the bush on the side of the building and we crept over to find Myles crouched down behind it.
"What are you doing out here?" I asked, releasing my hold on my gun.
"Waiting for your slow ass. I thought you'd never get here, but Markie made me promise to wait for you."
My heart skipped a beat. Before I could say anything, Ariana lunged forward. "You know where Markie is?" she asked.
"Yeah, I know where she is, but who the hell are you?"
That helped me find my voice. "Myles, this is Ariana, Markie's sister. Can you take us to Markie?"
"Fool, what do you think I'm waiting here for?" he asked. Then he turned and motioned for us to follow him down the side of the building. We crept past the open field to a small storage shed. A broken lock dangled from the hook beside the door. Myles knocked out a little tune, and then opened the door.
Luciana and Georgio stared up at me with dirty, tear-streaked faces. Recognition widened their eyes and they both lunged at me. Overjoyed to see them, I kneeled down and gathered the little monsters into my arms, squeezing them tightly. Then I let go so I could examine them. Their clothes were torn and filthy, and several small cuts and scrapes covered the exposed area of their arms, but they were alive.
