“I like picking her up. Like knowing she’s safe at home before I go back out.” I said, reading Ariana’s message again. “No mention of where they’re going out to. I don’t like this shit at all.”
“They probably just went for a drink on the strip,” Markie said. “I’m sure it’s fine, Bones. It’s good that she’s making friends.”
Unconvinced, I called Ariana. Her phone rang several times before going to voicemail.
“She didn’t pick up?” Markie asked, watching me.
I shook my head, pacing the living room as I tried again. “Nope.”
“If they’re at a bar, she probably can’t hear her phone,” Markie reasoned, her gaze bouncing back and forth from Angel to me. “What’s going on? Why does it seem like you two are freaking out about this?”
Angel shot me a look. “We need to tell her, Bones.”
“Tell me what?” Markie asked, leaning forward as her voice took on an edge. “If Ari’s in danger, you damn well better tell me. What is going on?”
“We don’t know if she’scurrentlyin danger,” Angel said.
Markie’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”
He swallowed. “Well, Mattwastrying to kidnap her.”
“Was?” Markie’s voice crept up an octave. “How do you know this? Is he still trying to get at her?”
I shook my head. “Matt told us everything, but don’t worry. He won’t be kidnapping anyone ever again. We made damn sure of that.”
Markie sucked in a breath and her eyes widened as she looked from me to Angel. “Oh. Well… uh… it’s good that he can’t hurt her now, right?” She looked conflicted for a moment before blowing out a breath of relief. “He almost killed her. Who knows who else he’s drugged and left for dead. You guys performed a public service.”
Markie had yet to make peace with our mafia lifestyle and was still in the reason-it-all-away stage.
“It was a job,” Angel replied. “He was going to kidnap her for someone else.”
“What? Who?” Markie asked, back on edge.
I scrubbed a hand across the back of my neck, feeling tension building there, and tried Ariana’s number again. “For someone claiming to be my sister.”
Markie’s jaw dropped. She glared at me and then at Angel. “How long have you known this?”
He dropped his gaze.
“This is my little sister. If you knew she could be in danger, you should have told me.”
“We didn’t want you to worry,” Angel replied. “You’re still recovering, and we’ve been taking steps… we got rid of Matt, and Bones has been keeping an eye on Ari, getting her to and from work.”
Markie arched an eyebrow as she reached for her own phone. “You still should have told me. I’m calling the restaurant to see if her sleazeball of a manager will give me Harlow’s number.”
There was no need, because someone answered Ariana’s phone.
“Hello?” I asked. “Ari?”
Markie dropped her phone and she and Angel gave me their full attention. Knowing they deserved to hear this, I put the call on speaker.
“Nope. She’s asleep right now, Bones, but I’ll let her know you called,” a woman replied.
“Harlow?” I asked.
“Wrong again,bro. You’re about to strike out.”
My shoulders tensed, and my stomach filled with lead. “Natalia,” I spat.
