“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I say softly, glancing over my shoulder. “And you’d better come after me. If any of you get shot, I’m going to bereallyfucked off.”
With that, I rip the door open.
Shouting erupts immediately. I emerge slowly, my hands above my head as guns point in our direction. Men duck behind car doors, the glint of barrels focusing on each of us as they follow me down.
A woman strides toward us, clad in a sleek navy-blue suit. Her eyes sweep over me. “Caterina Asante?”
I barely stop myself from flinching as I offer her a cool, unimpressed look. “It’s Corvo. How can we be of assistance, Officer…?”
“Rankin.” She holds up an ID badges, snapping it closed before sliding it into her pocket. I note the gun hanging from her left side. “May I ask where your husband is at the moment?”
“Abroad.” I wave a hand. “You know what these businessmen can be like.”
She eyes the men behind me. “Keep your hands in the air. All of you.”
I feign irritation. “Am I in some sort of trouble? I have an excellent relationship with the Police Commissioner. I can call him now – I’m sure he can sort this out quickly.”
“I’m with RICO.” She moves behind me. “Caterina Asante, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder and human trafficking. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, and if you do not have one, one will be appointed for you.”
There’s derision in her tone. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem, though, for a rich bitch like you.”
Ouch.
She pats me down, pulling out the guns Dante and Gio gave me and tossing them aside. An argument breaks out behind me, cops spreading out to separate me from the men demanding more information, feigning outrage as guns are shoved in their faces. “What about them?”
She turns me, slapping a pair of cuffs around my wrist and tightening them. “Just you. The guns are a precaution, given your… background.”
I smile. “I should think you’d be a little more careful of insulting me, then. As you say – given mybackground. I’ll be out within a few hours. You’ll find that I have a lot of friends in law enforcement, Officer Rankin.”
She leans in. This woman hates me, for whatever reason. I can see it in her eyes, in the filthy look she gives me. “Whereyou’regoing, your background won’t matter. I can promise you that.”
Bingo.
I open my mouth, but a shout carries over the row happening behind us. We both turn, the metal cuffs already cutting into my wrists.
Stefan.
The men gripping his arms struggle to contain him as he surges forward until we can make out his words. “I killed Salvatore Asante.”
My heart stops. “Stefan—,”
Behind him, the others stop. Gio, Dante and Luc all look between us, wariness on their faces. Only Dom doesn’t move. Instead, he meets my stare with his chin lifted.
Stefan doesn’t look at me. Instead, he stares straight at Rankin. “I killed him. I can give you details, as many as you need.”
I clamp my mouth shut. Rankin stares between us, her brows dipping. “Fine. Two for one then. Cuff him.”
He holds his hands out silently, and then we’re both being pulled, tugged to the waiting car that idles a few feet away. Rankin pushes me into the back, behind the driver. Stefan joins me on the other side.
“Go,” Rankin says sharply. Wheels screech as we pull away, leaving them behind.
I sit facing straight ahead, only my eyes moving as I look around. My voice is a low hiss. “What the hell are youdoing?”
“Where you go, I go.” There’s not an ounce of regret in his voice as he studies the plastic screen separating us from the front. “Whatever happens.”
I don’t know whether to kiss him or punch him. A problem to consider – later.
Slowly, my eyes lingering on Rankin, I lean forward. Her search was sloppy at best, and the shim I created from the broken pen lid slides easily into my hand. Rankin is muttering into her phone, and I pause when her eyes dart up to the rearview mirror.
