“No one goes in or out of our place without an escort,” he says as we head to Maspeth in Queens. “That means Ava works from home, and both Harry and Lucie Joy have called in sick.They don’t need to be at their jobs every day since they own the fucking places.”
“Want to tell me why you’re so pissed?” I ask as his hand white-knuckles the wheel.
“Your bodyguard job is now much more dangerous.” He pauses, like he’s giving me space, so I take it.
“Our job as a mafia family is dangerous. And a bodyguard position, by definition, is dangerous,” I say, knowing I’ve said the wrong thing the moment the words hit air. Not wrong as in what I’m saying, but the wrong subject matter.
He ignores me. “I’m thinking someone doesn’t want her da found. We’re going in against Roark’s advice.” Cal grits his teeth. “But this lead’s the shortest route to ending this mess, as long as it’s not a trap.”
“Why would it be a trap?” Unease pushes at me. “The threats against her? I?—”
“No, youeejit.I’m talking about Milo. Once we get this done, then he can marry her.” He cuts me a look. “The wedding you never fucking told me about.”
“Whatever. I’m not even sure what that whole future marriage is. He didn’t seem to care when we got fake-hitched that night after the show.”
“A marriage arrangement isn’t our business, Dec.”
No…but it’s my business.
“He only wants the money and the power she’ll represent.”
Cal goes still. “You think he might have killed the da?”
“No.” That’s the thing, I don’t. “I think Heston is either being held captive somewhere, or he went into hiding—my money is on the latter.”
“Because?” Cal asks.
I force myself to slow my frenzied thoughts. “Because if someone killed him, that’d put Cloris at the top of the food chain. They’d never get their hands on his cash. That’s why Ithink he’s hiding. And if someone did take him, it’s because they know he’s worth more alive.”
I swear to God, my brother smiles. Small, secret, and it lights something up in me. “Good work. Yeah, okay, Dec.” He pauses. “But you know you need to let her go when this is over and she’s safe.”
“I know.”
Silence blankets the car for a few miles. Then Cal speaks again. “I heard that Milo’s brother is missing. Please tell me you didn’t do something like find him and the drugs and kill him?”
“Jesus. I’m impulsive but not that stupid.” I look out the window, not really taking in the passing scenery. Of course, I might have killed him by accident. But I figure Roark would know if that was the case.
Callahan pats my leg. “Stay focused on what’s important. Keeping her safe, making sure she’s fine once you part ways?—”
“And finding her da.”
“I was going to fucking say making sure she’s fine for the handover to her mam and Milo.”
His words cut into me. I have to bite my tongue to stop saying something stupid like Milo can fuck himself into oblivion and take her cold mam with him.
We pull up to a house in Maspeth, Queens. It’s a sunny day. My eyes scour the neighborhood. Big, ugly houses with big yards and a lot of for sale signs. I’m not sure many people live here.
But the house we’re in front of is run down and lived in. A broke ass car is in the driveway on cement blocks. Something dark moves through my blood, and I automatically check my weapon, making sure it’s still loaded.
Cal does the same.
“It’s too quiet.”
“This neighborhood’s probably owned by one of the Queens mafia families. Or else this guy—Gregor is what he goes by—likes to lie low in suburban hoods. Who the fuck knows?”
We get out and pass the car. Cal knocks when we get to the front door.
My instincts are screaming.
