“No,”I tell him, still shaking my head.
He sighs, disappointed. “Did you forget my threat, Bella? We had a deal, but if you’re not going to deliver, I’ll have to consider our deal off.” He frowns. “But you do work best with a little incentive…” Gio pulls out his phone, holding it up, the screen facing me, and my blood goes cold.
It’s a picture of Remi and Lily curled up on the couch, watching a movie. Only in this photo, they’re in the middle of a rifle sight, the angle of the camera shows it was taken by someone perched on the fire escape across the alleyway.
The photo is from tonight. Remi’s wearing her favorite unicorn pajamas, and in the background I can see the suitcases that are still in the living room from yesterday.
“I don’t know anything,” I say, quieter.
Gio pulls the phone away, giving me a bored expression. “I really hope you do, Bella, because I’m not walking away without what I came for. And if you really don’t know… well then that’s a pity. Because then there’s only one use for you—and your pretty little daughter.”
My chest burns with rage and I blink away angry tears, curling my hands into fists at my side.
“You’re not going to lay a finger on her,” I growl, even though my voice shakes along with the rest of me.
Giovanni makes a show of checking his watch. “Well, that depends on you, Bella. Where is the Irish shipment dropping tonight?”
I’m going to kill him.
He laughs when he sees the glare on my face.I amuse him. He knows I know.
“So, what’s it going to be, Bella? Do werememberany new details?” He waves his phone at me, the picture of Lily and Remi still on it. “Or do I need to make up my money elsewhere?”
“Yes,” I bite out. Everything in me rebelling against giving Gio the information.
“That’s the answer I was looking for! You’re learning, Bella.”
I don’t respond. Too busy glowering at him.
“Where and when, beautiful? That’s all I need.”
“The docks,” I bite out, watching as he lifts his phone, typing something into it.
“I hope you have more than that.” He raises an eyebrow at me expectantly.
“Port 17. Nine p.m. Tonight,” I clip out between clenched teeth. My shoulders sag with the weight of what I’ve just done. Ieye the clock; it’s almost eight-thirty. Maybe Gio won’t have time to intercept the shipment, or divert it, or whatever the hell he’s planning to do on such a short timeline.
The smile that curves up his face tells me otherwise, and he presses his phone to his ear.
“Did you get my text?” He listens to whoever is speaking on the other end. “You were right about the docks. Get the sniper in place.” He checks his watch. “There’s not a lot of time.”
I freeze.
“Liam O’Rourke is the target.”
My heart skips a beat.Liam?
“Call me when you have eyes,” he says, before ending the call and smiling at me like we’re friends.
I inch toward the door.Liam can’t die. I have to warn them. But I left my phone backstage when I came to get my shoes; it’s not in here. Gio’s still in front of me, and he moves to block my path out of the studio.
“Not so fast, Bella. I have to make sure you’re telling me the truth. Once my guy confirms the intel, I’ll be on my way.”
We wait, just like that,in uncomfortable silence, for what feels like an eternity but is really only ten minutes, until his phone rings.
“Hello?” The dark smile on Gio’s face sets me on edge.
“Excellent. Excellent.”
