Lorenzo looks at me now the way he used to before everything went dark—waiting for direction, for judgment, for permission.
“I came to ask you for a way to extract her,” he says. “She’s miserable there, boss. I—” His voice catches for half a second before he steadies himself. “I want to pull her out of that life. I was working on it on my own time, but when Neri said you had an interest…” He exhales. “I need the strength of our family. Of the Gallo family.”
I slip my phone back into my pocket, my jaw tightening as the full shape of it settles in.
Two years ago, I told Lorenzo to disappear. To cut ties so completely even I wouldn’t be able to find him unless he wanted to be found. To bury himself inside the family that posed the greatest long-term threat.
He chose the Pavlovs.
As it turns out, he chose right. The Pavlovs are at the root of every Bratva incursion in New York City that happened in the past few years. They’re behind everything.
And if Georg took Coral, this isn’t just a turf war anymore. It’s personal.
“Can you do it?” I ask. “Extract her?”
“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “But once I move, everything accelerates.”
I think of Amber. Of the way she looked at Rose in that hospital bed. Of the wreckage in her apartment. Of the red letters on the wall.
“We’re doing this,” I say. “But we do it clean. And she doesn’t know yet.”
Lorenzo nods. “Understood.”
The water slaps against the pylons again, louder now, impatient.
I step back. “Stay alive.”
He gives a grim smile. “You too, boss.”
I turn and walk away before either of us can say anything else.
For the first time since the docks, I let myself believe it.
We’re going to bring her home.
“Oh, boss. One more thing.”
Lorenzo hands me a picture.
“This is the man they sent after Amber. They know she’s still looking for her sister. Georg isn’t happy. He’s held off killing her until now because Coral begged him to, but I think he’s going to do something. Especially now that Anton’s too dead to stop him from being reckless.”
I take the picture. My mind fills with white noise at the thought of Amber in danger. “When?”
“Tonight. And he’s using this guy for it.”
I glance at the picture.
In it is a man. Cropped hair, black suit jacket and pants…
“Cazzo.”
… and a red dress shirt.
21
AMBER
Closing always feels heavier after three.
