“Just drive,” I said, slamming the door.
Rory merged into the late-night Manhattan traffic.
“Home,” I ordered. “And make sure that surveillance is installed in her apartment the second it’s empty. Full kit. I want everything recorded.”
Rory nodded. “Got it. You wanna debrief or brood?”
“Both.”
He glanced over. “Shoot.”
“Delgado’s holding fucking auctions. Not behind closed doors. Not in back rooms. Onstage. In front of drunk assholes with fat wallets. Every dance is a sales pitch. Lyla doesn’t even know she’s the product.”
Rory swore under his breath.
“Guy tried to jump her mid-performance,” I growled. “Some manager shot him. Point blank. Blew his goddamn head across the stage and all over Lyla.”
Rory let out a low whistle. “Damn.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, then slammed my fist into the glove box.
Rory didn’t flinch. “You good?”
“She’s in shock. Blood all over her. Probably still thinks if she keeps her head down and does her job, she’ll be fine.”
“She doesn’t know a thing about sex trafficking, huh?”
“Not a clue.”
Rory exhaled through his teeth. “Delgado’s fucking disgusting.”
“Disgusting doesn’t cover it,” I snapped. “I want every last one of those cartel pricks gutted. Hung from hooks. Left to rot in the dark with rats chewing through their goddamn faces.”
Silence settled between us.
“Tonight changed that girl,” I said quietly after a beat. “She walked in with wide eyes, thinking she was just doing a job, and she walked out with a man’s brain matter on her chest. That doesn’t wash off. Not ever.”
Rory exhaled sharply. “And you? You planning on telling her what kind of world she’s really in anytime soon?”
I glanced out the window. “I’m the last man she would trust. She thinks I’m one of them. Hell, I probably look worse to her right now than the man who pulled the trigger. At least he shot the guy who tackled her.”
Rory gave me a sideways look. “So what now?”
“I keep her in the dark so she’ll play along and not draw attention to herself. Tomorrow, I’ll make sure she stays the fuck home. She needs some time to wrap her mind around what happened, needs to lay low. I don’t want Delgado getting suspicious. If he even thinks she might squeal or that she’s tied to me, she’s dead.”
“And how do you plan to keep her quiet?”
“I’ll shut down the coffee shop for a day. Call it a surprise inspection. Pay Carmine double to sell the story.”
I pulled out my phone and dialed. Carmine answered on the second ring.
“Close up tomorrow. Tell the team it’s a health inspection and that they’re getting paid in full for the day.”
“What—”
“Don’t argue, Carmine. I’ll make it worth your while. Call Trina. Tell her to give Lyla the heads-up.”
I hung up.
