We got away clean, while Brooks was left behind in the van.On my father’s orders.
Oh my God, had my father called ahead to warn Dom that my men would be breaking me out of there?Had they made some sort of deal that Dom could keep Brooks if my men got away with me?
I despise the thought, but it makes a whole lot of sense, and it wouldn’t be the first time Dom and Gemini made deals regarding Brooks and me that they didn’t run by us first.
“We go in without any of Gemini’s men,” I say abruptly, turning toward Daniel.“No one who might have any allegiance to my father.No one who’s worked for him before.”
Daniel looks up from his computer, his forehead creased.“That’s going to be hard to accomplish, Lucien.Most of our men worked for your father at some point.”
I slam my coffee cup to the table, splashing coffee across the surface.“And some of them have worked for me from the start.Those are the only men I want with me.No one who might have ties to my father.Get on the phone to Simon.See if he has any inside information about Pier 9 that we can use.”
Daniel gives me a long stare, no doubt wondering when I lost my mind, but then nods and goes back to work, reaching for his phone and dialing a number by heart.I watch him for a moment, knowing how lucky I am to have a man like him, then turn when I hear someone else come into the room.
Luke has more coffee, thank God, and is wearing a grim expression that tells me he’s about to deliver more bad news.
Terrific.
“What?”I ask, grabbing at one of the coffees.
He holds the tray closer so I don’t have to struggle, then takes a sip of his own.“I met with Jacky again.He says his father has plans at the port tomorrow night.Says there’s some outside money Sean wants to meet with.”
Outside money.
Foreigners.
The Russians.
Why the hell are they going to be at the port on the same night the girls are being transferred.Are they there for the highest profile girls?For Aislyn and the governor’s daughter?
Whey would they come to collect them personally?If they have enough money to buy girls of that caliber, surely they also have enough money to pay for a fucking transporter.They’ve never been welcome in New Orleans, and if the families find out the Russians are in town–and that they’re stealing our girls–there’s going to be hell to pay.
Though maybe that’s the whole point.
God.
“Anything else?”I ask, hoping he has more to give me.
Luke shakes his head, though, and I think for a moment that it might be better to send Luke into the Duhon operation himself.Let Jacky take him in and make him an ally within the house.Jacky would never wear a recording device, but Luke would, and if I could get more information about what Sean is up to...
I shake my head before I follow the idea any further.It’s a good idea, and I know Jacky would do it, but Luke is only twenty-one, and though he’s big and at least a little bit clever, he’s also young and fairly stupid.He doesn’t like killing people and I know for a fact that he can be talked into just about anything but a pretty girl.
Hell, Brooks managed to convince him that I gave her permission to take one of my Ducatis and leave my house, right after I told him not to let her go anywhere.
And the truth is, Luke is one of the only people in my family I actually like.I don’t want to put him in harm’s way before he’s ready.At least no more than strictly necessary.
I turn back to the lists and start scanning, thinking about the other person I like in my family.
My baby sister.
She should be in this house, should be taking up space in the kitchen and shouting at the cook about how to make the best hash browns.Coming down here and sticking her nose into my business, demanding to know what’s going on and how she can be involved.Trying to cut me down with those flashing brown eyes of hers, and pretending she knows exactly what she’s doing when she doesn’t have the first fucking clue.
God, she’s annoying.
And the house feels empty and haunted without her here.
My father has asked me at least one hundred times in the past day when I’m going to pick a wife and settle down, but hasn’t said anything about my sister, and suddenly that seems suspicious as well.Does he not realize she’s missing?
Or did he have a deal with Dominick Landry for her, as well?
