My blood goes cold. “I’m listening.”
“Not on the phone. Meet me tomorrow. Noon. The warehouse district on the west side. Come alone.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then the people you care about most will pay the price you’ve been avoiding.”
The line goes dead.
I sit frozen for three seconds. Then I’m dialing Declan.
He answers immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“Trace the last call to my phone. Now.”
“On it. What happened?”
“The Petrovs just made contact.”
“What did they say?”
“They want a meeting. Tomorrow. Alone.”
“That’s a trap.”
“Obviously.”
“So you’re not going.”
I don’t answer.
“Cass. Tell me you’re not stupid enough to walk into an obvious trap.”
“They threatened the boys.”
“They’re bluffing. Trying to draw you out.”
“And if they’re not bluffing?”
“Then we handle it the smart way. Not by giving them exactly what they want.”
My other line beeps. Julian calling.
“I have to go,” I tell Declan. “Keep tracing that number.”
I switch over. “Julian.”
“We need to talk about the argument you had with my sister.”
“Not now.”
“Yes, now. She’s upstairs crying and the boys are asking why Mam is sad.”
Guilt hits hard. “I didn’t mean to upset her.”
“But you did. And now we have two problems instead of one. The Petrovs and whatever the hell is happening between you two.”
“She told me to turn myself over to them. What was I supposed to say?”
