My heart pounded in my chest. I blinked a few times, but I couldn’t clearly see the guy’s face before he turned the corner. However, what I did see was a man very similar to Deluca, dressed in an expensive suit. He was tall with dark hair slicked back, and he moved with a confidence that made my stomach roil with rage. It was a trait both he and his brother had. What the hell was Vincent Deluca doing in Charlotte? A new emotion gripped my insides like a vise—fear. I wasn’t afraid of that cocksucker, but Iwasafraid for Ayla. I didn’t want her anywhere near him.
“Declan?” Ayla called out, pulling on my hand. “You okay? It’s time for us to cross.”
Kat and Jonah were halfway across the street, but I couldn’t go. I had to see if it was Vincent.
“Go,” I told her, trying not to let her see the panic in my eyes. “There’s something I need to do.”
Her eyes widened. “What is it?”
I shook my head and urged her to cross the road while there was still time. “Please, just go. I’ll explain later. Just get inside Kat’s condo.”
Ayla was a feisty woman and I knew she wanted to press me for answers, but I didn’t give her time. I took off the opposite way where I last saw the man who looked like Vincent turn the corner. When I got there, I saw him again at another corner, only I still didn’t get a good look at his face. That feeling of dread sat in the pit of my stomach like a rock. My instincts had never failed me before, but what were the chances of Deluca being in North Carolina?
I hurried to the corner of the building and peeked around the edge. He disappeared into the darkness of a parking garage. Out of habit, I reached for my gun, only for it not to be there. I hadn’t carried one in six months. Without it, I was useless. Even if I was physically stronger than Vincent Deluca, he undoubtedly would be packing. He would shoot me and not even blink an eye. Hell, I would do the same.I killed people without any remorse for years. Granted, they were all bastards who deserved to die.
But I had to know if it was him. I had to follow the guy.
Nobody was walking on this side of the building. It was dark, with only a flicker of light coming from a street post. Just a couple of blocks over there were lights and people, but here, it was as if it was a different world, much darker.
The feeling of unease grew stronger inside me.
I slowly walked into the parking garage, and all was quiet. It was dimly lit but enough so that I could see where I was going. The man was nowhere to be found. There was no movement, only silence.
But then, up ahead, was something shiny on the concrete floor. It was right in the middle of the parking garage. I don’t know why, but whatever it was, it felt as if it was left there for me.
I walked toward it, my steps the only sound echoing all around me. Sweat broke out on my forehead and more rolled down my back, soaking my shirt. When I reached the object on the ground, my blood ran cold. It was a bullet . . . and not just any bullet. I bent down so I could see it clearly. Engraved on the shiny silver metal were the letters VD. Vincent Deluca.
Vincent and Joseph were notorious for committing crimes with that kind of evidence, not even caring that it could incarcerate them—that is, if the system wasn’t corrupted. They got off by giving themselves away, knowing they’d never get in trouble. That was why he was on the Circle of Justice’s list; that was why he needed to die. There were too many corrupt people in law enforcement, always turning their heads for the right price.
Not me.
I knew the world was a shitty place and that crime was going to be around no matter how many good people tried to stop it. The Delucas were known for being violent and punishing those who would dare to go against them. I didn’t care if mafia families wanted to kill each other off. However, I did care when innocents would die in the process. The Delucas were known to go after their enemies and not care who got hurt in the process, whether it be women, children, or any other innocent bystander. They didn’t care about anyone but themselves.
With my heart about to beat out of my chest, I picked up the bullet and squeezed it in my hand. What did it all mean? I looked around at the cars, waiting for Vincent to show himself. He wasn’t the type of person to hide. For a split second, I felt thedanger intensify, but then it quickly came to a halt when the sound of drunken laughter filled the air.
A group of about six twenty-something-year-olds came stumbling into the parking garage, slurring their words and singing at the top of their lungs.
One of the girls whistled at me and winked. “Hey, sexy. Want to join us?”
I slid the bullet into my pocket and headed toward the exit, not even responding. I had to get out of there. Once I was away from the darkened street and back around people, I pulled out my phone and called Ian.
“Hey,” he answered. “What’s up?”
“Have you found Deluca yet?” My heart was racing so fast that my chest hurt.
“Not yet,” he replied. “Why? What’s wrong?”
I made it to Kat’s condo building and hurried inside, watching through the glass windows to see if Vincent appeared anywhere.
“I think he’s here in Charlotte, North Carolina,” I said, keeping my voice low. There were people in the lobby and a security guard at the desk.
“Seriously?” I could hear the surprise in his voice. “I’ll get my brother on this right now. If Vincent’s in Charlotte, Reed will find him.”
Reed Chandler was also partof the Circle of Justice and one of the best hackers in the world. With him having a starting point, I had no doubt he’d find Deluca.
“And that’s not all,” I divulged. “I found something on the ground; it’s a bullet with the letters VD engraved on it. I might just be paranoid, and it could easily be a coincidence, but I don’t feel like it is.” Still looking out the window, I rubbed my chest. “I’m pretty sure it was him, Chandler. What I’d like to know is what the fuck he’s doing here.”
I was pretty sure I knew the answer already. If I was right, I had no choice but to finish what I had started.
