Vinnie, my guard, stands before me with his hands clasped behind his back while I stare down at Keira’s face. She’s screamed for so long that she’s turning red, and a crushing wave of hopelessness crashes over me like rocks.
“Aerin?” Vinnie asks softly. “What do you want to do?”
Thunder crashes outside as rain lashes the window and Keira jumps in my arms, screaming to new heights. I abandon the bottle and cradle her close to my chest. “I don’t know.”
“I have teams out scouring the city for her, and I have our ear to the ground in case anyone tries to pass her off. Do you want me to reach out to the Italians?”
I shake my head. “No. Not until we know more.”
“We know nothing.”
“I know that,” I snap and Keira cries harder. “I just…” Between the thunder, my own hunger, Keira screaming in my ear, and this new pain that Mom could be anywhere in the hands of anyone, I’m losing my mind. “What about Falco? Has your team found anything?”
“No,” he replies. “Except…”
“Except?” My eyes dart up and Vinnie leans toward me with a small scrap of paper in hand. “I found this. A man matching your description of Bullet was seen at the airport two days ago. We scoured through the footage and found the name he flew under, which was attached to a number.”
“Have you called it?” I ask, snatching the paper scrap.
“No. Your mother was declared missing an hour later so I haven’t had the time.”
“Leave me.”
“Are you sure?” He casts a concerned glance at Keira.
“Leave!”
Vinnie closes the door behind him and I ball up the paper, fighting to organize my thoughts. What would Falco do? What would my father do?
Before Keira, I felt like I was on top of the world. It was easy to make decisions and talk back to the arrogant assholes who claimed to know more than me. Mostly, they did because my father never gave me the full rundown of the drug trade or how often the smallest conversation can result in the biggest deal. I’ve been learning as I go.
But ever since Keira was born, the world has felt different. I see threats everywhere, from the food I eat to the weather and anyone who leans too close. Decisions have become harder because the entire world knows I have a baby and any moment without her sends me into a panic.
Mom usually comforts these thoughts.
I stand slowly and rock Keira back and forth, closing the drapes and taking her to the farthest corner of the room where the thunder is quietest. Back and forth I walk, humming softly and staring at her perfect little face that, even red from crying, still looks exactly like Falco. If only she would take after him in volume.
By the time I calm her to sleep, my brain is mush and I collapse into bed, utterly exhausted.
The next day, Vinnie sprints into the dining room while I’m giving a much happier Keira her morning bottle. “We have a situation,” he gasps.
“What is it?” I ask, not taking my eyes off Keira.
“Hernadez.”
“The Cartel?”
“He’s dead.”
My heart stops in my chest and I look up. “What do you mean he’s dead?”
“Not just him.” Vinnie clutches the back of the dining chair to catch his breath. “His entire family, his entire gang have been wiped out.”
“What the hell?” Hernandez and I only recently became acquainted at a gala to raise money for children. That gala was also a front to one of the largest drug auctions in the world and we struck up a deal on a new drug that’s found its way into the States. “What happened?”
“Everyone’s dead. Likeeveryone. His places are all burned to ash too. No one knows who did it, but they’re saying he must have pissed off the wrong family because it’s got everyone from the Italians to the Yakuza on edge.”
“Do I need to be worried? I just secured a deal with him for those little blue pills, y’know the ones with the flowers?”
