“What?”
“Yes.” I turn to Sofia. “Which one is his phone?”
She hands a battered black phone to me. “This one.”
“Thanks.” As I take it from her, I murmur, “I really think you should go in the bedroom for this.”
Her chin lifts again. “No.” Her gaze meets mine. “I’m staying here. And whatever you do to them, don’t worry about me judging you for it. I promise.”
I kiss her forehead. “Just stay back, okay?”
She nods. “I will.”
Once I get back beside Gio, I crouch down. He flinches at the death burning in my gaze. “Okay,” I start. “I’m guessing someone sent you. Am I right?”
He shakes his head.
I pull my gun from my waistband and put it to his forehead. Then I cock the trigger. “Try again.”
What little color he had left drains from his face. But he still shakes his head. “No. I won’t talk.”
“Sofia.” I glance in her direction again. “Does he have any photos in his wallet?”
She looks through his wallet and nods. “Yes. An older woman. It looks like it might be his mom.”
Gio gasps. “No. NO.” His eyes roll. “You can’t. She’s not involved?—”
“Yes,” I growl. “Yes. I can. You came here looking for the woman I love. What were you going to do once you found her? Beat her? Take her?Killher?”
“Please,” Gio begs, “just leave her alone. I’ll?—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Dave snaps. “He’s not going to do anything.”
“David here has a photo of a woman in his wallet,” Sofia says. “She’s very pretty. And she’s holding a really cute dog.”
Dave goes quiet.
“So,” I continue. “You have two choices. And remember, I’m in control now. Not you. Either you tell me why you’re here and who sent you, or I kill you and go after the people you care about. Which do you choose?”
Would I really? Go after an innocent mother or girlfriend? A helpless animal? No. Never. But they don’t know that. And I really hope Sofia knows that, too.
Gio stares at me. His chin wobbles. “Fine. But you won’t hurt my mom. Right? You’ll leave her alone?”
“Yes.” I lift the gun from his forehead. “Now. Why were you here?”
He swallows. “To take the woman. Deliver her to our boss.”
“How did you get in here?”
“The heating vents. We came in through the kitchen.”
Fuck. The damn vents?
I take a steadying breath. “And who’s your boss?”
He shakes his head again. “I can’t say. He’ll kill me.”
“Okay.” I start to stand. “I’ll go look up where your mom lives now.”
