Always.
Boss:
Thanks, man. I am going to bring Evelyn and Badge home.
Me:
Sounds good, compagno!
I sent Badger a text to let her know that I would be home later and to give Lucy a hug and kiss from me. I was glad I knew she was safe at my house. I wanted to be there for her, comfort her after the day she had with Ricci. But I had a job to do.
I just hoped that tomorrow would bring the closure and the answers that everyone needed.
TWENTY-NINE
BADGER
Early the next morning, I walked into the interrogation room behind Phantom. I could feel the anger coming off her in waves. It was time to get the answers we wanted from this fucker.
“Well, good morning, daughter,” Ricci sneered, giving Phantom a blood-filled smile.
I leaned on the far wall near the glass, twirling a knife. I needed to do something with my hands before I pummeled Ricci.
“Where is Sarah?” Phantom asked, devoid of any emotion.
“Ha! How the fuck should I know?” Ricci smiled and dipped his chin slightly to motion toward his bound body. “Kinda tied up at the moment.”
“Don’t play dumb. You know exactly where she is.” Phantom paused and tapped her pointer finger on her chin. “I do believe the last time we spoke, you were grooming her to take over your ‘empire.’”
Ricci let out a humorless laugh. “I have no idea where Sarah is, but I can tell you that you and your team better watch out.” He swiped his tongue out onto his lip to wipe off some blood. “I taught my girl well.”
That seemed to get under Phantom’s skin. She lurched forward, grabbing the front of Ricci’s blood-stained shirt.
“You fucking brainwashed her! Does she know what you did to ourrealfather?!”
Ricci cackled. “Face it, Evelyn, you will never get rid of me. You can torture me or kill me, but at the end of the day, you have no idea what the magnitude of my power is.” He emphasized the last few words. “But Sarah will show you... All in good time.” He leaned back into his chair as Phantom let go of his shirt. “Now, this was a lovely chat, but I’d like to speak to the traitor.”
As if on cue, Kade stalked into the room with a tense jaw and stiff posture. He didn’t want to deal with Ricci any more than we did.
Ricci let out a dry laugh. “Ha! There he is! The man of the hour!”
Evelyn stepped out of the way as he took her place in front of him.
“What the fuck do you want, Butcher?” Kade demanded.
Ricci gave me a sinister smile. “I just wanted to look you in the eye when I told you to watch your back. My friends will be looking for me and my shipments.”
And here it was. We were now dealing with the Mafia side of things. I knew that Kade was the Don of the Mafia, but now it felt real.
“And this has to do with me because?” Kade growled back.
Ricci tilted his head. “Who do you think they are going to come after when they learn of your involvement in interfering with the Cartel?”
I tried to keep my cool as I took in this information. Kade was in bed with the Cartel as well. This wasn’t good.
“And how do you think they are going to find out? Huh?” Kade bit out. He wrapped his hand around Ricci’s throat. “Your protégé is in hiding. But don’t worry, I plan on findingher and terminating anyone who had a vested interest in your shipments.”
A flicker of worry crossed Ricci’s features before he reverted to his cool demeanor. He coughed, wheezing for breath, as Kade released his throat.
