"What about the Vance family?"
"Never dealt with them directly. But I've heard rumors. They're desperate. Their operation has been bleeding money for the past two years."
"Desperate enough to kidnap a woman?"
Nico's jaw tightens. "Desperate people do desperate things."
Liam steps forward. He's been silent for the past hour, working his phone and his contacts. "I might have something."
Every head in the room turns toward him.
"I still have connections from my military days," Liam says. "Private contractors, intelligence operatives, people who work in the shadows. Some of them have infiltrated various criminal organizations over the years."
"And?"
"I have men in both families."
The words hang in the air.
"You have men inside the Castellanos and the Vance family?" Pietro asks.
"Not mine specifically. But men I can reach. Men who owe me favors or who will work for the right price." Liam meets myeyes. "They could get us information. Find out if either family is behind this. Maybe even locate where they're holding her."
"Do it."
"It won't be cheap. These men don't work for free, and they don't work for promises. They'll want cash. A lot of it."
"Money has never been the problem." I wheel closer to him. "Whatever they want, they get. Double it if they can give us answers in the next six hours."
Liam nods. "I'll make the calls."
He steps out of the office, already dialing.
Pietro moves to stand beside me. "This could work."
"It has to work."
"Bruno—"
"Don't." I cut him off. "Don't tell me to stay calm. Don't tell me to be patient. Don't tell me everything will be fine."
Pietro doesn't flinch. "I was going to say we'll find her."
I look at my brother.
He's worried too.
They all are.
"I know," I say finally. "I know we will."
Valentino ends his call and joins us. "My people are still searching the warehouse district. Nothing yet, but they're expanding the perimeter."
"Tell them to focus on buildings with recent activity. Power usage, vehicle traffic, anything that suggests someone's been there in the past twenty-four hours."
"Already done."
Nico pushes off from the window. "I'll coordinate with Liam's contacts. Make sure they understand the urgency."
