"Who the hell is that?" Luca keeps his body between me and everyone else. He scans the area and nods toward the new guy.
“Kon’s cousin.”
Speaking of. Luca’s brother steps out of a doorway to our left. He drops a guard on the floor and answers me as if he was part of the conversation all along.
"Da. My cousin. Cristian. Arrived yesterday." Kon's deep voice carries a rare note of pride as he steps over the dead body. "Wanted to see how Chicago handles business. He’s getting first hand experience."
That’s for sure.
Cristian's dark eyes find mine for a fraction of a second, and the small nod he offers carries the formality of a man acknowledging an introduction at a dinner party rather than in the middle of a war zone. Then he's gone, melting into the shadows of the next corridor as if he was never there at all.
"Useful," Drake mutters from my other side as he and Rafael come up, both watching the space where Cristian disappeared.
“It’s clear in this direction. All threats neutralized in the east and west wings. I’m heading up to the second level.”
That’s Rafael.
That leaves the south wing where my father is. I turn my attention to Luca at the same time he turns to me.
“Your father.” His jaw hardens. “He owes me. Where do I find him?”
“This way.”
“Wait.” Luca pulls a gun from the back of his waistband and holds it out to me, handle first. "You know how to use this?"
I give a single nod. "Pretty simple. Point and shoot, right?"
His mouth twitches despite the fury still burning in his eyes. "Good enough. Stay close. I want to feel your hand on my back at all times. Copy?"
“Copy. He’s that way.” I'm not about to argue as I point down the last corridor.
We move together through the last stretch of corridor, my free hand pressed flat against his back, feeling the muscles shift beneath his blood-stained shirt with every step.
The warmth of him seeping through the fabric is the most confusing sensation I've ever experienced, the man who lied to me providing the only safety I have in a house built by the man who never wanted me.
I’ll be working that out in therapy for a long time.
Two guards converge from opposite ends of the hallway and Luca shoves me against the wall, blocking me with his body. He fires off twice in rapid succession–left and then right. It happens so quickly my brain doesn’t register everything until the bodies hit the floor.
Luca turns back to me, gun down. His large body is a wall in front of me. He tilts his head down and his gaze caresses over my body before finding my face. "Are you okay?” He wears a scowl that deepens the lines around his face.
I nod, not trusting my voice not to squeak.
I can see massive amounts of anger brewing behind those dark eyes. “Let’s move,” he husks deeply. “Watch our backs and don’t be afraid to drop anyone who isn’t part of our team.”
This man is looking to eliminate souls from bodies and I can’t say I blame him.
Another five paces and we finally reach the study. The large doors stand ajar, firelight flickering through the crack. Luca pushes through with me behind him.
But we only find silence.
My heart starts beating erratically. My mother is gone from the chair by the fireplace and my father…where did they?
I fist Luca’s shirt where I have my hand on his back. He draws up and looks at me over his shoulder, gun raised and ready for the enemy.
“They’re not in here.” Acid swirls and boils in my stomach. “He’s taken her behind the wall.”
Confusion crosses Luca’s expression. I take a deep breath and try again. But instead of explaining I go to the large bookcase behind my father’s desk and slide a ceramic owl to the side.
