"Why now?" I look between them. "Why wait this long?"
"Because now he has leverage." Lorenzo meets my eyes. "Marina."
The name hits me like a physical blow.
"They weren't trying to kill me in that office," I realize. "They were trying to capture me."
"The cleanup crew arrived too fast," Nico confirms. "They weren't there to dispose of bodies. They were there to collect you. Alive."
"But I got away."
"You got away. And you went straight to her."
"They tracked me to her apartment."
"Yes."
"The sniper. The attack tonight."
I stand again.
This time my legs hold.
This time the rage burning through my veins gives me strength instead of stealing it.
"Where is Alejandro Mendoza?"
"Dante—"
"Where?"
Lorenzo doesn't answer.
Nico steps forward.
"Bruno gave specific orders," he says. "You are not to engage. You are not to hunt. You are to recover and protect Marina while we handle the cartel's Denver operations."
"Bruno can go to hell."
"Dante." Lorenzo rises. "Listen to me. I know what you're feeling right now. I know what this information does to a person. But if you go after Alejandro half-healed with a bullet wound in your side, you will die."
I grab my head with both hands.
Press my palms against my temples.
The pressure doesn't help.
Nothing helps.
"This doesn't make sense."
My voice comes out raw. Broken.
"What doesn't make sense?" Lorenzo asks.
"All of it." I look up at him. "Everything you just told me. None of it adds up."
Lorenzo frowns.
