My eyebrow rose. She didn't go anywhere without someone to do her dirty work.
She took a step closer. "I went through that warehouse footage from the other night. That girl you brought in? She looks like your wife."
She flashed her phone at me. A picture of Sophia lit up the screen.
My chest tightened.
Fuck.
"I don't think you killed her," Virginia continued, her voice light, almost amused. "I think you couldn't. And now I need to know where she is."
I heard it then — the soft glide of her gun against the fabric of her jeans as she pulled it from the small of her back. She aimed it at my forehead.
I'd been in too many of these situations. My heart rate barely increased.
Two men stepped out of the shadows behind her. Armed. Nobody I knew. Her crew were Black men. These two looked hired from some hillbilly hell. She wouldn't use her own people — then they'd know she was capable of betrayal. And her men were looking for any excuse to take her down. Men in this world didn't like taking orders from women.
"Tell me where she is, Vinny."
I stared at her, blood roaring in my ears.
Then I said it clear. "Go fuck yourself."
I moved before she could blink.
My Glock was out before her pupils fully dilated in surprise. The first shot hit the guy on the right. The other one fired back.
The bullet caught me in the back as I ran out the door.
It knocked the wind out of me, sent me stumbling. I hit the dock at full speed, then slipped off the edge and went under.
The water was so cold the blood in my veins chilled. The pain made it worse.
Then everything went black
Chapter Sixteen— Vinny
The water closed over my head again. I could taste it. My lungs screamed as I thrashed, clawing for the surface that kept slipping away. Black spots burst behind my eyes. I was going under for good this time.
Strong hands suddenly locked around my arms and yanked me upward.
I broke the surface coughing and choking, seawater pouring from my mouth onto the gravel. My ribs felt like they were on fire. The hands dragged me the rest of the way out and dropped me on my back.
I gasped for air, blinking the sting from my eyes. A dude with a fresh buzz cut, street clothes, and clear brown skin stood over me. He looked too young for this kind of shit.
He was breathing heavy. "Bael sent me. You were supposed to wait. I saw you go over into the water," he said. "You need a hospital."
How in the fuck had I forgotten about Bael sending someone?
I shook my head. I could feel blood seeping through my shirt, warmer and stickier than the seawater soaking me. Every breath felt like swallowing glass.
"Give me the keys to your car."
He blinked. "What?"
"The fucking car."
A beat of hesitation. Then keys slapped into my palm. "You won't make it five blocks bleeding like—"
