Page 213 of Merciless Daddy

Sal’s expression hardened.

“Replace everything,” he said. “Every bag. Every garment. Every device. Sweep every vehicle twice.”

“Already underway,” Pietro said.

“Three decoy convoys.”

“Prepared.”

“The real route is selected minutes before departure.”

Pietro nodded again.

“Tonio is with Kiryl,” he said. “I’ll lead the transfer.”

“No,” Sal said. “You lead the transfer. Tonio stays in the armored vehicle with Kiryl.”

Pietro looked like he wanted to argue. Then he understood. A brother’s presence mattered differently than a commander’s.

“Fine,” he said.

The room moved around the plan. Phones. Routes. Drivers. Names I did not know, but trusted because Sal did.

I stood near the desk with the tracker in my sight. Something about it made my skin itch.

“Don’t you think it was too easy?” I said.

Everyone stopped.

Pietro looked at me. “What was?”

“The discovery.”

Angela’s fingers paused over her keyboard.

“The driver was beaten,” Pietro said. “His daughter was recovered from a locked apartment. The tracker was where he said it was.”

“I know.” I pressed my thumb against the edge of the desk. “I know it is real. I am not saying he lied.”

Sal came to stand beside me.

“But?” he asked.

“But Gianni does not give people a clean answer unless he needs them to believe it.” I looked at the little black square. “He wants us looking at Kiryl.”

“Of course he does,” Sal said. “He threatened him.”

“I know, I know.”

The answer came too fast. Too weak.

Because the driver’s daughter was real. Her fear was real. The bruises on his ribs were real. The tracker was real.

I could not call it a trick just because I was frightened. Sal touched my shoulder.

“We protect Kiryl,” he said. “And we protect you. We can do both.”

I looked up at him.