35. Lancelot
LANCELOT
C orbin glanced around, frowning. “Where’s Tony?”
“They took him too, or he ran off, or…” I sank onto the couch and dropped my head into my hands. “I don’t know.”
Corbin sat beside me and wrapped an arm around me. “We’ll find them both.”
I wanted to believe that, but the odds of them both being alive weren’t great.
The doorbell rang, and I looked up to see Henri ushering in Ambrose and Remington.
“Did it work?” Corbin asked.
Ambrose grinned. “Have you ever known me to fail?”
Corbin shook his head, and Dax laughed. “We got them. We’re ready to proceed.”
“Got who? What are you talking about?” Anger filled me. Julian was somewhere, maybe hurt, maybe… and Remington was just going on with business and leaving me out of the loop.
“Calm down.” Corbin laid a hand on my arm.
“Fuck no.” I shoved him away. “Julian’s out there. We need to find him. We’ve got to move on this.”
Remington held up his hand. “Thanks to Ambrose, we now have leverage. I’m about to make a call to Valentino and demand a meeting. We’re going to negotiate, and we’re going to get Julian back.
“What kind of leverage?”
Ambrose grinned. “The kind that involves knowing where the bodies are hidden and knowing how to jeopardize their most lucrative business.”
“The drugs?”
“They’re running that shit through the swamp,” Ambrose said. “I found some of the links in their supply chain. They may think they’re going to expand their power base, but they’ve got no fucking clue how to destroy evidence.”
“So we’re going to threaten to turn them in?”
Remington shook his head. “No, they’re old school. They live by rules and codes like we do. We won’t involve the police. I’ll tell them I’m going to call their competition and Martin Valdez, their South American supplier. He’s not a man who has patience with associates who fuck things up.”
This was great. Even the Carlottis would be wary of Valdez. “You’ve been working on this, and you didn’t tell me.”
Dax nodded. “You wanted to focus on taking care of Julian, so Ambrose and I focused on this. Remington wanted to be part of the final steps today.”
I looked at my brother. “Don’t tell me you went out in the swamp?”
“I do what I need to when our family’s safety is at risk.”
“You think he’ll agree to a meeting?”
“He doesn’t have any choice. I’ll demand Julian’s return, and he’ll comply.”
“And the necklace? I have access to the replica.”
“What? Did you?—”
“I didn’t steal it. I convinced the museum director to give it to me.”
Remington closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Fine. Give them the replica. That was too risky when we had to use the necklace as our primary bargaining chip, but now we’ll give them the fake and return their piece of shit cousin alive. That’s the only concession they get.”
“And you think they’ll go for it?”
“I’m going to have to sell it hard.”
I shook my head. “Not you. Me. I fucked up. I got us deeper into this. It’s my fault Julian was ever involved, and I’m going to fix things.”
“These men aren’t going to fall for any of your antics. They?—”
“I can handle this. I need to handle this.”
Remington held my gaze, and my heart raced as I waited for his response. I couldn’t sit still and watch someone else negotiate for Julian’s life. It had to be me.
He laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I trust you.”
My heart stuttered, and my knees threatened to buckle. “You do?”
Remington nodded. “I do. We don’t approach things the same way, but while you might break something in the process, you always sort it out in the end.”
“I won’t break anything this time.” Unless we somehow got the advantage and I could break the fucking necks of the men who’d taken Julian. I wanted blood, but I was going to have to be satisfied with a truce for now.
When Remington returned from making his call, his expression was grim. My heart slammed against my chest much too fast. If I stood up, I’d likely fall over.
“What did he say?” Dax asked.
“He agreed to the meeting, but it wasn’t easy to get him there. He tried to brush off the seriousness of the information we have, but the more details I gave, the faster he talked. He’s nervous.”
“He damn well better be nervous,” Ambrose said. “I don’t bluff, and I know exactly how to get the message where it needs to go.”
I had no doubt he did. My cousin might be a recluse, but that didn’t mean his information network wasn’t top-notch.
“Then what’s the problem?” I asked.
“He wants the meeting to be one-on-one. Our representative and him.”
“No way will that bastard show up without backup.”
Remington nodded. “I told him that was unacceptable, that I wasn’t foolish enough to come to him on my own.”
“You told him it would be you.”
“He assumed it would be me.”
Remington better not be trying to push me out. “I’m doing this.”
“I know you are. Sending you in will help them see they can’t call all the shots. We agreed to two guards each. So I will?—”
“No.”
Remington’s brows rose.
“You can’t be part of this. If things go south, they’re not taking you out along with me.”
“That’s a reasonable concern, so Dax will go?—”
“No one should?—”
“This is not a negotiation.” Remington glared at me, and I knew I’d pushed him far enough. “Dax and Ambrose will go with you. Corbin and I will be outside.”
“I don’t want you near the meeting place.”
“That’s how it’s going to be, or I’ll go in instead.”
I wanted to argue. I didn’t want any of my family members in danger. I was more than willing to go in on my own. I knew there was a damn fine chance I wouldn’t make it out of there alive. I just hoped Julian and Tony would.
“Did he say anything about having Tony?”
Remington shook his head. “We’ll find him.”
“You’d probably be glad if?—”
“No, Lancelot. You love Tony. I want him returned to you safe and sound, ready to cause all kinds of trouble. I would happily go in there and face this motherfucker to get Julian and Tony back for you.”
Tears burned behind my eyes. “Thank you, but this is my mess. I’m going to clear it up and prove I can calmly negotiate when it’s required. I can’t let you keep thinking you’re better than me.”
“Asshole.” Remington pulled me into his arms and squeezed me tight.
“When’s the meet?” I asked when we finally let go of each other.
“One hour.”
“And the prisoner?”
“You’re to bring him along and return him after they meet our demands.”
“Then Valentino will have three men there on his side.”
Remington blew out a breath. “You know he’s going to bring more than that, even if they’re not visible.”
“And we’re going to do the same.”
I took a deep breath before entering the building—a warehouse at the docks in neutral territory—where Remington had arranged for us to meet Valentino.
Dax and Ambrose were right behind me, and while I didn’t want them risking themselves, their presence was comforting.
Dax was holding Davide, who was in cuffs.
We had no intention of handing him over until our negotiation was done.
I did a countdown in my head, then pushed open the door and stepped inside. Valentino stood from where he’d been leaning against the wall on the far side of the room. He looked me up and down, a scowl on his face. “You’re not who I was expecting.”
“I have full authority to negotiate on behalf of my family.”
“Was your brother afraid to face me?”
I would not rise to his bait. “My brother is busy. He has other things to attend to.” I kept my voice even, channeling calm, trying to act just like Remington did.
His ability to stay reserved in all situations had bothered the hell out of me as a kid, and much of the time, it still did.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t aware of how useful it could be at times like this.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“So sorry to disappoint you, but let’s get down to business. We’ve got your cousin.” I turned to look at the son of a bitch, sure his balls still ached from my kick. “We’re prepared to hand him over and to keep the information we’ve discovered to ourselves if you agree to our terms.”
“You’re not the one who gets to make demands.”
“Did I sound demanding? I apologize. As far as I’m concerned, this is a friendly business negotiation.”
“He’s adorable, you know. Your librarian. I haven’t had nearly enough fun with him yet.”
Burning hot rage kindled in my gut, but I pushed it down. He wanted me angry. He wanted me to lose control. Remington had coached me on this. I’d never listened before, but I had to do it now.
“You will return Julian to me in perfect condition, and you and your associates will stay out of our territory and our business.” I held his gaze the entire time I spoke and was pleased with how even my voice stayed.
“Even if you share your information, I have people who will make any chatter disappear.”
“Are you sure about that? How would you feel about Valdez hearing from us?”
He schooled his features in a fraction of a second, but I saw the shock there. Remington had held back our knowledge of Valdez during their phone call.
I prayed Carlotti would accept our terms. Dropping that name was the only card I had to play.
“Would you really want to involve yourself with such a man?” Valentino asked. “He’s way above your pay grade.”
“Perhaps you’ve underestimated us.”
He laughed, and I dug my fingernails into my palms to keep from reacting. I was going to take this man down. I was going to ruin him and make him suffer. It wouldn’t be tonight. All that mattered tonight was Julian. Later, though, no matter how long it took, I would get my full revenge.
Valentino sighed dramatically. “You’ve taken up too much of my time already. I don’t need more hassle from you sharing gossip about me. I accept your terms. We will stay out of your business, and you will stay out of mine.”
“Where’s Julian? The deals off without him. And I expect Tony returned as well.” My voice shook just the slightest bit. I wanted to believe he hadn’t noticed.
He raised his brows. “Tony?”
“Don’t play games. You’ve done your research on me.”
“Oh, the little monkey. Sadly, he is no more.”
Anguish radiated through me, but I would not show it. The worst thing I could do was show weakness in front of this man. Dax stepped up behind me and laid a hand on my back. I knew he was reminding me to keep it together. “Where is Julian?”
Valentino looked around making a dramatic show like he was trying to find something. “Oops. We forgot to bring him.”
“Where. Is. He?”
“What would be the fun if we told you that. Find him, and he’s yours.”
I would make him pay. I would make him beg me to kill him, but right now, what really mattered was Julian. “I’ve had enough games. Tell me where he is.”
“I’m not going to do that. I promise you he’s unharmed. You’ve got three days to find him. That’s about how long he can go without water.”
My hands ached to reach for Valentino’s throat. I didn’t care that I wouldn’t survive an attack on him as long as I could choke the life out of him before I died.
No! Julian needed me. If I sacrificed myself, I couldn’t help him. I swallowed hard, forcing my rage back down.
“I’ll even give you a hint.” Valentino smiled, and I hated him even more than I had before. I didn’t respond. I wasn’t about to ask him for any more help. “He’s closer than you think.”
I refused to acknowledge the hint, simply glaring at him. He held his hand out. “The necklace.”
Once I’d handed over the box, Valentino inspected it, then waved a hand to his entourage. “Time to go.”
Dax shoved our prisoner at them. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Valentino lifted his gun and shot his cousin through the head. “I don’t have any use for men who fail. Don’t worry. I also hate men who break their word. I never do. I’ll stay out of your precious territory, but if you set one foot in mine, you’re as dead as Davide.”
I pressed my feet into the ground, knowing I had to stand there and face him stoically.
I couldn’t show my desperation and fear for Julian.
This was as good a deal as we were going to get.
We were walking away with our lives and a promise the Carlottis would stay out of our business.
Our sources all said Valentino was a man of his word, but I knew we hadn’t seen the last of him.
I didn’t move or speak until the Carlottis were in their cars driving away. Once they were gone, I turned to Dax and Ambrose. “Let’s go back to my place.” I started walking toward my car. Corbin and Remington met me there.
“We’ll find him,” Remy assured me. “Tell us where to start looking.”
“I don’t know. I need a few minutes to think.” Time mattered, but somehow I seemed to have stepped out of it. Nothing felt real. Julian was somewhere alone and afraid with no food or water, and Tony was…
What was I going to do?