Chapter 2 #2
"And, Enzo? This time, I'll be collecting."
"What gives?" Silas's smug voice should be something I'm grateful for as I'm strung out like a tweaker jonesing for drugs.
Except, it's not drugs, it's the safety of my sister and Lola.
It sits on me, claws deep, the fact Lola wasn't mentioned. But it wasn't Dad talking to or negotiating with fucking Rebecci. It was information from a low-level made man who made extra cash by giving information on comings and goings if needed.
Even something like that would get her killed, but I can almost hear my father stating it's what happens when you don't have super loyal staff or a housekeeper who commandeers staff.
But no one will find out.
The only reason I'm thinking about her is the fact there was only mention of one girl.
Lyndall.
I drive my car, flanked by the black SUVs from Dad's fleet. "What the fuck do you think gives? I know Cade's informed you Lyndall—"
"Has been taken."
I shut my mouth. There's something in his tone.
I was going to tell him that Lola wasn't mentioned but... "What the fuck do you know?"
"Sounds like you've somehow fucked things up worse than even I thought. How low did you go?"
"Out with it." I grip the wheel so hard it just might snap.
"We're out looking for her, but it's a little hard when I'm in Queens and Cade was halfway back to the East Village."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean your fucking girlfriend isn't with them. Your sister was taken, but she got away."
Both relief and anger surge at that. Relief she's okay out there. Somewhere. Anger that she got Lyndall in major dangerous trouble.
"What did she say?"
"She gave me the license plate—stolen car. A description that sounded either like Rebecci or a thug of the same build, and he had a big, black gun. He shoved Lyndall in the trunk and took off. She wanted you to know that."
Sweat drips, and I lift a hand to wipe it off my face. "Oh, good. She can have a fucking medal. And you don't know where she is?"
"We're calling favors, but I'm betting she's going to get money and run. And if she hasn't got herself a cheap burner, she will."
"Yeah," I mutter, not liking his assessment, mainly because it's what I'm thinking. "She turned off the tracker."
"You only put one in?"
"I'm in a fucking car. I can't track the second one." I give him some details. "It'll take a minute or two, three for you, but maybe if she hasn't dumped the phone, get her."
My heart thumps hard as the line beeps, and then Cade's voice fills my car too. "On it. I'm betting she hasn't left the Rockaways yet." He pauses. "Well, the New York City area, anyway. She won't go home, though."
She'll do this on her own.
For a girl who spent her life protected by family and then by me, she just might have some skills because I wonder if she spent time trying to work out how to hide or how to get out of New York if she ever had to run.
I'd never thought she'd go there, but...maybe she would.
Sure, she reads dirty books, but I remember her collection was small but eclectic: spy novels, thrillers, romances. True crime.
"Hey," Silas says, "She cleaned out her bank account, like all of it."
Fuck.
A minute later, Cade joins in. "Got some CCTV...she's in town, bought some things from the drug store and the thrift store."
"She's going to run."
"No shit, Enzo." Silas clicks his tongue. "How dumb can you be? I've heard of chasing off a girl, but this is taking it to the extreme."
"Fuck you," I mutter.
"You couldn't sort this?"
Cade jumps in. "To be fair to the asshole, he hasn't seen her since she made her dark discovery of how deep he went."
"He fucked up. He had plenty of chances—"
I growl. "She's the one who fucked up. She should never have gotten my sister involved in this—"
Cade snorts. "Have you met your sister? She's a mini you on steroids. The Marino blood runs strong in both of you."
"Fuck right off. Lola should've waited around to pass on the potentially vital information herself. Fleeing like a coward is unforgivable."
Silas scoffs. "And if she did that, Lola knew you'd never let her just leave. You weren't done stalking."
I curse him out. And then I take a breath. "She deserves to be locked away and punished forever for this."
"Reasonable, Enzo, like always," Silas says.
Cade's voice cuts through. "I think I've got a location. On Lola's phone and on Lola."
Then he pauses, and it hits me hard what they've been doing. "Lyndall's going to be fine, man. She's a Marino, and a kid. No one fucks with a Marino kid. I'll get eyes on Lola, you get Lyndall."
Silas adds, "Call in Zayne. And we can be there as your backup with your sister."
"I've got Dad's men."
"We'll be there," Cade says quietly.
"Thanks. Here's the address." I rattle it off.
I hang up the call and swallow over the giant, burning lump in my throat.
Shit. Shit.
As much as I want to punch out Silas, they're good friends. The best.
Trying to distract me by letting me know Lola's fine, letting me know they're there and will be if I ask them to be in getting Lyndall back.
Fuck, they didn't wait to be asked. They told me they were joining me.
But it's not important, any of it. Apart from eyes on Lola and getting Lyndall back.
And then I shut everything down. Lola, my fury at her, all of it.
I need to be focused on getting Lyndall back to safety.
And then?
All fucking bets are off.