Chapter 13
Thirteen
Jaxson
I swore I wouldn’t get involved with the Ricci family again.
It wasn’t bad enough I had to clean up the mess they made, well, at the very least, were involved in. I don’t believe Dante was caught up in trafficking women and children.
He does a lot of illegal shit around town, but he’s always kept under the radar. Besides, hurting children, women, that isn’t what he does. He’s more of a protection mafia from what I’ve seen and heard: pay up or else.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs weapons or drugs through town, and I’m sure he takes bets. I’ve kept my nose clean of whatever Dante involves himself with, to the point that I won’t even go snooping.
I value my family, my business, and my reputation.
Dialing Dante is easy.
Talking to him, that’s a hell of a lot harder.
We’re both businessmen.
We protect the people we care about in different manners.
He uses brutality to get his point across.
I’d like to think that I don’t have to do that, unless it’s absolutely necessary.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Dante asks as he answers the call, recognizing my number. “I’m rather busy.”
I keep the phone on speaker but gesture for Emerson to remain silent, holding a finger to my lips. I want her expertise, but Dante doesn’t trust easily.
Emerson silently nods, listening to the call.
“Can’t say I’m surprised. I heard your daughter-in-law is missing.”
Silence ensues and I hope that I haven’t spooked him.
He gives a huff, or maybe it’s a sigh. The man is clearly not pleased by my knowledge of his missing in-law.
“It does seem to be a problem. One I was going to reach out to you about.”
This time, I’m the one taken aback by his comment. “Is that so?” I imagine he’s stroking his jaw, his eyes narrow, his gaze tight. If he were staring at me, the weight of the world through that cunning look and the desperation hidden deep within him would show.
“Harper was abducted yesterday evening while working her shift at my bar.” Dante sighs and I wait, letting him continue to give me the full story. I choose not to let him know how I knew to call.
Dante continues, “She managed to escape, who I can only assume were DeLuca’s men, and when I sent Nico and Moreno to retrieve her, imagine my surprise to discover my own man betrayed me.”
“That’s—unfortunate,” I say, letting the words hang in the air as I stare at Emerson.
“Damn right it is! It’s outright criminal,” Dante barks and huffs under his breath.
I’m relieved that her disappearance from the bar isn’t being linked back to my daughter, to Jayden, or to myself.
“I’ve got other problems here,” Dante says, “and believe it or not, I’m calling in that favor.”
I let out an obnoxious laugh. “You already called it in. I don’t owe you anything—” I want this conversation over before Emerson starts asking questions. Letting her eavesdrop might have been a bad idea.
“We’re not done! I helped you out of a—predicament.” Dante is always careful over the phone with his words. Even in person when we’ve spoken, he’s cautious. The man must live assuming everyone is out to get him. “Besides, how did you know Harper was missing?”
“Your son’s teammate, Liam, he’s dating my colleague’s daughter. It’s a small world,” I remark with ease and a knowing grin.
He huffs, unpleased. “What does the girl know?”
I glance at Emerson, whose eyes are like two saucers.
She wants to protect her daughter, I get that, but we also need to make it seem like we’re on the same side.
“Not much. Came here concerned about a friend missing from work. I told her I thought it was nothing, especially since it hasn’t been on the news—”
Dante interrupts me. “Liam’s girlfriend,” he repeats, and I can’t tell if he’s making a mental note or jotting the information down for later. “The girl have a name?”
“Not mine to give, but I’m sure you can figure it out.” I smirk and lean back in my leather desk chair.
“Fine. Fine. That can wait.” Dante gets right back to the point. “I’ve got resources indicating that the DeLucas have several properties in and around the Las Vegas area. Can you look a little deeper for me? I suspect they’re putting her up in some place remote, likely where there’d be an auction.”
“An auction?” I repeat, making sure I hear him correctly. “Are you telling me the DeLucas are still alive?” I run a hand through my unkempt hair and exhale heavily.
I thought he’d stopped the DeLucas and ended things with their human trafficking ring for good. I’d helped clean up the mess. He assured me that it was over. The last thing I need is a target on my back because they are still operating.
Anger flows through me along with annoyance.
“My sources told me they were finished. You assured me they were put out of business!” I snap at Dante, pushing back my chair and standing, pacing the office, the heat licking my skin as I can’t help dread the thought of anything happening to my family, my wife, my children.
“Massimo and his son, Santino, are deceased. It seems his wife is running the business, giving orders, and is wholly responsible for Harper’s abduction. I need every residence, property, business that she owns in Nevada.”
That’s an easy request, given the type of work that I do for a living. I plant my ass back at my desk and type away at the keyboard.
“She has nothing registered to her, but there are several shell corporations that I know for a fact DeLuca ran. Let me dig a little deeper—” I keep typing away, trying to pull up data where it’s not so easy to check.
We run background checks, credit reports, drug tests, the type of requests made by employers prior to hiring a new employee.
“Anything?” Dante asks tersely, a bit impatient as I type as quickly as I can, trying to dig up information for him.
“There’s a property in Las Vegas, on the outskirts of town. Let me pull up satellite footage and see what it looks like.” I tap away at the keyboard, putting in data, waiting for it to load.
I zoom in, surveying the data. “Wow. Yeah, there’s a nice estate in the middle of nowhere. Looks like it has some kind of storage hanger or warehouse on the property. Could hold an airplane, I’m not sure.”
“Give me the address.”
I gather the details and give it to Dante. “You know I can’t just sit on the information, knowing a girl has been abducted.”
“I’m already on it, I have a team ready, we just need a plane…” his voice trails off. “And I could use your help for other matters as well…”
I glance up at Emerson, who has been silently listening to the call on speakerphone.
She grabs my notepad on the desk and scribbles something down.
Her expertise right now is incredibly valuable. “We have a plane in Breckenridge. What else?” I ask.
Asking me two favors, that means shit is really bad for Dante if he’s still asking for help. He doesn’t cozy up to me unless it’s life or death.
“Harper’s parents are demanding custody of Zeke, and they’re going to the police to file a missing person’s report. There’s only so much that I can do…”
“Isn’t your man the chief of police?” He’s as dirty as they come.
“Yes, but I don’t own the local news stations, and if the McKennas reach out to them—”
“I’ll see what I can do.”