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“Who is Deck? He’s not just a humble carpenter; I know that much.”
“That’s his story to tell, not mine. Let’s just say that he made a decision some disagreed with, and it meant his former position was untenable.”
“Is he a good guy? Safe to be around Kaylin and Matty?”
“Yes.”
“And the Bad Samaritan?”
“I wouldn’t ask her to change a nappy, but yeah, she’s fine. That was a nice touch, telling everyone she was a dude. She says thanks.”
“Tell her ‘pozhaluysta.’”
“I’ll pass it on.”
“Are there any new leads regarding the Manassas incident?”
“One. Hallie’s heading for Zimbabwe as we speak, running it down.”
“Zimbabwe?”
“That’s where the trail led.”
“Keep me updated.”
“You’re on speed dial.”
* * *
“I’m not supposed to be here.” Brooke fidgeted on the terrace, hands in the pockets of an oversized cardigan she’d probably knitted herself. Or maybe Darla had made it? The knitting queen. “Can I come in?”
Nico opened the door wider, and Brooke slipped inside.
“How’s Addy doing?” he asked.
“They said the surgery went okay, but she hasn’t woken up yet. They wouldn’t let me see her. Next of kin only. Her mom can’t stop crying.”
“Brooke, I’m so sorry. If I’d realised how fast Cesare and his brother would find Kaylin, if I’d thought for a moment that they’d show up in less than a month and start shooting at innocent bystanders, I would have handled things differently. Headed overseas, hired a team of bodyguards. I thought she’d be safe here. I thought everyone would be safe.”
“Is Matty okay? When those men took them, I called Luca, but he was over toward Coos Bay, and then they drove off in the opposite direction.”
“You did good, Brooke.”
“I didn’t.” She wrapped her arms around herself, and her eyes glistened with tears. “I think…I think it’s my fault that they came.”
What was she talking about? Brooke had never met Kaylin before this month, and he couldn’t imagine a woman like her associating with the Cavallaros. Brooke had been born and raised in Baldwin’s Shore. Had she ever even travelled to New York?
“Why would you think that?”
For the life of him, Nico still couldn’t understand how Cesare had arrived at the gates of the Peninsula.
“Because I heard Luca talking to Colt, and he said that Katy—Kaylin—bought a toy snail for Matty on eBay, and it wasn’t just the same as the toy he left behind, it was the toy he left behind. There was an AirTag inside it. And I was the person who said she should look on eBay for a replacement. I never thought… I just…I just didn’t think.”
That was how the motherfucker had found Kaylin? Through a damn toy? Nico felt both fury and a grudging admiration. The scheme had been so simple. So elegant. Success hadn’t been guaranteed, of course, but for so little effort, what had there been to lose? For the price of mailing a package, he’d been able to go right to Matty. The biggest shock was that Cesare had known his son had a favourite toy, but perhaps Lyndsey had told him?
“The only people responsible for what happened are Cesare and Alonzo Cavallaro. Cesare was the man who abused Kaylin, and Alonzo was the man who shot Addy.”
“But—”
