AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I tear down the drive and out into the road. I force my mind into cop mode. This isn't just a random incident. I don’t know what went down, but with three D’Amato family members now unaccounted for, I can only believe one thing. Peter has made his move.
I speed to the location Piper gave me. It’s outside of town, not an area known to be used by the D’Amatos. But it’s dark, and thistime of night, not well-traveled. It’s perfect for an ambush. Fuck. I’d thought I’d lost her before, but the panic of that is nothing like right now. It’s one thing if she sends me packing. It’s another if she ends up dead.
Hold on, Lana. I'm coming.
I press hard on the brakes as I come across an abandoned sedan on the side of the road. Immediately, I enter the license plate into my computer. The vehicle is owned by the D’Amatos. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I jump out of the car and hurry to it. "Lana!" I call out, my voice echoing in the empty night. The interior is empty, but I notice her phone on the passenger seat. I won’t be able to track her with it. I yank the door open and pick up the phone, hoping I can get the number that called her to this location. But I don’t know her password.
"Damn it!" I run my hand through my hair as panic turns to terror.
I force myself to think like a cop, not a lover. Evidence. I need to gather evidence. But every second I spend here is another second Lana's in danger.
Where did they take her? And how the hell am I going to find her before it's too late?
I go back to my car, forcing myself to think. I should call this in, get backup. But if corrupt cops are involved, that could be a death sentence for Lana. I'm on my own.
Focus, Henry.
I close my eyes and breathe. I need to stop my mind from spiraling in order to know my next step.
Peter.
If he has her, I need to find him. I pull out my phone and dial Peter's number. My heart pounds as it rings once, twice…
"Hey, partner," Peter's voice comes through, not sounding anywhere near as sick as he had this morning.
I force a casual tone. "Hey, partner. How you feeling?"
“Pretty good.” His tone is nearly gleeful.
“Good to hear. Maybe you’re up to some information I’ve come across on the D’Amato case. We could get a beer and go over it.” If I’m wrong about him, this will turn out to be a terrible idea.
There's a pause on the other end. "It's pretty late, Henry."
"I know, but this could be big. Come on, one drink. I'll buy."
“Actually, Henry, I have a big lead on the case as well.”
I close my eyes, hoping against hope he hasn’t done to Lana whatever the fuck he did to Lazaro. “Oh. Well, then you have to meet with me.”
“We’re partners, right? I have your back and you have mine, right?”
“Absolutely.” My fingers clutch the phone. My breath holds. I may never breathe again.
“I’ve got the D’Amato girl.”
“Really.” I hope I sound normal. “Is she in lock up?”
“No. You were right, that search should have been more by the book. Definitely not done in the light of day. This way, we get those fuckers off the street and save the taxpayers the money of a trial.”
I think I’m going to throw up. He’s quiet, and I’m sure he’s waiting to see if I’m going to go along or not. If I’m going to save her, I have to play along.
“That’s efficient.”
“Come join the fun. Come see what true justice is like.”
“Absolutely.” I jot down the address he gives me. “Is she dead yet? Because it won’t be any fun if it’s all over with.”
