Page 43 of The Rook’s Obsession

Once he has, there’s only one question. “How did they find you?”

I look at Ivy, who probably hears his side of the conversation and is choosing to pay close attention to one of the two cinnamon scones she bought. “A tracker. Implanted in her back. I found it and cut it out once we got far enough away from the crash to cover our tracks.”

His voice is heavy, edged with anger. “I should’ve thought of that. Goddammit.”

“We both should have, but it’s done now. She’s clean.”

“And the guys from the diner? You’re sure they didn’t live through the crash?”

The memory of that ugly crash repeats in my head. The crunch of metal, the shattering of glass. The smoke that rose from the wreckage afterward. “I don’t know how anyone could’ve lived through that,” I tell him. “The car looked like somebody took a can opener to it by the time it was all done. Even if they had lived, there wouldn’t have been any way to question them. They wouldn’t have been conscious.”

“So Vincenzo sent his own personal guard to do what his mercenaries couldn’t,” Liam concludes. “He’s escalating.”

“Yeah, he is. That’s why I need you to do something.” I glance her way. She’s given up any pretense of not listening in, her body very still as she concentrates every shred of herself. “I need you to set up a meeting with Gabriel.” Her eyes widen.

Liam is quiet for a long moment. “Gabriel Russo.”

“He’s the one who told us she was alive. He pointed me in her direction. I doubt it was because his father asked him to. Gabriel has his own agenda.”

“And you think he’ll help us?” The disbelief is heavy in his voice, to put it mildly.

“I think he already has. He gave us Laura.” I ignore the way the woman next to me flinches. I guess that’s better than her correcting me… or hitting me. “That wasn’t an accident. We’re part of whatever game he’s playing with Vincenzo now. I’d rather know what that game is than keep reacting blindly.”

More silence. I can almost hear him thinking, which is always dangerous. “I’ll reach out,” he decides. “It’ll take time. The guy doesn’t exactly advertise his phone number.”

“Use the channels we used before. He’ll respond. He wants this conversation as much as we do.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because his dad just sent his personal guard to kill his own asset. If Gabriel gave us Laura, he’s making a move against his father. He needs allies. So do we.”

Liam heaves a sigh, but I recognize the sound. He hates the idea, but he sees the sense in it, meaning he has to let go of his pride long enough to admit he doesn’t always have all the answers. “I’ll set it up,” he announces. “Where should I tell him?”

“Somewhere neutral. Somewhere his father can’t reach. I’ll leave the details to you.”

“Fine. What are you going to do in the meantime?”

I look at her again. She’s watching me, wearing an expression I’m still learning to read. I’m still learning this woman, since thinking of her solely as Laura isn’t doing either of us any favors. “I’ll let you know,” I tell him, still watching her. “I’ll check in tonight.”

Once the call is over, I set the phone down. Ivy raises an eyebrow. “Gabriel?”

“He’s the key to everything,” I point out. “He gave us the information that led me to you. If his father’s escalating, he might be the only person who can help us shut this down.”

She considers this, turning it over while sipping her coffee. I appreciate her focus, the way she sinks into a problem and gives it all of her attention rather than reacting emotionally. “Gabriel was always different from him,” she says slowly. “He’s more thoughtful and measured. Less… brutal.” Does she realize her nose wrinkled when she said it?

“Did you trust him?”

“I didn’t see that much of him,” she points out. “But on his trips to visit, I think I trusted him more than Vincenzo, though.” She wears the ghost of a dark smile. “But he was a little kinder to me than anyone else in that house for a long time. Take it for what it’s worth.”

“It’s worth a lot.” Though granted, I’m not going to fool myself into believing the man has a soft side. He’s still his father’s son. You don’t exist in that world without picking up some of the darkness and carrying it with you like a film you can never wash clean.

“So what do we do while Liam works on Gabriel?” she asks, finishing her coffee and setting the cup aside.

There’s really only one option left now. “We drive.”

“Where?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.”