Page 20 of Power & Punishment

I lean into the cold concrete wall of the stairwell, letting the bitter sting sink through my blouse. “This isn’t a negotiation, Mr. DeLuca. If you need to talk to me, I can set up an interview, and you can come into the station.”

A low chuckle floats through the speaker. “You’re adorable when you pretend you have the upper hand. And call me Leo.”

I clench my jaw. “You called me, Mr. DeLuca,” I say, wishing I could see his face when I openly defy him. “If you want⁠—”

“You stole my phone,” he cuts in. Any lingering humor in his tone is gone. “You seduced me to do it and then you inserted yourself into a situation that is quite frankly none of your business.”

My head feels like it’s on fire. “Are you threatening me?”

“No,” Leo replies quickly. “If I was threatening you, you wouldn’t have to ask.”

My grip tightens on my phone. “Please enlighten me then.”

“Listen, Emilia,” he begins calmly, “I don’t want to go through all of the trouble of contacting your boss, so I’m simply giving you the chance to right your wrongs before I have to take a lot of extra steps that are completely unnecessary.”

“I didn’t steal anything,” I snap. “I’m conducting an investigation, and you’re a suspect.”

“You conducted an illegal operation.” He sighs, almost sounding bored. “No warrant. No authorization. And I’m sure the commissioner will be thrilled when he finds out you ignored his request.”

Nails poke at every nerve inside my body. I’m being backed into a corner and I don’t like it, but I refuse to let this rich prick make me feel small. “Do it, then.”

He’s silent again, and I’m starting to accept these pauses as tiny victories. “Emilia, don’t be like this. We can both get what we want if you just cooperate.”

I shouldn’t go for the bait, but I do. “And what do I want?”

“You want to find your brother’s killer.”

Time stops and blood rushes to the surface of my skin.

A million different questions run through my head and the only one with the answers is the man breathing in my ear. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

A loud sigh sounds off from the other side of the phone. “We’re not doing this, Emilia. I know Vince Russo is—was—your brother, and judging by the way you quickly denied it, I now know that I have something else to hold over your head. Aren’t detectives supposed to be good at keeping secrets?”

The firmness of the wall against my back is the only thing keeping me standing at this point.

“You don’t know anything,” I say, forcing the words out even though my throat feels like sandpaper.

A soft exhale slips out of his lips. “I admire your fighting spirit, but you need to pick your battles. If you work with me, then I’ll help you get the answers you need about your brother’s death. If you work against me, then this conversation and your career are over.”

It’s a good offer, but dangerous. He still hasn’t told me what he wants, and I’m no stranger to men with ulterior motives. Plus, I have a feeling he isn’t the type to let things go, and by his standards, I embarrassed him. Men like this need blood in exchange for disrespect.

“That was a threat.”

“Good job, Cara. That was a threat,” he says. “Now, are you going to be smart and make the right decision?”

I swallow hard. “You said cooperation. What does that mean?”

“Meet me and I’ll tell you,” Leo says, each word feeling like a trap.

“Fine, but I want to pick. Somewhere public.”

“Finally, a sensible move,” he says, bitter humor layered between breaths. “Text me when and where, but it has to be tonight. I’m not a patient man and I have plans for you.”

Before I can respond, he hangs up. I stare blankly at the dark screen in my hand and my reflection stares back.

I look pale, exhausted, and scared. It’s all the traits I worked hard to leave behind me, and yet, here we are again.

I shake off the nerves, pressing my palm flat over my sternum and willing my breathing to calm down. I am going to get through this. I won’t let the darkness pull me in.