Page 14 of My Sunfall

I rake my hand through my hair and exhale loudly, trying to claw back some composure. “Of course I sent a medical team, but the fucker put up a fight. They had to subdue him to take him to the clinic. Legally they couldn’t keep him once he was sober and wanted out.”

“Want me to go…talk some sense into him?” Teo smirks, cracking his knuckles.

I slowly smirk back, surprised to feel the corners of my mouth lift for the first time in a week. “Yeah, he won’t be able to bail with a broken leg. Or maybe two.”

“Don’t overdo it, or you’ll upset Lily,” D warns.

“Never, you know me,” Teo deadpans and we all chuckle.

“It’s settled then,” D states. “Teo, any news about our residual problem?”

Teo lets out a frustrated breath and shakes his head. “Looks like we’ve exposed all the dirty cops and politicians we could link to Rourke.”

Rourke had been a corrupt FBI agent, working for the human trafficking network calling themselves Manticore. He abducted Erin, Teo’s wife, to get information on our investigation, and Teo was able to locate her and save her just in time. Rourke the fucker…disappeared after that. Disappeared, as in he was invited for a polite chat to Teo’s compound, The Bastion, where he visited the officially non-existing second sublevel and got probably escorted back out afterward, one bloody piece at a time after Teo had had a nice chat with him.

“And what about Manticore?” I ask, relieved to have something else to occupy my mind.

“They seem dormant for now,” Teo replies. “But I feel in my gut that they’re simply regrouping. It’s not over. Not one of the people we interrogated knows who the head of the organization is. They are careful.”

I exhale slowly, letting my frustration bleed through.

“Have there been other shipments going through our port?” D asks me.

I shake my head. “Nope, not after the one we intercepted. I’m still having our men investigate the origin. It went through New York, and the paperwork shows it transited through Naples. I sent men to Florida, but the trail ends there.” I look at Teo. “Maybe the girls can tell us more?” We had intercepted a shipment trafficking a dozen women through our port two months back. They are safe in one of our women’s safehouses now, being taken care of by social workers and starting over a new life.

He shakes his head, though. “They are from everywhere, and diverse ethnicity. They were abducted from Europe for the most part, drugged and they have no idea how long they had been moved around. I’m suspecting they were shipped through South America. Would make sense if the shipment ran through Florida. Could be the Mexican cartels. But that’s just a guess, there’s nothing substantial.”

“Shit,” I mutter. It looks like another dead end.

D and Teo must have come to the same conclusion because I can hear their frustrated exhales.

I get up, needing to clear my head. “I’ll get going. Let me know if you find out where Chiara is hiding.” I look first at D then Teo. “Both of you.”

They nod and I leave. I need to blow off steam at the gym.

Chapter Eight

Chiara

Lily picks up after the second ring.

“Lee?” I am breathless. I can hear her squeak and there is a rustle, before she replies in a hushed tone.

“Sis? Where are you? I was so worried!”

My eyes sting from hearing her voice. God how I’ve missed her! “It’s me, and I’m good. Can you talk?”

“Yes. I went into the bathroom to be sure.”

I let out a relieved breath. “Sorry for the hassle, I hate to have you worrying or hiding things from Damiano.”

“Don’t worry,” she replies softly. “I understand and your secret is safe with me. Although Dark has asked me to update him, I refused.” She snickers, and I let out a breathless laugh. My sister might look sweet, but she is a badass through and through, and there is no way her husband will be able to bully her into telling him anything. Still, I hate to put her into that position.

“Sorry about that… I had to do it. For me…” My throat constricts. How do I explain such a selfish act?

“I understand,” comes her quiet reply. “Whatever you decide, I’m there for you, you hear me?”

I sob, feeling tears trail down my face. “Thank you for being the best sister,” I whisper.