Page 106 of Lorenzo

“But he’s been taken captive. The Russians have him.”

Emily looks up at me, blinking. “But why would the Russians take him? What do they want?”

I hold her against me, comforting her while I try to figure out the best way to tell her.

“They took Teddy to get to me and Dante. They’re trying to force the casino license deal.”

“Then give it to them!” says Emily, her panic rising again “Tell them it’s theirs!”

“It’s not that simple, Emily. If it were, we’d do that. But they want more.”

“Then give them whatever they want so Teddy comes back to me alive.”

I take a deep breath.

“We will bring him back alive. Dante has a plan. He and our best men are in a helicopter as we speak.”

I look Emily in the eye.

“I need you to stay calm enough to follow my instructions. I can’t bring Teddy home safely if I’m worried about you too.”

“All right, Lorenzo. I’ll try.”

She’s so light, so delicate, I can feel the bones beneath her skin.

“Now we have to move,” I say, half-dragging her toward the parking lot.

Before we reach it, she recognizes two of the men I’d assigned to guard Teddy. Black and Simmons.

“Look! There’re his guards!”

She rushes toward them, probably thinking they have information about Teddy.

But there’s something wrong with this picture.

Black’s hand disappears inside his jacket.

My stomach drops even before I see Black’s gun.

My hand reaches for my own gun before my mind can make sense of what I’m seeing.

I aim, shoot, and he goes down.

Simmons reaches for his weapon. I fire before he can draw.

Emily’s scream pierces the air.

Shit.

If Black and Simmons are compromised, Teddy’s entire security detail has been compromised.

“No questions,” I say to Emily, half dragging her toward my car.

I buckle her in tight.

“Emily. I’m going to drive fast. Very fast. Avoid screaming, clutching me, or anything that can distract me from our mission. Understand?”

“Yes. Yes,” she says.