ATTICUS
Islammed the phone down on the desk, and a splintering sound met my ears. “Fuck,” I swore, knowing I’d broken it. It wouldn’t do well to have a broken phone right now. But all I could see were his words, making the fury rise in me.
You always were so easy to distract with pussy. While you’ve been busy with the cat, the mice have played and they don’t like the home you’re creating. It’s time for a new boss.
Get ready.
D
Cursing under my breath, I picked up the desk phone and punched the line for Sax, relieved when he picked up on the second ring.
“I broke my screen.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I tiffed.
“I’ll send Nicco to grab another.”
“No, I mean, thank you, but never mind.”
“You’re spiraling, Mas, so I have to remain grounded. So, yes, all you get is a ‘hmm’ because otherwise you might want to punch me, and that wouldn’t help either of us at the moment.”
“Fine,” I grumbled, hating he was right.
“You know I’m right.”
“Hmm.” I smiled, glad he couldn’t see it, but knowing him, he could hear it.
“I’d ask if there was an update, but I’m taking by the state of your phone there isn’t.”
“You’d be correct. Somehow, my ‘guy’ has mysteriously vanished. I think it’s time we call the Sirens.”
Silence met me before a dial tone rang in my ear. Sighing, I set the phone in the cradle and counted as I leaned back in my chair. Under thirty seconds, Sax stormed through my door.
“Are you sure about this? It would mean…”
I nodded, understanding the implication, but I didn’t know what else to do at this point. Rawles knew something but wasn’t in the sharing mood and was only allied because Delgado was a bigger asshole. The O’Sullivans were still too new to trust fully, and this was too big an ask. I was under no pretense that either of them were friends. There wasn’t anyone in Chicago I could trust, which meant it was time to activate the pull string I’d been sitting on.
Pops had given Sax everything we needed to uncover for my mother’s history, and after that, it hadn’t been hard tracking down her family. The Costas’ were legendary, and how my father had kept them hidden from me had to have taken tremendous debt and time. Not to mention, if they’d known one of their own was murdered, I didn’t think any of us would’ve been left alive. Which meant pulling this string came with significant risk—it could backfire as easily as it helped.
I trusted the mother I remembered and hoped her family would honor our war against Delgado and possibly Dayton, if he was indeed alive.
“I know what it means, but we’re running out of time. We both know that not only are they hidden players to help us, but they have the tech and resources to do this. We need their help.”
“Then I think you should talk with Nicco. He should be given a chance to weigh in on this. Have you spoken with Cami? Did she allude to anything since she’s more connected to the Costa last name?”
I thought about what he said and knew he was right, but I didn’t want to bring Nicco into this. He wasn’t vulnerable like Imogen, but the minute I learned he was my younger brother, the protective streak in me for him doubled. I’d always watched over my younger cousin, but this had morphed into something more. There were too many things I wanted to talk to him about and no words to say.
Sighing, I rubbed my hand along my face, leaning back. “I know you’re right. It’s just hard to not protect him.”
“He can take care of himself, Mas. You know this.”
“Who can?” the brother in question asked, strolling into my office in such a different mood than Sax had. He was calm and collected. I’d daresay that Nicco even seemed settled into this way of life now. It was such a contrast from the man I’d basically threatened to become my second a few months ago.
“You.”
He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for me to expand. Exhaling, I stood up and walked over to a picture I’d found, handing it to him.