“No. After the attack last week in the alley, it was clear they wanted more than information, so I asked Thiago why they were following you. He said it was to gather their own information. I then asked about the company. He said they wanted to take everything from you and they we’re all clued up now. But then he said it’s not just about the company you think, and you unknowingly bought yourself some time with various transactions.”
The air solidifies around my throat as more truth dawns on me.
I know what it all means.
“Equibras,” Eric fills in, moving closer. “They could only be referring to Equibras.”
“Yes,” I agree.
Of course, they still want Petróleo, as evidenced by Bernardo joining them at the Camorra meeting, but what they’re talking about is Equibras.
“The transaction they’re referring to is my transfer of the empire to Mia. Until I did that, they could have just killed me, and the next living heir would get the company. Which would have made it easy for my father and this half-brother of mine to take the company and empire.” I bite down hard on my back teeth. “The transfer kicked in a protective clause my grandfather applied. He set up a ten-month cooling period, so technically, the company is still mine. If they kill me before it’s up everything would go to my executors. I made the Syndicate my executors. And I guess that’s how I bought myself some time.”
“When is it up?”
I dip my head. “Tomorrow. It’s up tomorrow. I set up the trust and my will a few weeks after Micah died.”
“So, they can kill you after tomorrow?” Lucia chokes out, more tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Yes. That’s what that means. I think they’re following me to map out the best way to assassinate me.” It would make sense because I’ve been so secretive in my movements. Following me is the only way to gather intel on when I’ll be by myself or when they can get a clear shot to get me. “Lucia, do you know where El Diablo is? Where did you meet him?” I’m sure he’s moved around by now, but a location would give me something to work with.
“I met him in the States. My father and I were picked up in New York. They took me first, and the drive to wherever we went took hours. I was sure we drove out of state. Then they put me in a dungeon.” Her voice breaks, and I can’t help it; the part of me that cares about her pushes through when I think of what she must have gone through.
“Did they hurt you?” I ask.
“It’s… okay.”
“Lucia—”
“They just knocked me around, nothing more. That’s not important. I was in a dungeon underground, but it was part of a house.”
“Can you remember anything about the house?” My father had several houses in the States that both worked as holiday homes and safe houses. Quite a few had dungeons.
“It had a courtyard of red roses. Bright red roses. And there was a fountain with the statue of a woman. Valentina. That’s what the plaque on it said.”
I know where that is. My father named that statue after my mother.
“Boston. That’s where you were.”
“It makes sense. I left by private jet, so I didn’t even know what airport I left from or anything.”
“What else is there?”
When she winces and her gaze drops, I know there’s more to enrage me.
“I told Thiago about Mia. He knows about the irrevocable trust.” Her eyes meet mine again. “He wants me to take her to him. Steal her from you. I couldn’t do it.”
She shakes her head.
“When did you speak to him?”
“Just now. I didn’t want to tell him, but they tortured my father. He switched to video call so I could see. I have until sundown tomorrow to tell him how I’m going to get Mia to him.”
Fucking hell, she really betrayed my trust. In the moment when I asked her to make sure Mia was protected, she wouldn’t have known what it took for me to do that.
Nobody would.
“Anything more?”