“You got it, boss.” Nico hangs up.
There’s no time to stop, no time to think. Failure is not an option.
I turn to Dante. “They have a convoy leaving the apartment. We can’t cover all of them.”
“Why would they be moving her?” Dante stands from the leather chair, a frown on his face.
It’s a good question. Makes no sense since they were secure in the building with civilians and security. Why risk us intercepting the vehicle?
“We just need more eyes on them.” If we can get our hands on any of those men, we can pry the information out from their throats.
“We have access to a chopper.”
That would work. “Do it.”
Then I move onto Tommy. “I want his men. They must know something. Where else can we grab one from?”
“I’ll take Vin and hit their businesses, go fishing for scum.” Tommy looks ready to kill.
“I need them alive.”
“They’ll be breathing,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Is Lilly still in our room?” The thought of facing her empty-handed rips my stomach to shreds.
She had wanted to be left alone, but it’s been a while now. I’ve been consumed with a burning fire of rage, and it’s been directed into getting Amari back.
He has her. I will kill him if anything happens to her. What am I thinking, he’s dead either way.
My muscles tense even more, and adrenaline courses through my veins. My father’s words keep trying to force themselves into my mind, but I don’t have time for that. We’ve kept space between us, and I’ve kept him informed, but I know what he wants me to do, and there is zero chance Lilly is going back to him.
My entire life, my father and I have worked so hard to keep Amari untouched from all this bullshit. Now the worst could happen. She’s innocent in all this, but so is Lilly, no matter what blames she dumps on herself. The blame is solely on me.
I should have killed Sergei as soon as I understood what happened with Lilly. Even before that, when he was trying to weasel his dirty business into ours.
But the way forward is clear now.
We’re getting out.
All I need is to keep my family together, bring my sister home, and kill that mother fucker.
“We got this. I’m going to rip apart every one of those fucks till I find your sister,” Tommy says.
I slam my hand on his shoulder, squeezing hard and hoping his words are true.
He nods, turning and leaving my office with determined strides.
I have put off going to see her, wanting to give her better news. Something to take the worry and pain away, but I have nothing. How could this fuck up so bad? Everything was covered. Why would my sister do this today of all days?
So, I wait a bit longer and the time is filled racking my brain for every conceivable place he could have taken my sister. A while later, the confirmation comes of the first car being taken. My sister was not inside, but the man that was is on his way to the yard and into my hands. It’s a wave of relief. Standing here like a fool was driving me insane. We have a way forward now. If they know anything, I will pry it out of them.
Now, I can go to her.
I come to a stop in front of my bedroom door, the enormity of what went down weighing heavy on my chest. Everything is crashing down around me, and she was right there, seeing me break with my father, seeing my failure. It takes me a few moments to summon the courage to open the door. The thought of Lilly’s tears haunts me; knowing that this time I can’t just kiss her worries away. I slowly open the door and walk in, but the bed is neatly made, and the room is empty.
“Lilly?” I call out and walk towards the bathroom, turning the handle.
She’s not in there.