I shake my head, my stomach twisting in knots. I can’t let him do this. I can’t.
“How do you even know he’s nearby?” Hunt asks. “You said he was responsible for the attack yesterday. He’s probably still driving around the countryside with his dick in his hand.”
“Because of this.” Cole unlocks his cell and slides it across the table. “He took more money from Luther’s bank account this morning.”
“You couldn’t have led with that information?” Luca snatches the phone and shows me the email.
“Look at the time stamp, asshole. I only just got the notification.”
“Fuck.” Sebastian slumps back into his chair, his elbows on the table, his head in his hands. “You’re asking us to use our parents as bait.”
“No, I’m asking you to have dinner with them in a controlled environment,” Cole corrects. “After the last shooting, the restaurant windows are bulletproof. I’ll ensure the security is second to none. They’ll be safe.”
I keep shaking my head, but Sebastian doesn’t react.
He’s caving.
How is he caving?
“No.” Blood surges in my veins, fueling me. “I won’t let you.” The weight of everyone’s attention presses on my shoulders, my chest. It’s hard to breathe. “Please, Luca.” I turn to face him, my knees brushing his thigh. “Don’t let him do this.”
“He doesn’t have a choice.” Cole reaches out a hand, wordlessly requesting his phone. “This needs to happen.”
“Not necessarily. If we find him today there won’t be any risk tonight.” Luca shoves to his feet and stares down at my brother. “What time are you meeting your parents for dinner?”
There’s a beat of hope-filled silence before Sebastian raises his head to glance over his shoulder. “Seven. Why? What are you thinking?”
Luca focuses on his watch. “I’m thinking we’ve got twelve hours to find this fucker. And I don’t plan on wasting a single minute. So let’s get our asses moving.”
27
Luca
I stalk back to our room, Penny hustling to keep up at my side despite knowing she’s going to be stuck here all day. I head straight for the duffels in the corner, pulling my Mac from the bag as she escapes to the bathroom and turns on the shower.
I’m still hunched on the floor when someone else enters the doorway behind me.
I don’t need to look to see who it is. His resentment already thickens the air.
“If you’re going to kill me, make it quick. Otherwise I’ve got shit to do.” I push to my feet and start for the bed as the shower door grates from the adjoining room. I dump my ass on the mattress and open my computer, scrolling to my home-surveillance software. I looked over a million hours of recordings yesterday, but none of them were mine.
“If I kill you, I promise it won’t be quick.” Decker leans against the doorframe, wishing the life from my lungs with his narrowed stare. “What are you doing?”
“Checking my security feed from the other night. If it was Robert who shot at Penny I might have recorded his car. And if I’ve got his car, I might have his plates, which means we’ve got something to track.”
He pushes from the doorframe and moves to the end of the bed, continuing to glare down at me as I play the feed from the night Penny ran.
I watch in double time as Hunter’s car pulls into the drive, another vehicle following moments later. I hit pause, rewind, and watch it again.
It’s that green fucking sedan with what looks to be a blurred hooded man behind the wheel.
I hit rewind again. Pause. “You got a pen?”
“No,” Decker grates.
“I need to figure out these plates.” I look up at him from my lowered vision. “You want to help your sister, don’t you?”
“I’d do anything for my sister. You, on the other hand—”
“Quit the bullshit. Either take down the details or fuck off.”
He remains in place, pulling his cell from the back pocket of his jeans. “Well, what the fuck are the details, you perverted fuck?”
I grind my molars as I skip the video back and forth, trying to get a clear view. I relay letters and numbers through clenched teeth, and hope they’re the right ones, before pressing play on the video.
I scrutinize every aspect of the pixelated car. The busted headlight. The dents and scratches. Every detail counts.
“Jesus Christ.” I hit the slow-motion button and watch the replay of Hunter and Sarah walking across the lawn to the front of the house. “Jesus fucking Christ.”