Bad Men - Piper Stone Page 0,71
mafia, all things are possible. What I don’t understand is why she doesn’t seem to think it’s important.”
Diego shifted his chair closer. “Here’s what I know about the Mancini family. They run their operation from the shores of New Jersey through Virginia. They wouldn’t dare touch anywhere north or south from there. While they purchase a significant volume from their own suppliers, they were known for also utilizing the Miami Cartel when necessary.”
“I don’t believe in coincidences, Diego.”
“Neither do I,” he said under his breath, his body tenser than before. “As far as whether or not she knew, the Mancini family had one son who’d wanted nothing to do with the family operation. I don’t know his name or shit about him. It’s just something I heard out of Luis’ mouth before I went to prison. I guess the kid was sent off to boarding schools his entire life.”
“Do you think Luis has something to do with this?” I couldn’t understand any man who would consider selling off his own daughter under any circumstances. Perhaps Silas Walters had felt guilty for whatever offer he’d made to the Mancini family. No, the pieces weren’t falling into place on any level.
“Hell if I know. Maybe a debt was owed to Luis Diaz, which is the real reason for my placement on this assignment.”
“Then who the fuck is the Serpent to Diaz?”
“Too many questions,” Diego huffed.
“Yeah, and I have a bad feeling we’re not going to like the answers if we even get them.”
He nodded several times. “And I doubt our illustrious handler has been authorized to provide any until we’ve finished with our operation.”
“You’re suggesting he would even then. I’m beginning to doubt it. I think we’re going to need direct answers from her father. Then we’ll pay a little visit to the boyfriend.” We would also potentially need to hide her for a period of time, at least until we knew the truth.
“If there is a direct connection to Diaz, we’ll need to be careful.”
I chuckled as I studied him. “Don’t worry. You can have your kill shot if it comes to that.”
“Very funny but I’ll take it.” He scanned the restaurant again before tossing back his tequila. “The doctor looks that much like this woman you were in love with?”
I gritted my teeth hearing the question. “Yep.”
“Dante knew that, didn’t he?”
I couldn’t take the fury out of my expression as I glared at him. “Now you see why this is pissing me off.”
“We’re being tested for our loyalty for some shitass reason.”
“That’s what I’m thinking and it’s pissing me off more every day.” I shifted my gaze toward the bathroom before checking my watch. “She’s been in there too long.”
“She’s not going to do anything stupid.”
“Stay here.” I moved quickly toward the hallway, pushing my way through several customers until I was able to reach the bathroom door. There was no hesitation as I bolted inside, ignoring the various cries of horrified women. “Lindsey. Are you in here?”
Hearing nothing, I was forced to push open several of the stall doors, looking under others until I was satisfied that she wasn’t located anywhere inside. Fuck. Fuck!
The rush of patrons as I tried to make my way back to the table was tremendous. Even though I was able to see over the majority, there were simply too many people in the restaurant. Lindsey was nowhere to be seen.
“What the hell?” Diego stood, immediately reaching for his wallet.
“She’s gone. We have to find her.”
“Goddamn it. If they’ve taken her, I will hunt them down.” He tossed several bills onto the table.
“You take the back. I’ll take the front.” I didn’t wait for his answer as I rushed outside, searching up and down the sidewalk. Jesus Christ. How could we have been so stupid? If she’d been taken, she was already gone. I was sick inside as I rushed down the sidewalk, moving into store after store. There was no time to take sufficient care in not causing a scene. I couldn’t afford to lose her.
No, I wasn’t going to lose her.
After going into several shops, I thought about what she’d been doing just before dinner. Maybe, just maybe she’d returned. I shoved my way through the crowd until I found the small boutique she’d been in before.
Red hair shining in the ugly lighting.
A voluptuous figure standing at a cash register.
A gorgeous smile on her face.
As if her life couldn’t be snuffed out in a minute.
It was at that fleeting moment that I was