The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,85

perfect chance to speak to you both.” Rio’s gaze slid to me. “How are you, sweet Ember? I swear you’re lovelier every time I see you.”

I plastered on a smirk. “Let’s get this out of the way. It’s not going to happen between us, Rio. I don’t have a daddy kink.”

The gangster laughed uproariously, shoulders shaking with true mirth. “Oh, I did miss that fire. Our first Horsewoman.”

I tensed. I hated when he called me that.

“Though you are tempting,” he continued, “I confess you’re not my type either. I prefer honest, loyal women.”

“Did I lie about something?” I flicked between Rio, his men, and the blockade. “What’s with the welcoming party? If you wanted to talk, a phone call would do.”

“A phone call wouldn’t allow me to look you”—he snapped to his son—“and you in the eye when I ask where’s the money.”

“The money?” I repeated. Behind me, Damien rooted through the car. There was a thud and I feared he’d gotten to Eli’s Christmas presents.

“I have an understanding with an accommodating woman in the administration that I’m to be informed whenever my son leaves the academy.”

Shock flickered in Royal’s eyes. He did not know about this.

“I hoped you’d be kind enough to let me know of your progress tracking down your parents and the money, but just in case, Damien’s been keeping an eye on you. You two led him on an interesting chase the day before Thanksgiving. Gyms, the bus station, and the storage units.” He clasped his hands in front of him, the picture of polite curiosity. “What were you looking for?”

“Not the money,” said Royal.

“No? Because it occurs to me the one thing those locations have in common are locks that need opening. Searching for something stashed, Ember?”

Holy hell, he was smart. Why was he so fucking smart?!

“That’s right,” Royal said.

My throat closed, panic seizing me. Royal, no. What are you doing?

“Our dealer has been using random empty lockers to deliver the drugs,” he continued. “We figured that’s something he picked up from the boss, and we drove around to check it out. You told us to find him. It’s what we’re doing.”

“Really?” Rio arched one perfect brow. “And what did you find out?”

The letter singed my backside. I was highly aware of it in my pants.

Rio and his pets didn’t get handsy with me the first time I was at their mercy. It was a desperate gamble that Damien wouldn’t search me too.

“The gyms are out except for one possibility. Rocco’s gym. Random people can’t go in and out of the other ones without being noticed but Rocco’s is a dump and no one mans the place. The storage units are no good too. They have cameras and guards. If they’re using the same trick, it’s got to be the bus station. No cameras. No security. All they have to do is stick it in a locker and leave it for someone else to pick up.”

“Hmm.” Rio lifted his chin, staring his nose down at Royal. “There is a logic to that. Why didn’t you mention it before?”

“It’s just a hunch,” he replied. “We don’t know enough to get our guys to watch the place. All I know is that’s how I’d do it.”

Rio twisted ever so slightly and nodded to one of his men. “We’ll look into it. As for today, tell me what prompted the trip to Easthaven. Damien followed and then lost you on Brookes Street.”

I spoke up. “Christmas shopping. Damien is seeing that for himself. The Easthaven Mall is three blocks away from Brookes Street.”

“It’s true, boss,” said Damien. “Got the receipts too. They were at the mall.”

“The mall. Should I look up what time it closes?” Rio pressed. “Why are you getting back close to midnight?”

“Because we stopped for a fuck,” Royal shot back. “Dad, are we done with this? We weren’t looking for the money.”

“If that’s the case, we have an entirely different problem. I made myself clear.” Temper leaked through Rio’s mask. “I want that money. You’re telling me it’s been a month and you’ve done nothing.”

“I have been looking,” I said. “Mom and Dad went after most of their friends and the list told me who exactly. The ones they hadn’t got to might’ve helped them escape.”

“And?”

My options were limited. I knew without a doubt there was a gun in the folds of Rio’s coat. He was angry and impatient though his face hid it well. And he drove here to get answers one way or another.