Page 77 of Killing Emma

He’s going to hate you anyway, Major seems to say as his tail slaps the black leather seat.

“Fair enough,” I mutter, climbing into the seat. I adjust it and tug my seatbelt, hoping like hell he won’t trace me. But then again, I kind of hope he does.

I hit the garage door opener as I start the SUV, relieved to see it already has a full tank. That’ll get me at least three hundred miles farther from Luca—and closer to Jared. I back out and close the garage door. I punch in Jared’s new address, the one that Jude accidentally pulled up when he was showing me the evidence. It was right there beneath mine.

Twenty-Nine hours and seven minutes.

“Holy shit,” I mutter. “We better get going.” I punch the gas, knowing that I’m hyped enough to make the entire drive. However, if I could access my accounts…

I could fly.

I consider the consequences as I smash the gate opener, but the risk is too great. It’ll bring too many questions too soon. I’m not ready to take on that kind of attention. I want my answers first. I tear out of the driveway, though I do make sure the gate closes all the way.

“You’re going to be a good travel buddy,” I say to Major, reaching across and stroking his fur as he lays down. I turn on the radio, finding the angriest music I can. I crank the volume up and follow the GPS into the darkness of night. If I can keep up my pace, I’ll be knocking on Jared’s door by tomorrow morning.

And that only makes me drive faster.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Luca

My phone goes off as I pull into The Den parking lot. He knows I’m coming. I kill the engine, pull my phone out, and see a message from Jude.

Connect me to your earpiece.

I let out a frustrated sigh but do it anyway. “What?” I snap as soon as the line connects. “I can handle this one on my own.”

“Emma is trying to find your location.”

“Surprise, surprise,” I groan. “I’ll be back soon.”

“I locked her out and then she went offline, so I think you’re good. Did you tell her where you were going?”

“Left her a note.” I remove my helmet, and head for the back entrance. “I’m going to lose you as soon as I enter.”

“I know. Just keep your head, Luca. You’re a better fighter than Ivan.”

“He cheats,” I growl. “And I have no doubt he’ll cheat this one, too.”

“You can beat him at his game. Just focus on taking out the threat, not enjoying it. Better to be alive and take it out some other way. There’ll be more hits after this, but not if you’re burning in hell.”

“Thanks for the pep talk.” I punch the code on the back entrance, and I’m met with grins on two of Ivan’s men’s faces. The call disconnects, and I’m left to fend for myself.

“He’s waiting for you,” one nods to the entrance into the chamber. “He knew you’d come.”

“Time to make up for all the missed lunch dates,” I joke, sliding past them and heading for the door. It’s the same entrance Emma took the night I almost killed her for the third time. It’s the same entrance all the victims take when they want to die.

I swallow hard, remembering the gun in my waistband. It won’t do me a lot of good in the dark. I also know I might enter and be met with an array of bullets myself. I put nothing past Ivan, but with some luck, he might feel like talking.

Maybe.

I step inside, my Vans silent on the concrete. I let the door click behind me, locking.

“Welcome,” Ivan muses from somewhere in the darkness. “I’d ask you how you’ve been, but rumor has it you’ve been balls deep in a Nightingale.”

“It happens,” I say, blinking my eyes to help them adjust. I don’t go for my gun. I don’t want it on the table yet.

“You killed my son for pussy.”

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