Page 27 of Mine

Cillian whistles.

“Stop. Don’t. It’s not like that.” I cut him off before he can speak. “Now, what have you dug up on Carlos?”

“He’s gone dark.”

My jaw twitches. I expected this.

“One of the mercenaries we had stationed at Caesars found one of Carlos’s guards, tied him up, and interrogated him. Got nothing.”

“He must pay his team well. Where is the guard now?”

“Still tied up. They’re just waiting for your orders to release him.”

“Tell them to get a valid contact number for Carlos, and once it’s confirmed that it’s good, they can let him go.”

“Will do. What are you thinking?”

I turn my back. “I’m going to give Carlos forty-eight hours to deliver Valerie’s body in exchange for Sabine’s.”

Cillian follows me to the window, where a few yards away, under the watchful glow of a security light, a small pink cross spears up from the dirt.

“Is that . . .”

“Yes. I’ll bury Valerie next to her.” I clear my throat, turn away from the window, and crack my knuckles. “Anyway. Tell Carlos if he doesn’t respond, we’ll kill Sabine.”

Cillian nods.

“What else do you have?” I ask.

“She has no criminal record, has never been married, and has no kids. Anything other than that, you’re going to have to give me a bit more time digging.”

“Do it. I want to know everything about her.”

“Hey, I have an idea.” Cillian leans back in the chair. “Why don’t you just go ask her yourself?”

With a sniff, I stuff my hands into my pockets. “Good idea.”

Cillian grins like he’s won a battle. I suppose he has.

“I’m going to jump on a call with the guys holding Carlos’s man. Once we’ve got a good contact number for him, I’ll let you know. Also, what room do you want me to stay in?”

“Wherever you want. There are two bedrooms on the opposite end of the house, past the kitchen. One has its own outside entrance.”

“I’ll take that one. Is anyone else here aside from Leo?”

“No, and he won’t stay the nights.”

“What about Pri?”

I glance at my watch. “She should be landing in three hours.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That we have a guest.”

Fourteen

Sabine

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