Page 125 of The Merciless King

These guys know what they’re talking about.

I glance around again. Where the hell is Gianna?

If she got caught in the gunfire and was killed, I need to know.

Federal agents are zipping up black body bags. I already know one of them is Salvatore. I saw him go down.

“Frank was taken down along with three of his soldiers out back,” Connor tells me. “Scott is pissed the guy is dead, but it is what it is.”

I shrug.

I’m not sorry.

But I’m surprised when I find myself mildly happy to hear Gianna’s brother is not dead. He didn’t shoot me. He could have. The least I can do is to be pleased he’s alive.

“Let’s look around, see if we can find a tunnel. You might be right about the escape route,” Nathan says, taking Decker with him, and the two men walk down the side of the building.

“They’ll be long gone,” Connor mutters, then yells out. “Take photos and loop in the agents if you find something. We need to keep the feds informed.”

Decker does the thumbs up without turning.

“So, no witnesses?” I ask, glancing behind me.

“None.” Connor shakes his head. “But we just took out the head of the Baldassare mafia. That’s a win.”

“And a new one now steps up.” I say, in regard to Gianna’s brother.

Did Dante take Gianna with him? There’s no way she can move that fast.

Wait. No. She wasn’t with Dante.

“Yeah, fuck. That’s the sad reality.” Connor curses.

I feel a panic building and take a few steps outside in the now fully lit-up compound and then keep walking.

And walking.

Where the hell is she?

“Brax?” Mack asks as he walks toward me. “You okay? You look like you’re about to faint or something.”

“Gianna.” I grunt, following my nose and heading toward the Baldassare vehicles.

“Hey,” Mack calls out and I turn. “She’s gone. I’ve looked everywhere.”

I stare at him for a moment.

I don’t accept that.

I can’t.

I need to see her. I need to say I’m sorry and that...I need her to know. I need Gianna to know that I am not responsible for those women. That I am sorry, even though I can’t be, that I betrayed her.

That I’m sorry her father had to die.

I’m sorry she was born into this fucked-up world.

That if I could love her, I would.

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