Page 1 of Protecting Charity

Chapter 1

Nico

Icouldn’t believe what I was hearing.

She’s never done this before. “Did she say why?”

“The police were looking for her, and she supposedly had a limited window.” Max put his cup down with a little more force than necessary.

“Where is she now?” I asked as I packed up my papers into my briefcase.

A very powerful client of mine, Senator Adams, was charged with a DUI and attempted solicitation of a minor. A serious charge that would ruin his career if I didn’t get it dropped.

The girl lied about her age when he picked her up. It happened all the time with people of his stature—the rich and famous that is. Men and women say and do whatever necessary for the bragging opportunity.

“Luca has her locked up downstairs.”

“Cazzo. For how long?”

“Only a few days, but long enough. He’s furious.”

He threw a couple bucks on the bar and spun off his stool.

Why would she do that? An unsanctioned hit was a serious transgression—one Luca didn’t take lightly, no matter the individual.

I followed him down the stairs of La Famiglia to the room Luca had her held. Charity’s angry voice boomed through the door, followed by Luca’s retort.

We walked inside to find them toe-to-toe in each other’s faces. Only she could get away with that. We’d have black eyes and a few missing teeth if we ever did such a thing. Luca didn’t have a tolerance for disobedience or disrespect.

“Max, tell him it was necessary,” she said, throwing her hands up into the air.

“I’m not getting in the middle of it,bella. Luca is the Don.” He crossed his arms over his chest. I knew Max wanted to protect her just as much as I did, but she dug herself a hole we weren’t allowed to help her climb out of. She knew there would be consequences; it was why she’d asked Luca for forgiveness.

“Nico?” Tears welled in her eyes. My chest panged at the sight.

I looked away, unable to contain the misery I was experiencing. Luca may be my little brother, but Pops left him in charge for a reason. We all had our roles to play in this messed-up world.

“I see.” She stomped away then sat on the cot she’d been occupying a few days.

“Don’t be like that, Charity. This is serious,” I said.

“So was my reasoning. I did it for the family, for you, for me. The cops would have been all over us if I hadn’t.”

Luca fisted his hands in his hair. You could tell her attitude was getting on his nerves. “Oh, don’t give me that bullshit.” He pointed his finger at her.

“Believe what you want.” She tapped her finger against her thigh.

Her words said one thing while her body said another. She knew she fucked up, but she didn’t want to admit her mistake.

“Let me show you something.” I pulled up the latest news broadcast on my phone and tossed it to her. “Watch it.”

The newscaster’s modulated voice traveled across the room. It was my hopes everyone would understand the seriousness of the situation.

“We ask that if anyone has any information to the whereabouts of Allie Gill that they contact the police department and request Detective Gibbons.”

She put the phone down and shook her head. “Okay? My dad told me about a missing girl. What about her?”

“Do you know who’s the prime suspect in her disappearance?”

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