Page 12 of Savage Rule

“You think he’s working with Gideon?” Arran asks. “His family has ties in New York. Maybe they want to take over part of our territory.”

“I don’t believe so. We’ve never had beef with them.”

“Or maybe Marcone is the target,” Carina suggested.

“His name isn’t on the list. In fact, I don’t recall seeing anyone from that area involved in The Ferryman’s business.”Luca sat back in thought. “I’ll put in a call to Enzo. He should be aware that she’s there.”

“I could go and check it out,” I offered. All of their eyes turned to me. “What? I’ve been itching to take that female out for a while now. This could be my shot.”

“As much as I’m sure the thought turns you on,” Carina chided, “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“She’s alone in a city far from her boss.”

“Exactly. Suspicious as hell.” She arched a brow.

“Carina is right.” Luca took the phone from his wife and read the texts. “If we send someone, they will also be alone in a city far from here. I smell a trap.”

“Or maybe she’s not alone at all. She might have Sofia with her,” I suggested. “Think about it. If you’re hunting Gideon, why would he have her with him?”

Luca narrowed his eyes on me. As intended, the mention of his little sister is all he needed to consider my offer. It’s been a couple of months since Gideon captured her, something Luca can’t forgive himself for. If he’d never attempted to send her to California for her own protection, Gideon wouldn’t have had the chance to take her. And though he hasn’t used her as collateral yet, not knowing her whereabouts or if she’s dead or alive, is far worse torture for Luca. Which is probably exactly what that smug fuck, Gideon, wants.

We might have come close to finding her recently, when Rowan Kane, a member of the alliance until recently, discovered he’s Gideon’s half-brother. But if he ever learned of her location, he didn’t tell us. And after helping Gavin retake his casino, we lost touch with him.

Luca is getting desperate. Desperate enough to let me come to New Orleans and take on my blonde nemesis.

It made sense to him too, I suppose, the possibility that Gideon could have placed Sofia in Scarlet’s capable hands. Shedidhide Maisie when he was using her sister, Skye, to force information out of Arran Maxton. Why wouldn’t she do it again?

“Fine,” Luca said after a moment of consideration.

“Luca!” Carina exclaimed, but he patted her arm.

“If Scarlet took Sofia to New Orleans, we have to find out,” he told her.

“I’m a big boy, Carina.” I winked at her. “I can take care of myself.”

“What you are is stupid,” she rebuked. “But I’m not going to stop you.”

“Your mission is to determine if Sofia is with Scarlet,” Luca said to me. “If she is, get my sister to a secure location. Then do whatever the fuck you want with that bitch.”

Whatever made me believe I’d be able to fight and capture Scarlet is beyond me. There was never any way it would end in capture. Never any way to find out if Sofia is with her.

Death or sex. Those were the only two options. Carina knew it.

“Fuck me.” I drop my head into my hands. Iamso stupid.

As if Luca can sense this is a shit time to call, my phone buzzes. I want to ignore it, but it might raise suspicions if I don’t check in tonight.

“Yo.” I answer.

“You go into the city?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“Find anything?”

For a moment, I hesitate, unsure how he’ll take me letting his enemy’s main assassin slip right through my fingers. Quite literally.

“A strip club,” I reply instead.

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