Page 193 of Golden Atonement

Closing the file, I sat back and said, “Has Gio seen this?”

“Yes, and he asked me to tell you to tread carefully.”

“Maxim?”

Cesar shook his head. “No. I have a meeting with him tomorrow. You should know that Crispin Sinclair isn’t one to trifle with. The man is cold, and his reach is far. The man is single-minded. When he has you in his sights, he will not stop until he gets what he wants.”

“And what does he want?”

“Thena Hartley.”

Smirking, I simply said, “Too bad for him, we don’t always get what we want. Do you think she knows?”

Cesar took a deep breath and said, “If she does, then that would explain why she’s vanished.”

“So, what do you want from me? This information is damning. It will change everything. Why give it to me?”

“Because Giovanni said you would know best what to do with it.”

Getting to my feet, I grabbed the file and said, “He was right.”

Taking my lighter out of my pocket, I lit the file on fire before placing it in the trash can next to my desk.

“Any more copies?”

“No.”

“Good,” I said, taking my seat again. “Let’s keep it that way. In the meantime, I would like you to keep playing your part. You have an in with Sinclair, it’s time we used it to our advantage.”

Cesar grinned. “With pleasure.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Reaper

The second Cesar Vitale and his brothers left, I called church.

I wasn’t fucking around anymore.

Shit just boiled over and I was done fucking around.

“Massacre, call Ghost and tell him to stop second-guessing his fucking decision. I need his ass here, fast. Tell him to hire whoever the fuck he needs, but his ass better get Ari and the kids packed and moved here pronto.”

“On it, boss,” the big guy replied, leaving church with his phone to his ear.

“Matrix and Player. Fun time is over. I don’t care what the fuck you two need to do or who you bring in but start unlocking those fucking files, fast. I need to know what’s in the rest of them.”

“It’s not that easy, brother.” Matrix sighed. “We’re going as fast as we can, but without the geek squad, it’s proving to be a challenge.”

“Don’t fucking care,” I snarled. “Just get it done.”

Saying nothing more, Matrix and Player left church as well.

“Bullseye, pack your bags. You’re headed back to Tennessee.”

“Why?”

“It’s what you wanted, plus, you will be more useful there than here.”

---