Page 36 of Escape You

So this was about Rossi. That old man had the FBI on his tail. Served him right. Unfortunately, we weren’t rats. As much as I wanted Rossi out of the way, this wasn’t the way. Everyone would turn on us if they found out we cooperated with the FBI. Rats didn’t live long in our town.

“We just told you he was in surgery last night.” I faced Manny. “Is your laptop here?”

“No. I literally woke up a few hours ago.”

Last night, when Vic left the engagement party, he came straight here to give Manny and his brother the phone I’d used to link Rossi’s laptop. Whatever they did, they did using the hospital network and that mobile. When I glanced at Pam, she nodded.

“I’d like to search the room.” Clifton’s gaze darted from me to Manny.

No doubt his gut told him whatever device Manny used was still on the premise. Lucky for us, he just wasn’t smart enough to know what he was looking for.

“Manny, do you consent?” I turned to Manny.

Clifton rolled his eyes. He was pissed, but he knew he couldn’t do much unless we let him. Unfortunately, we had to play along if we didn’t want the FBI down our throats for obstruction or whatever else they wanted to pin on us.

“I guess so.”

“We’ll be outside.” I met the agent’s gaze. He wasn’t pleased, but a hospital room search without a warrant was all I was willing to concede to him.

I strode to the nurse’s office with Pam on my heels. She stuffed a shaking hand in the pockets of her scrubs. “Here. I don’t want it.” She shoved Manny’s mobile in my chest.

“I got it.” Vic came out of nowhere and grabbed the phone. “Mia, we better go. Rossi’s looking for you.”

I nodded. “As soon as the suit is done. I’ll meet you out in the parking lot.”

Vic smiled at Pam and then walked off. How had Agent Clifton tracked down Manny’s hack? If Manny was willing to call the agent’s bluff, it was because he was confident the code he wrote for me was untraceable. I wracked my brain to try and figure if I’d messed anything up. But I came back empty. I followed his instructions to the letter.

“Oh, here, I have something for you.” Pam darted to the room two doors down and came back with a bottle of pills. “For, you know, until you decide.”

I took the plastic container she offered. The label read: Folic Acid. Vitamins for my baby. “Oh, thanks.”

“Have you decided?” She asked tentatively, rubbing her inner wrist. “I can do the procedure myself. Just know your window of opportunity is closing fast.”

I raised my gaze and met hers. I supposed I had made a decision a while back, though the details were still up in the air a bit. Like, how would I keep Rossi away from my baby? “I’ll take the pills.”

Pam did a little squeal and hugged me. “Congratulations,” she whisper screamed. “I’m here for whatever you need.”

“Thanks.” I let out a breath, feeling lighter. Saying the words aloud made this pregnancy feel real to me.

“And you really have no way of finding the dad?”

I shrugged. When Pam confirmed the pregnancy, I had no worldly idea where to find Chase. And I sure as hell had no way of knowing who he really was. Pam would piss her scrubs if I told her Chase was the grandson of the New York faction’s big boss. Someone with strong ties to the Big 5. I placed a hand on my stomach.

The suit saved me from having to answer Pam’s question about my baby’s dad. “We’ll be in touch,” he said on the way out.

As soon as he disappeared into the elevator car, I rushed to Manny’s room. “What did he find?”

He smirked at me, placing his hands behind his head. “Not a damn thing.”

“How did he trace it back to you?”

“He didn’t, Mia. I smell a rat.”

“Who did you tell about what I asked you to do?”

“Just us four—my brother Tom, Vic, you, me.”

Vic would never talk to the FBI, but what about Tom? He wasn’t even here today. “Okay, we’ll deal with that later. For now, tell me you found something we can use.”

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