Page 73 of Escape You

“He went in. One of Rossi’s men came in while we were getting people out. Wesley knocked him out and then left. He’s going after Marcel. We don’t even know if he’s here.”

“There was a guy here that didn’t look like he was part of Rossi’s crew. Rossi was friendly with him, like they’ve known each other for a long time.”

“Was he stocky, late twenties, wears glasses?” The hair on the back of my neck rose at the thought of having Marcel so close to us again.

“Yeah, young guy.”

I met Matt’s glare. “Rebecca was right. Marcel came here to supervise the delivery.”

“Sounds like it.”

“I’m going after him. Make sure that bus gets out of here.” I slapped Matt on the shoulder.

“Fuck, I knew you were going to say that. Fine, Wesley will have a better chance if he has backup. I love you, brother.” Pursing his lips, he hugged me goodbye.

“Love you too, man.”

“If you’re going back in to get Rossi, this is the time to do it.” Manny spoke into my ear. “He’s alone in Mia’s office, but he’s getting ready to leave.”

“Did anyone go after Mia?”

“I don’t think so. I see a lot of Rossi’s people still guarding the front entrance. Hurry.”

“Thanks.”

I crawled back to the storage room. The putrid smell and stale air made my mind conjure several scenarios that involved Rossi bleeding to death in this room. I wanted to punch his face until he understood how unforgivable his actions were. How he had no right to treat those people like animals.

“Which way, Manny?”

“When you come out, take the stairs to the right. Then follow the corridor all the way to the end. That will put you in the training room. Mia’s office is on the other side of the boxing ring.”

As soon as I reached the street-level floor, I realized where I was. The last time I was here, I’d come in through the front door, not the back end. This was Dom’s gym, Angel Face. “I’ve been here before. Is this where Mickey got shot last month?”

“Yeah. Mia was there when the Mexican cartel showed up and shot Mickey. But we got the shooter.”

Mia had been there? She must have stayed inside while I hid in Emilia’s car. I’d given Emilia a ride here to meet up with Dom and patch things up. But before they had a chance to talk things over, Mickey showed up with his men.

The Sonoran cartel hadn’t been involved. I only saw one man. From behind the trunk of my car, I watched a man leave the building with Emilia as his hostage, with Mickey and his men trailing after him. In the end, he’d shoved Emilia toward her car and shot at Mickey. Right before he was riddled with bullets by the Rogue River crew.

“Ah shit. Vic?” Manny cursed some more in my ear.

I spun around and met Vic’s dark gaze. “So that’s why you didn’t make it to the hospital. You came here instead?”

“It has to be done,” he said.

“Agreed. Let’s go. Manny, any word on Mia?”

“Yeah, she’s here now.”

“What the hell are you guys doing? Tell Vic to dial in.” The tone in her voice said not to mess with her.

I turned to Vic. “She wants to talk to you.”

He nodded and plugged his earpiece in and spoke in his matter-of-fact voice. “Rossi needs to be stopped for good. He’ll never stop coming for you, and you know that.”

“I do know that. But that wasn’t the deal for tonight. You can’t pile one job on top of another. What exactly is your plan? Run into the building shooting, hoping you’d hit Rossi.” She let out a breath. “And don’t tell me that’s exactly what I just did because it isn’t the same.”

“Are you ordering me to stand down?” Vic asked, meeting my gaze. If Mia said so, he was ready to leave me here. I was okay with that.

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