Page 41 of One Kill

Who the fuck is this joker? Does that mean they’re helping?

I don’t have time to try and figure it out as Murphy storms out of the kitchen, running straight for me, gripping the tops of my arms, his eyes wide with fear.

“She’s fucking gone, J. What did you do?”

Chapter Nineteen

Murphy

“She’sfuckinggone,J.What did you do?”

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. The late-night phone call. The guilt in the caller’s voice. The confusion between what’s real and what’s impossible.

Fucking impossible.

How did this happen?

Ashley was there with them. Why was Hallie taken but not Bridget?

My brain hasn’t reached the why part of the equation yet, I’m still struggling with the how and where.

How the fuck did this happen? And more importantly, where the fuck is she?

With a low, unsteady voice filled to the brim with venom, I made damn sure Riley understood that I expected every-fucking-one to work on getting her back.

“We’ll find her, Murph, I promise. We just need to know who did it.”Those are the words running on repeat in my brain when I snatch up my scattered clothes and snap them on like they’ve personally offended me. It’s the never-ending loop ofwhodiditwhodiditwhodiditringing in my ears that prompts my accusation in Jordyn’s face.

In this state of mind, where calm is nowhere to be found, she’s the common denominator. As boring and mundane as our lives were living here in this home we built for ourselves, at least we were safe and happy. It’s barely been three weeks since I gave Hallie permission to seek out her mother and, in that time, our entire existence has gone up in fucking flames.

“Murph, I need you to take a breath and tell me everything you just heard on that phone call.” My eyes snap up to hers as I’m buckling my belt, wondering if she’s lost her fucking mind.

“Did you just tell me to calm down?” My voice has never sounded deadlier. Not by a long shot.

“No, of course not.” J’s dressing at a rate I didn’t think possible, almost fully ready to bolt. “But instead of blaming me, tell me what you know so I can get my resources out there looking for her.” I scoff at her words. Resources? What the fuck resources does she have? I’ve got the fucking Irish mob on my side. What does she have? A biker gang?

“I’ll handle it, J. I’ve got my own goddamnresources.“ That last word comes out mockingly, like I don’t believe her. Truth is, I do believe she probably has people who could be out there looking but I’m too fucking angry and scared and hurt and fucking desperate to be logical.

My God, Hallie must be scared out of her mind. She’s never even liked horror movies, they give her nightmares for days at a time. She is kind and loving and so fucking sweet. I can’t lose her. Worse, I can’t fathom someone hurting her beyond repair. Mentally or physically.

No. I can’t think like this.

I’m grabbing my keys and am about to walk out the door when her next words stop me dead in my tracks.

“I work for Mancini.”

The entire Earth feels like it’s come to a complete halt, my brain struggling to catch up to this revelation. When I turn back to her, she’s standing with her hands on her hips and her head hanging low, only her eyes are lifted and searching mine for a reaction. It’s impressive how she’s able to look guilty and unrepentant all at the same time.

When I don’t respond, she continues. “That’s who I ran to the night…” Clearing her throat, she looks up at the ceiling and takes in a deep breath. “I’ve been there this whole time.”

Pieces of information are popping into place on this puzzle that I’ve never been able to put together. Hell, I still don’t know jack about shit but this is…

Stepping inside, I slam the door shut and stalk her until we’re nose to nose; me staring down at her with all the mingled emotions of a father needing to save his baby. “You get those motherfuckers on the streets, right now. Hell, you look closely to make sure they’re not the ones responsible.” I don’t miss her recoil at my words, I’m sure she’s going to…

“No. Fuck, no. Why the fuck would they take Hallie?” There it is. The denial.

“It doesn’t take a fucking genius, Jordyn. That Italian prick and the Irish haven’t exactly seen eye to eye in the last twenty years, have they? Now, you’re back and they want leverage.” It all seems so simple, why can’t she see that? Italians are only loyal to Italians. They’ll take any opportunity to get whatever they want, it’s the way it’s always been. It’s why they fucking own all five boroughs.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Murph.” Suddenly, she’s calm, not a drop of panic in her voice like she just switched off all emotions. Texting to someone, she’s not even looking at me. “What I need is where she was, exactly, who she was with, and what time she was taken.”

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