Page 30 of Code Name: Admiral

“I’m supposed to be good at uncovering secrets. It’s what I do.” The bitterness in her voice cut deep. “But I didn’t see what was happening to my own sister.”

I don’t knowhow long Alice and I had been asleep, but it was still dark when a soft knock at the door woke us. “Boss?” Tank’s voice carried through the wood. “Sorry to disturb you, but we’ve got movement in the city you need to know about.”

I checked the time, saw it was a little after four, then looked at Alice, who nodded. I moved the covers and sat up. “Come in.”

Tank entered, his expression grim. “Alessandro Castellano’s calling in favors. Word on the street is he’s looking for both of you. Bobby was his protégé—this is personal for him.” He shook his head. “Too bad he’s looking in the wrong place.”

“What do you mean?”

“The bullet that killed him came from Vito Tarese’s gun. They call him ‘the ghost.’ Working theory is Vincent Castellano called the hit.”

“Alessandro’s older brother?” I asked.

Tank nodded. “Who is also the don.”

“Shit,” I said under my breath, wondering how this would play out. Would Vincent allow Alessandro to believe we’d killed Bobby, or would this turn into a war between the brothers?

“How close are they to finding us?” Alice asked, sitting up straighter.

“Not remotely close. But they’re motivated.” Tank handed me a tablet. “These came in from our surveillance teams.”

I looked at the images at the same time Alice did.

“That’s my apartment.” Her eyes were wide. “It’s empty. Wait. What about…?” Her voice trailed off.

“Your safe is empty too.”

She closed her eyes in a long blink. “Did you…?”

“We packed everything and brought it here,” Tank explained.

I scrolled through the photos, my jaw tightening. “They’re not even trying to hide anymore.”

“No, sir. They’re sending a message.”

Alice peered at the screen. “I recognize some of those men. They were at the cemetery.”

“Alessandro’s top enforcers,” I confirmed.

“So, um, there’s someone I work with who I need to tell you about.”

I shifted my gaze from the photos to her face. “Go ahead.”

“His name is Tex.”

“They won’t find him,” said Tank.

Alice looked up at him. “How can you be so sure?”

His eyes met mine, and I caught his brief grin. “Because I know him.”

Alice looked between us, then back at him. “You do?”

Tank nodded. “Most of us do. And those who don’t directly, know of him.”

“We should warn him anyway,” she suggested. “They may come for him as a way to find me.”

Tank shook his head. “He already knows.”

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