Page 12 of Hacker Salvation

“Is that who broke his arm?”

Marta’s eyes widened. “No. Nate told me you were playing around and accidentally pushed him into the pool. He said he hit the side and broke his arm.”

I couldn’t help but grind my teeth. “Lie. He came home half dead, and I rushed him to the hospital. Does anyone know the truth? Have you met Pedro?” Nate’s sister knew Nate and I were marrying to fulfill the family obligation. She shook her head. John walked over and handed her the photo of Nate’s boyfriend.

Marta studied the picture for a moment. “I’ve seen them together a few times, but I didn’t know his name. Nate and I fought about the wedding yesterday. It’s bullshit you have to go through this for him. Don’t get me wrong. I love you like a sister, and that’s why I agreed to help him with the will.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t even know I was signing a will. I thought it was our prenup.”

Marta cocked her head to the side. “He wasn’t drawing up a prenup for you guys. I don’t know where he is or if he’s hurt. I just want my brother back. Father is getting anxious because Nate was working on something for a client that we’re worried about.”

John stepped forward. “Why not drop the client?”

“It’s more complicated than that. I’ve said too much already. Please find my brother. Like you, I believe he’s okay.”

I hugged Marta goodbye and watched as she left the office.

I glanced around Nate’s office, looking for any type of clues. John was looking through all the documents on his desk but found nothing of importance. We were about to leave with more questions than answers. John rested his hand on my lower back as we walked down the hall.

We entered the waiting elevator, and when it was about to close, two men stepped in. John pulled me closer and tightened his grip around my waist. The two men spoke Italian as the elevator went down. With each word they spoke, John pulled me closer to his side. It seemed as though he understood what they said. When the doors to the elevator opened, he held me back and let the men get a few feet ahead of us. One looked back over his shoulder at us.

John had his phone to his ear. “We have a problem.” He didn’t wait for the person on the other end to speak. “We went to Nate’s office, and when we left, Vito Costello and Dawood Bruno walked out and entered the elevator.”

That time, I heard Brock cuss on the phone.

John ignored him and continued. “I’m pretty sure they didn’t know I spoke Italian. For being the most feared mob boss, he didn’t even try to conceal his identity. He told the man next to him to get Carmine into town. You know who he is, right?”

“No,” I mumbled, not expecting John to answer me since he was talking to Brock.

But John turned to me. “Carmine is the top assassin for the mob. Nobody has seen him. They only hear about the number of people he kills.

6

John

Annabella looked out the window of my SUV. She’d become extra quiet since learning we might be dealing with the mob. I asked if she wanted to go back to Daisy’s and told her I would go to her house, but she stood firm and said she wanted to go to the house.

She’d seemed so untouchable when I’d watched her on TV and seen her doing charity work, but each minute I stayed around her, I learned more about her. She tried to put on a robust outer image, but she wanted someone to lean on.

I couldn’t help but groan as my phone rang in my pocket again. Addie hadn’t stopped trying to call.

Annabella tore her eyes away from the window and looked over at me. “Girlfriend?”

My lips twitched. It almost sounded like she was jealous. “Nope. Sister.”

She arched her eyebrows, opening up her pretty green eyes even more. They reminded me of a green flower field in the spring, rich and full of wonder. “She’s a little upset with me. I promised I would FaceTime her when you went to Daisy’s event. Then everything happened. She’s been blowing up my phone since the second I escorted you out of the sheriff’s office.

Annabella held out her hand. “Give me your phone.”

“You don’t have to talk to my sister. You have enough on your mind.”

She rolled those pretty green eyes. All I wanted to do was reach across the seat, lay her across my lap, and redden her ass. The image made my dick instantly hard and uncomfortable. I shifted in my seat and handed her my phone just when it started to ring again.

When Annabella swiped to answer, my sister’s voice came across the speakers in the car.

“About time you answer your phone, big brother. I could have been abducted or needed food.” Addie was always a little on the dramatic side.

“Sis, an abductor wouldn’t call that many times. Also, I know you don’t need food. I had food delivered to your house yesterday.”

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