Page 34 of Ruthless Redemption

I continued to hug and rub my bare skin in a clear sign of distress. If anyone was watching they would simply assume I was cold. And I was. Or maybe it was fear making me feel chilled down to my bones. Either way I could feel my time slipping away with each passing second. I needed to be ready for the worst.

My fingers edged under the side of my dress and fingered the small pocket I’d created back at the compound. There I had hidden a single capsule that would save me from a fate far worse than death.

With slow, methodical and inching movements I eased the pill from its pocket and pulled it free. I had hoped that I would not need it, but my fear of returning to Marco’s world outweighed my confidence in this mission.

I’d grown up in this world and I knew there weren’t very many happy endings. Only the most vicious stayed on top in my father’s organization. And while family was important to carry on traditions, they did not take precedence over business. Especially not the women.

As soon as I dropped my hand back to my lap the outer door opened and a leggy blonde in formal attire entered. She was tall, sleek, beautiful and had killer curves that I knew were the kind men started wars over.

And she looked familiar.

I studied her face, attempting to catalog each feature as I compared her to all of the people in my memory bank.

Although admittedly, since my time in Marco’s illegal sex slave ring, my memory hadn’t been quite what it used to be. Still good, but far from photographic.

Still, this women looked familiar and it was going to drive me crazy until I placed her.

“Ms. Mazzeo, welcome. I’m sorry for the circumstances for your arrival, but we didn’t have time to prepare anything else.” The blonde took the seat directly across from me while I contemplated whether I needed to bother correcting her to my new fake married name.

“Where’s Houston?” I asked. At this point that was my only concern. I didn’t trust that Frank or Marco would have any use for him and thus no reason to keep him alive. Unless to keep me in line in order to get their money back.

“Honestly, I don’t know. We had to separate the two of you and I don’t know where he was taken. Somewhere nearby I’m sure.”

If this chick didn’t know anything then she was of no use to me. “I want to see Frank.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “You do? Why?”

I nodded. “I’ve got something he wants and I’m willing to make a deal for mine and Houston’s life.”

“I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood our intent,” she started.

“Honestly I don’t care about your intent,” I interrupted. I just need you to get my father so I can negotiate with him. I won’t talk to anyone else.”

The confusion on her face surprised me. This should have been exactly what they’d hoped for. Little did they know I didn’t give a damn about Frank’s blood money. While being rich definitely had its perks, it paled in comparison to Houston’s life.

“What were you doing at The Sinclair hotel tonight?” she continued, seemingly ignoring my request to talk to Frank.

“I came to see the fight just like everyone else.” We both knew I was lying and I didn’t care even a little. They might have thought I’d be weak, but I’d spent my entire life under the thumb of Frank Mazzeo. You don’t stay that close to a man like him without learning a few dirty tricks of your own.

“Ms. Mazzeo—“

“Don’t,” I interrupted again. “If you don’t know where Houston is or his current status, then we don’t have time to play games so let’s cut to the chase, shall we?”

The woman took a slow, measured breath and closed the manila file folder open to her. “Fine, let’s.”

In that moment she turned her head to the side and that little glimpse of her profile niggled something in my memory.

I thought I recognized her. Although not from my previous life, but from my time with the club.

She looked a lot like the girl that had disappeared. The one the club had been hired to find.

I racked my brain for her name and her circumstances. If she was here and not with Marco then she wasn’t part of that organization. She had a different role. Why else would she be in here talking to me?

What the hell was Frank up to and why was I certain I was missing something important?

My brain swirled with random ideas, but nothing quite gelled together to make sense.

A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” she muttered, clearly not happy.

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