Page 123 of Wicked Rivals

He shook his head.

“Look again. It’s mostly dry, even where there’s a lot of blood. All the smudges? They’re brown. That means all this is hours old.”

“We should follow the footprints,” he said.

“No, let’s be smarter than that. What do you see in those footprints?”

“My mother’s blood.”

“Well, yes, but there’s more. Look at these two first, then this one over here. Two sets. That means she walked away.”

It wasn't entirely true. The smaller footprints were uneven, partially smudged and smeared, as if she’d been dragged.

Enzo didn't need to know that.

“Your mother walked away from this,” I said. “That means when she left here, she was still okay, so we need to be smart.”

“How do we be smart?”

“Look.” I pointed at the corner of the hallway to a camera aimed directly at the mosaic. “Is there a security office here?”

He nodded.

“We need to look at the footage from that camera. Let's make sure it really is this Mr. Luka. We might even get a clue to where they went from here.”

“The security office is right under us,” Enzo said.

“Good. Let's go.”

This time, we took the large main staircase to the second floor. The administration office windows faced the hallway, and on the other side sat one security guard. He reclined in a chair with his feet up on the desk, looking at his phone.

“How did he not hear them?” Enzo asked.

I couldn’t stop my lip from curling into a snarl.

“I don't fucking know. But we're going to find out.”

We pushed into the office.

Startled, the security guard stumbled onto his feet, catching himself on the back of the chair.

“Y-you can't be here. It's after hours,” he said.

I didn't have time for his bullshit.

I pulled the gun from under my left arm and pointed it at his stupid fucking head.

CHAPTER 26

STEFANO

Tears and snot streamed down the security guard’s pale white face, mixing on his chin.

“Oh shit, oh shit,” he cried. “Please don't kill me, man. Take whatever you want. Anything. I won't say a word.”

The weak motherfucking pig.

Enzo watched the man with just as much disdain.

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