Page 130 of Wicked Rivals

“Did you get the address?” I asked.

“There’s no Donnie Luka in New York or New Jersey, boss. The name doesn't exist in the PD’s records either.”

I exhaled while pinching the bridge of my nose, restraining my desire to yell at him, and disconnected the call. If Bruce had something worth my time, he would have said so right away. And I didn’t have the patience for any more bad news.

I pointed at the guard with my gun.

“You. Where do they keep the personnel files here?”

“I don't have access to?—”

“That's not what I asked,” I snapped.

“Most stuff should be in the computer system. But I d-don’t have admin access.”

I aimed the pistol between his eyes and raised my brow.

“B-But the principal likes to do some things old-school. She has some paper files in her office.”

“Show me.”

“I… I can't. There’s a camera in there. I'll lose my job.”

Enzo erupted, his face red, his blue eyes turning black.

“If my mama dies, you’ll lose more than that,” he shouted.

I put my hand on his shoulder, reminding him to breathe.

He wiped at his face to hide the tear rolling down his cheek.

“I’m sorry, Enzo. Follow me,” the guard said.

The man got out of his chair and pulled out a ring of keys from his pocket. Then he led the way to the largest of the individual offices along the back wall.

Shaking violently, he failed his first three attempts to get the key into the lock. Finally, he opened the principal’s office door and made a beeline to a large filing cabinet, immediately pulling open the second drawer.

“Top two drawers are the teacher files,” he said. “But I don't see one here for Luka.”

“What?”

I shoved his stupid ass aside, and sure enough, no file for Donnie Luka existed in that metal cabinet.

Fuck. He’d used the name as a cover.

“Luka isn’t his real name, and we don’t have time for this.”

None. So I ripped all the files out of the drawer and tossed them on the floor.

“Look for his picture,” I snapped.

As I emptied the top drawer, Enzo and the guard dropped down and searched the records. Each employee file included their photo clipped inside the cover, thank Christ.

Panic rushed through my blood, making my hands shake.

The clock ticked on.

Val wouldn’t survive the rapid blood loss much longer.

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