Page 107 of Phantom Mine

The air is tense for a few seconds before he blows out a breath and seemingly pulls himself together.

“And I understand your need for revenge against my family, Leni. I feel it too. Our anger may come from different places, but the rage burns just as hotly within me as it does you. So let me help you.”

“What if my revenge gets in the way of yours?”

“I can be adaptable,” he shrugs. “Finding Adriana is the priority.”

“It’s my priority.”

He shakes his head slowly, a smile tugging at his lips. “It’soursnow.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Valentina

Emotion constricts my windpipe at his words. I could never have imagined standing here one day, with one Leone lying dead at my feet and another swearing to help me, no matter the personal cost to him.

“I don’t even know where to look from here, Matteo.” I extend my palm towards him. “All I have is this photo of her.”

He takes it, fingers closing carefully around it like it’s something precious. It’s a small thing, but it doesn’t escape my notice. “Where did you find it?”

“In a drawer in his office. There are dozens more, all of different girls.”

Matteo frowns, looking deep in thought. After a couple of minutes, he says, “I might have an idea.”

I perk up at that. “What?”

“There’s no way he could have murdered this many girls without being discovered. To talk purely logistically, the disposalof bodies alone would have been a nightmare.” Matteo rubs a hand over his jaw. “It’s possible that Rocco got himself involved in some dark revenue streams these last few months.” He hesitates for a second before adding, “Things like human trafficking. Sex trafficking to be specific.”

I instantly feel sick to my stomach. “Jesus.”

“He must have sold some of these girls. Photos like these are typically used to market that a new girl is available.”

I knew when I found them that there was something seriously wrong with these photos.

Matteo’s lips part before pressing together again.

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry for the blunt question,cara, but how do you know Adriana is dead?”

A violent rush of nausea climbs up my throat. I push it back down, speaking past it, and tip my chin in Rocco’s direction. “He cut off her finger and sent it as proof.”

Matteo stills. A muscle ticks in his jaw. “He what?”

“He included the ring she always wore and a note saying her body would never be found.”

Matteo whips his gun out and fires two shots into Rocco. His dead body jerks as the bullets rip through his chest.

“Dick,” Matteo grits in a fury-soaked whisper.

It’s such a surprising reaction that I can’t help but laugh.

Standing where we are, it’s impossible not to think about how much has changed since the last time he and I stood in this alley together.

“Rocco couldn’t have worked the sex trafficking ring alone. Whoever his partners are, they’ll likely know what he did with the bodies of the girls who didn’t make it.”

Red mists my vision like blood splatter at his words.

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