Page 123 of Unlawful Seduction

“And?”

“Hold on. Just hold on.”

What the hell was the man doing, exercising? I listened closely to the background noise and scowled. “There’s some asshole with scars following Mallory. You’re going to tell me you have nothing to do with it?”

Mike was panting. “Look. There’s not much time. I checked out those rumors I told you about and went out on a limb.”

It sounded as if the man was running. “What are you doing? Where are you?”

“Brooklyn. I’m heading to my car. I know you don’t trust me, but you need to listen to me.”

“Just spit it out, Mike. I’m finished with playing games.” I noticed a figure dressed in black and immediately headed in their direction.

“You’re not going to believe this. Ava’s dead. He killed her.”

“What? Who?” The man wasn’t making any sense.

I heard voices in the background, angry Italian voices.

“You’re not safe! You’re not safe.”

Mike’s breath was raspy and there was no doubt he was running along some pavement. “Who’s chasing you, Mike?”

“I got too close. I wanted to prove I had nothing to do with betraying you.”

“Get out of there. Go. Now!” Shit. Mike wasn’t the kind of man to delve into the area of violence.

“I’m almost to my car. He found her.”

“Who are you talking about?” I demanded.

Suddenly, there were gunshots. “He found his son. I’m sorry, Beckett. I’m sorry.”

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Shit. The news hit me hard, but how in the hell could it be true? My mind was spinning, anger and confusion rattling around in my brain.

The background voices grew louder. I remained on the line, listening carefully as I stopped where I was, turning in a full circle. Where the hell had Mallory gone?

“Well, well. If it isn’t the crown prince who fucked up his life.”

The voice on the phone was one I recognized from a long time ago. One of Gio’s men. “What the fuck do you want?”

“It’s not what I want, Michaelangelo. Or should I call you Beckett now? By the way, the woman and her child, Gio’s child. It’s only a matter of time before we find them and when we do…”

“Hear me. You touch a hair on that woman’s head and I’ll burn down New York.”

He laughed. “I’d like to see you try. Say goodbye to your friend, rat. It’s the last time you’ll hear his voice.”

“I’m sorry,” Mike gasped, his voice slightly muffled. “I had no choice.”

A single popping sound forced my muscles to twitch. With the call ended, I shifted to the email, praying to God Mike had actually done what he’d said. There were several pictures that had populated my email only minutes before.

The moment I opened the first one, I reached for my weapon. Gio was alive. I shoved my phone into my jacket pocket. The last thing I needed to do was to terrify the innocent folks at the carnival. However, I had to get Mallory the hell out of here.

“Beckett! Beckett!” A blur was close, hair flying in the wind and I was hit with a solid thud as a woman rushed into my arms.

“Jenny. Right?”

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