Page 39 of His Ruthless Obsession

"Hard to forget a quarter million in losses." I set my glass down. "What'd you find?"

"Been tracking communications." Marco pulls out his phone, scrolling through messages. "Someone tipped them off about the route change. Only six people knew about that adjustment."

"Names."

"Ray, Tony, me, you, Frankie, and Carlos." Marco's voice drops. "The timing's too perfect. They hit us twenty minutes after the switch."

I lean back, mind racing through possibilities. "Pull phone records, bank statements. I want to know who's living beyond their means."

"Already did." Marco hands me a folder. "Carlos bought a new Audi last month. Cash."

"Interesting purchase for someone who claims he can barely make rent." I scan the documents. "What else?"

"His girlfriend moved into a penthouse downtown. Way above her paygrade as a waitress."

"Keep eyes on him." I stand, moving to the window. "But don't spook him. If he's our rat, I want to know who he's feeding."

"There's more." Marco shifts uncomfortably. "They've been asking about Jazz."

My hand tightens on the glass. "Explain."

"Carlos was at the club last night, watching her. Not the usual way – he was taking notes on her schedule, her routine."

"So he might have been helping the Mantiones with her, too." Ice crystals form in my veins. "Get me everything on Carlos's movements for the past month."

"Got it." Marco heads for the door. "Want me to bring him in?"

"Not yet." I down the rest of my whiskey. "Let him think he's clever. Makes it easier to catch him slipping."

The door closes behind Marco, leaving me alone with thoughts of creative ways to make Carlos regret his choices. Nobody threatens what's mine.

I settle back at my desk, pulling up the security feeds from the club on my laptop. Jazz moves through the crowd with her usual grace, unaware of the sharks circling. Carlos appears in frame, his eyes following her movements too intently for my liking.

My phone buzzes. Another message from Marco with Carlos's bank statements.

Tony walks in without knocking. "Got those supplier contracts you wanted-"

"Sit." I don't look up from the screen.

He hesitates, then drops into a chair. "Something wrong?"

"You tell me." I turn the laptop so he can see Carlos watching Jazz. "Notice anything interesting about our friend lately?"

Tony shifts, collar suddenly tight. "Can't say I have."

"Really?" I pull out the folder Marco gave me. "Because according to these records, you and Carlos met for drinks three times last week. Outside our usual spots."

"We're friends." Sweat beads on his forehead. "Known him for years."

"Friends." The word tastes like ash. I stand, circling behind his chair. "Like you were friends with Sal Mantione before he tried to muscle in on our territory?"

Tony's shoulders tense. "That was different-"

"Was it?" I grip the back of his chair. "Because right now, I've got a rat problem. And you're looking awfully nervous for someone with nothing to hide."

"Boss, I swear-"

"Don't." My voice drops to ice. "You know what happens to liars in this family."

---