Page 28 of Cruel Redemption

She smiled. “And, just so you know…I love you too.” She reached on her tiptoes and kissed me. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to break away from it. The way her tongue danced in my mouth made me want to take her back to bed and repeat the entire morning.

I pushed her from me swiftly and headed out the door towards the city and the airport.

Sixteen

Luka

I was early. I waited outside the baggage claim exit. I was near the international terminal with strict instructions to keep circling every five minutes. Ciro was easy to spot in any crowd. I thought it made him both a bad bodyguard because he drew attention, but also an asset because he was large and intimidating to most people.

The door to the backseat opened and he tossed in his bag before sliding into the front seat.

“Any updates?” he asked before his seatbelt was even buckled.

I took my foot off the brake and merged into the flow of traffic. “No.” It wasn’t the answer I wanted to give him. It was close to nine and there was still no ransom note or call. I was running out of back roads and alleys to explore. Enzo’s parents weren’t going to wait much longer.

“Where were you? How long was the flight?” I glanced at him quickly. He didn’t give me a flight number or an airline, only an exact time to circle around baggage claim.

“Working on something for the boss.” I’d never heard him refer to Amara that way before. It didn’t sound natural.

“How long were you gone?” I was willing to push this cat and mouse game as long as I could. I had seen him two days ago at Amara’s house after a long stare down. Nothing about his trip made sense to me. I didn’t think there was enough money to force Ciro away from his boss.

“Not long enough to get everything I wanted accomplished,” he grunted.

“Well, that I believe. You look like hell.” The giant’s face was pale, and his eyes slanted from too little sleep. I knew he had taken whatever flight was available, but there were still many unanswered questions.

“It seems I shouldn’t have left.” I felt his eyes on me. The stare was hard. Brutal.

“Is there something you want to say?” I taunted. “If there is, just go ahead and say it.”

“Just get me to the house. I need to pick up a few things there.”

“And take a shower?” I scrunched my nose. “You stink, Ciro. Like a man who hasn’t showered. Ever.” A quick flash of my morning Amara shower almost distracted me.

He exhaled, not interested in responding to my crass assessment.

“Just drive.”

“You do realize I didn’t want to call you.” I should have held my fucking tongue, but I couldn’t help it. Amara still wasn’t safe as long as we didn’t know who the kidnappers were. “You were the last person I wanted to ask for help.”

“That’s not really your call to make. She was almost kidnapped while she was with you. On your watch.”

I pressed the brake at a red light. I turned my head. “Is that an accusation?”

“I have my own questions.”

I shook my head. “Fucking unbelievable. You were out of town. But go ahead, big guy. Try to pin it on me.”

“If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been out of town.”

“What the hell does that mean?” I stared at him.

“Nothing.” He wouldn’t answer.

“Look, neither of us likes the other. We don’t have to pretend we do. Amara’s not here to make us play nice.”

“We agree on something.” He pressed his lips together. “She’s not here.” I felt him glare at me. “Where is she?” he asked.

“If you can get your head out of your ass, I’d tell you what’s going on,” I responded. “I want Enzo back here safely. For now, I’m willing to call a truce on all the other bullshit until we find him. I won’t accuse you. You don’t accuse me. Deal?”

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