Page 49 of Cruel Redemption

“What happened to the ping on Enzo’s phone? Is it still there?”

He shook his head. “No. It didn’t leave the hotel. But it went dark again. That’s why I think the tunnels are where we start.”

He made an abrupt stop when a woman darted onto the street. He paused.

“You’re going to need this.” He grabbed a gun strapped to his ankle and handed it to me over the consol.

“Thanks.” I checked the safety and made sure it was loaded. “I have one, but never hurts to have backup.”

“You know how to use it?” he asked.

I glared at him. “I’m fucking Bratva. Of course, I know how to use a fucking gun.”

“Just don’t point it at me. And don’t shoot in the dark tunnels.”

“Wow. You have a lot of respect for me, don’t you Ciro?” I huffed. His contempt for me crept threw every chance he gave it.

“You get what you earn.”

“I’ve earned your respect,” I fired back. “I’ve done nothing but make sure Amara is protected and taken care of. I give her what she needs. I’m the fucking Pahkan of this city,” I snarled.

“Maybe we have different definitions of what she needs.”

I hated when he did that. When he played the familiarity card. Threw out hints and suggestions that he might know her better than I did. I knew that was the plan—to rile me up. To piss me off. I had to push that down and not let it cloud my judgement. We had to trust each other in the tunnels.

He didn’t care how many men answered to me or what level of training I had endured or survived. He only measured me by his standard of what Amara deserved. Nothing else.

We were getting closer to the hotel. He had to drive slower through the city streets.

He maneuvered through the alley behind the hotel. God, I hoped we didn’t run into guests. My profile was more visible after my bail hearing.

Ciro parked. I spotted Nik and four Bratva emerge from their cars once we were visible. Ciro didn’t conceal the fact that he didn’t like we had reinforcements.

“Follow behind me. I know the quickest way to get to the tunnels. Don’t do anything stupid,” he instructed the group once we had gathered. I nodded at Nik to listen to Ciro. He agreed, pulling his gun from the holster.

Ciro used a keypad to access an employee service entrance. We slipped inside and made a quick turn for a closet that looked as if it held a freight elevator.

“This is it.” He turned a key into the wall and the door retracted. Everyone stepped inside and started to descend beneath the hotel.

I had forgotten the musky Earthy scent until it hit my nostrils with a violet pungent slap. I coughed into my elbow. The world below New Orleans was shadowy and dark. A city that couldn’t bury its dead below sea level, kept other secrets buried here instead. As soon as we stepped off the lift it was as if all those horrors wrapped around us. I had to grip my fist next to my thigh to stop the shiver that ran across my shoulders. Only a few nights ago I teased Amara for not believing in the folklore of this city. Now, I wished I didn’t know as much as I did.

Ciro held up a military-grade flashlight. The beam was focused and ultra-clear. He raised his finger to his lips and motioned for us to file behind him. The door closed behind us, and I realized we were here until we fought whatever demon had lured us underground.

Twenty-Seven

Amara

“Mr. and Mrs. Barone.” I greeted Enzo’s parents, already drinking coffee and huddled together on the couch when Barbara and I entered the room. They seemed nervous. Anxious.

“We’re sorry we just showed up like this,” Mrs. Barone spoke.

“It’s fine,” I reassured them. “You’re welcome here. Has something come up?” I searched their faces for an explanation.

Enzo’s mother was more assertive than our first meeting in my car. “The hotel is starting to get to us. You know all those people. Reporters. The headquarters. Thought we’d get out for a while. We thought we could—” She glanced at her husband. “Really, we want to know what you’re doing to find him. We know what you do. We know who you are. You are a very powerful woman, Ms. Amato. You could find our son. Why haven’t you found him?”

I blinked. Barbara patted my arm.

“Ms. Amato is working diligently to find him. Hi, I’m Barbara.” She reached over the coffee table to shake their hands. “I’m the attorney who set up the reward fund account for Enzo’s return. I work very closely with Ms. Amato and I know Enzo. We all want him back.”

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