Page 131 of Creed

“Possibly both. His supply and shipping routes have been shut down in Boston,” Tag says. “Would the West Coast be an option?”

“Fuck no,” Creed growls. “Not California, at least. My family controls California and all the ports, so a shipping route anywhere in this state wouldn't fly. As I said, we'd never work with Mancini, or anyone allied to him. It’s well known that my family doesn’t touch anything that’s even loosely connected to human trafficking. He’d be a dead man if he tried to operate in our territory.”

“Plus, Mancini wouldn’t have the strength to make inroads here against us or challenge the Santoro family,” Andro adds. “Not by himself, or even working with three rogue cartel soldiers and a corrupt businessman. They’d need a battalion or need to ally with an entire criminal faction, not just a few members of one.”

Andro pauses briefly with a frown. “What does this have to do with Sophie? Is Mancini involved? Is he the mystery third party?”

I’m confused, too, but Creed has a knowing smirk.

“You were testing me,” he says with no heat, rubbing his jaw regarding Tag. “Did I pass?”

“With flying colors,” Tag grunts.

“It’s not likely that Mancini is involved,” Creed concludes. “Not with anything to do with trafficking in this geographic area, at least.”

“It does seem unlikely that Mancini is the third party involved in this,” Tag concedes. “However, when Len was digging into him, she didn’t know about Manuel Morales, whoisinvolved,according to your intel, so that’s something to dig deeper and see if there’s a connection between them.”

Creed nods. “We can also use our resources and networks to see if there’s a connection.” He regards Tag closely. “We need to work together and share everything we each have. I know it’s hard for you guys to work with someone like me, but we have to do this. I feel like I have half the puzzle pieces, and maybe with yours, we can finally figure this out.”

I look at Antonio, Miguel, Severyn, and Tag. “Creed is right. We need to share everything we know. Such as Pastor Salome has ties to human trafficking,” I share in case they don’t know.

Worry slashes across Severyn’s face, and Tag’s square jaw clenches. “There’s additional intel that Salome is trying to get connected into some death ring.”

Death… ring?

I can feel the blood drain from my face, as well as feel Creed’s protective fury roll off him.

“Where is Salome now?” Creed’s voice is dark and ominous.

“Our tech guy couldn’t track him after he left the dorm.”

Tag’s admission breaks the dam, holding back my panic.

Pastor Salome is still out there, free. With my father. Hunting for me.

But why? Is my father’s plan to give me to Salome? To be used in human trafficking? To be sacrificed in some death ring?

Each possibility is worse than the last.

And they nearly killed Ollie because of me. That’s what is making me spiral the most. My friend could’ve died; she could’ve beentaken, all because of me and who my father is. She still could be taken and given to that ring.

“Ollie,” I choke as I shoot to my feet. Is she safe now? My vision swims as panic overwhelms me.

“Angel.” Creed envelopes me.

“Finding Pastor Salome is our number one priority,” Severyn vows, making me feel somewhat better that we have allies in this.

“Now that we have confirmed that your father is involved, Sophie, along with Manuel Morales, that’s two more faces our surveillance programs can scour for,” Tag says.

Creed’s arms tightened around me, keeping me close, like he’s shielding me from every threat. “We’ve known about those three, plus another cartel sicario named Frederico Perez, and our resources haven’t been able to find fuck all,” he snarls in frustration. “They have help with remaining off the radar.”

“What do you have on the hacker?” Andro asks.

Severyn and Tag exchange a subtle look before Tag says, “Nothing.”

Creed stiffens and narrows his eyes, warning Tag. “On the phone with Len, she admitted your tech genius traced the hack, which you also just admitted that it had made you look into Mancini. So don’t fucking try to bullshit me that you have nothing on the hacker themselves. They all have a signature, so what was theirs?”

Tag flexes his hands, then clasps them in front of him. “I’m not at liberty to say.”

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