Page 41 of Duke of Ruin

Stacey immediately jumps on the phone to coordinate the next steps of the plan. For the briefest moment I consider the possibility that if I throw this sting, Gianni might let me back into my old life. Noahdidlie to me. I could go back to being royalty, go back to my carefree life. I shake my head. I know that’s ridiculous, but I still hold on to the thought. I can use it. I look at Noah and allow my anger and frustration to bubble to the surface. He looks away from me, but thankfully stays silent.

We head to the bus station without saying a word to each other. There’s nothing left to say. I want to hold his hand, but I can’t risk anyone seeing. My uncle could have spies watching us. We make it to the docks, and I tie Noah’s wrists behind his back. I take a deep breath and head for the warehouse doors. I have a tiny recording device in my ear, but that’s it. There’s no code word and no distress signal, just our conversation with Gianni and the hope that Stacey will come for us if this goes wrong.

I wait by the warehouse door holding Noah’s arm. He hangs his head, looking defeated. I have my gun strapped to my waist, but I doubt it’ll be particularly useful.

A dark sedan rolls up next to us, and a driver I recognize jumps out of the car and opens to back door, letting Gianni out. I tighten my grip on Noah, who lowers his head, giving the impression of defeat.

“Eli, my boy. I was wondering what you were up to,” Gianni says with a smile that makes my skin crawl.

“I guess you assumed I was at the bottom of the harbor,” I answer, trying to keep my nerves in check. Noah cuts his eyes to me, then grimaces like he’s in pain.

“Well, I suppose so,” Gianni says thoughtfully. The driver of the car moves to stand just behind him.

I look around, searching for anyone else who might be waiting to ambush us.

“Don’t worry,” Gianni says. “It’s just us. No one else needs to know you’re here.”

I narrow my eyes at the implication. “So what now?” I ask.

“Hand over the rat and we’ll talk,” he says.

“Forgive me, but I’m struggling to trust you.” I pull Noah closer to me. “You’ve tried to have me killed. Twice.”

“No,” Gianni says. “You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Are you saying that you didn’t tell my father to bring me out here and kill me?” I snap.

“I told him to take care of a problem. How he decided to do it was his choice,” Gianni purrs. Sneaky bastard. He won’t admit to anything.

“And what about the police chief?” I ask, tightening my grip to the point where I’m bruising Noah’s arm.

“What about him?”

“You’re telling me you aren’t in talks with him to look the other way when all this shit falls apart?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We have a friendly relationship, yes, but I can’t say things have fallen apart,” Gianni says. I mentally kick myself. I’ve given too much away. The driver moves his hand to his hip, and I shift Noah in front of me. It’s time to try a different tactic.

“You don’t seem to have much control over your people,” I growl.

“I don’t need control, I need loyalty,” Gianni says, baring his teeth. “I would think you bringing Noah to me is your attempt at showing yours.”

“It is…” I say, trying to come up with what to say next. “But I need you to guarantee that I’m protected.”

“Protected from what, Eli?” He smiles at me, actuallysmiles.

“Protected from the fallout of what happened at the docks, protected from the police,” I say, then take a breath. “I’m the one who shot Reese.”

“Why would you do that?” Gianni asks, but he doesn’t seem too bothered, just slightly surprised.

“He was threatening me, and he tried to kill Noah.” I shake Noah’s arm.

“And that bothers you?”

“Of course it does!” I shout. “If he dies I can’t be exonerated!” I shove Noah to his knees. “I’m not giving up my place for a fucking asshole like Reese.”

“Fine,” Gianni says. My heart almost stops.

“Fine?”

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