Page 52 of Merciless Oath

Enzo and I share a glance, and I wonder if they have located The8.

“I’ve been keeping tabs on everything,” Rafael announces, settling in at his desk. “When you switched cars at the truck stop, the sedan kept tracking the Cadillac. Our guys managed to lead them to a secluded location and get them all turned around. When they inevitably stopped, we were able to capture them.”

“No fucking way,” Enzo breathes, jumping up from his seat. “Was it the redhead?”

“No, two men,” Rafael says, pulling out his phone and passing it over. “Russians.”

We flip through the photos, staring at the strangers. They don’t look like regular mafia. In fact, they look like college students.

“These guys?” I ask, shocked. “They look like kids.”

“They’re not,” Rafael confirms. “But they’re not mafia either. Absolutely no defense skills or anything. We got them without a fight. Our guys are keeping them at the warehouse upstate right now.”

“Have they been questioned?” Alfonso asks. My eyes snap back to Rafael as my breath sticks in my throat.

Information. Maybe they don’t have the redhead, but they might have information.

“Not yet.” He chuckles. “Thought you three would like to do the honors. I’ll come as backup, of course, but my wife will divorce me if I come home with even a drop of blood on me.”

“Let’s fucking go,” Enzo whoops, pumping his fist in the air. I stifle a laugh, even though I’m terrified of what we’re about to find out.

Although I’m more terrified we won’t find anything and end up back at square one.

“This guy.” Rafael grins, pointing at Enzo. “How far you’ve come. I’m so proud.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Enzo throws a grin over his shoulder, jogging out of the room.

“Are you sure this man is capable of leading your family?” Alfonso asks, shaking his head, even though I spot laughter in his eyes.

We pull away from the house just as a car of the Romano boys pulls up. Although Rafael assured us the house is secure, he called in extra hands as a safeguard.

I breathe a sigh of relief and relax into the plush leather backseat. Knowing the house is being patrolled by some of the toughest men in the country settles my nerves about leaving Matilda.

The drive to the upstate warehouse takes us back along the coast, and we spend the next few hours discussing who The8 might be. Rafael and I are convinced it’s an ex-girlfriend but Enzo’s still torn. Either way, we’re finally one step closer to finding out her identity.

By the time we reach the abandoned-looking building, I’m a bundle of nerves. Enzo notices my twitchy hands and rests his on top. I flash him a grateful smile.

“Where’s your little poetry book, Lenny?” he whispers, laughing silently at me.

“Shut up,” I huff. “It’s very grounding. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Yeah, he’s a space case,” Rafael interjects as he parks the car. “He knows nothing about the ground in general.”

“Ha ha ha,” Enzo mocks, punching him hard in the shoulder. “Dad made a funny. Did you hear that, Lenny? Rafael decided to grace us with his sense of humor today.”

“Shut up, both of you,” Alfonso moans, rubbing his temple. “Get your head in the game and let’s do this.”

We instantly sober up and climb out of the car. We need to present a united front and intimidate these assholes until they give us what we need. We form a rough game plan before strolling into the empty warehouse.

One of the Romano men hauls himself up from a stack of pallets and greets us.

“Jack.” Enzo nods at him. “Where are they?”

“In the freezer.” Jack grins, gesturing over his shoulder. “We thought they needed to cool down a bit.”

A few of the Romano men loitering around the freezer door chuckle.That’s pretty fucked up, honestly. I’d never think to shove my victims in a freezer before interrogating them.

Enzo takes a deep breath, puffs out his chest, and flings the door open. I watch in fascination as he slips into a character so unlike him that it’s almost like watching a stranger. I plaster on my bitchiest face and follow him inside.

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