Page 97 of Garrison's Creed

Cash’s mind spun.Second package?Did he hear that correctly? He bounced a questioning look to Roman, then Jared. They heard it too.

Second package?What had they overlooked?

“I confirmed the parents’ address. The address was correct. I was told it would be delivered by your lieutenant. What do I need? A fucking Fed Ex tracking number?”

Parents?

Goddamn.

The world stilled. Roman paled. Anger vibrated at the cleft of his chin and worked its way to his eyes. Fury and wrath boiled in a clear, ready-for-blood stare. It had to be training that kept him in place, alert, and waiting for orders.That and an attitude problem trained deep into his soul.Cash wondered if Roman has the ability to feel fear when vengeance was such an easy emotion to replace it with.

Cash’s mouth baked dry. His lips stung. The metallic taste of blood skimmed over his tongue. He realized he’d bitten his lip to keep from hollering a war cry. The cold tingle of apprehension shivered across his chest. Nic’s story about what sent her on the run and into witness protection, of the Gianori clan murdering the family members of one of their own, filtered through his brain.

A bomb ticked right now, waiting to blow. His stomach roiled. The pattering beat of his heart quick-stepped, needing to protect the parents he was as close to as his own.But Roman.Roman looked deadly. Just when Nic was almost back, a threat over his parents was primed to… explode.Damn.

“Go,” Jared ordered, pointing toward the other hangar. Roman moved on toward the closest exit, as silent as he was speedy.

Cash followed on his six. If there was ever a time to squeeze intelligence out of a criminal, this was it. Reaching the hangar door, they slipped out and into the open outdoors between the two buildings.

They looked around. Nothing suspicious. Out of the reach of potential listening devices, Roman pulled out his cell, hit a button, and pressed it to his ear.

The waiting game, part two. No answer. Roman cursed, then slowly said, “Dad. Stop what you’re doing. Call me now. Do not get in your car. Do not check the mail. Don’t touch anything. Just call.”

Immediacy and dread tinged his voice. Roman dialed again— no answer—and left the same message for his mother. His face pinched. His eyes shut, the creases in the corner aging him in a way Cash had never seen.

“They’re fine,” Cash said, not sure what the hell else to offer.

Roman gulped a swallow, opened his eyes, and focused on Cash. Agony speared Cash’s gut. His best friend squeezed his eyes shut for one more long second. “Let’s go.”

“We need him alive, man. We need to know what he knows.”

“You think I don’t fucking know that?” Roman spat back.

“So question first, kill later.”

Roman flashed a look that said something along the lines of, “maybe, we’ll see.”

Cash fell into quick step behind him. They were lifelong partners. They knew all the moves. Roman moved one way, Cash another. They circled down and tightened in until Cash could see Roman opposite him, inside the hangar, readying for an attack.

One man.

Only one mobbed-up jerkoff, paced in the empty hangar. No body men. No armed protection. Gianori dialed into his voicemail, putting it on speakerphone, and picked at his fingernail.Freakin’ manicured piece of crap.

Cash did another check and held up one finger. Roman did the same and nodded. They had a single target.

Roman moved closer, going for the grab. Gianori listened to voicemails, not hearing Roman creep closer. Not that he could’ve if he’d listened. Roman crept as silently as a drift of deadly smoke.

Ten yards. Five yards. Still, the mobster was oblivious, ignoring his surroundings. Not a great habit to have in the mob business.

Ten feet. Five feet. Four, three, two.

Roman paused.Oh, shit. He wouldn’t kill the bastard yet. Right?

One.

A tornado strike of muscle and fury. Roman clawed his hand over Gianori’s face and had him planted onto the tarmac floor before Gianori had time to yell.

The barrel of Roman’s pistol pressed into the mobster’s temple.Don’t pull the trigger. Yet.Cash moved in fast, ready to pull his man off if need be. Alive. They needed Gianori alive.

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