Page 131 of Filthy Little Regrets

“Cassia?”

My gaze snaps to Tony’s. “I know where he is.” Releasing his arms, I stand, breathing, fighting for my life against my anxiety. There’s only so long I can stave off this panic, but it’s the only choice I have left.

Mace is in danger, and I’m going to get him back, even ifI have to force my way into the land of the dead and drag him back to Earth.

“Tony, get the Range Rover.”

Orion comes out of his office with a frown on his face. “I thought you weren’t working today.”

“Change of plans.” I head straight to the printer, grab the fat stack of paperwork, then move to the supply closet, slip my key inside, and open it. Guns. Night vision goggles. Devices to bypass various security systems. Everything you could ever need to break and enter, to sleuth. Grabbing one of the duffel bags Orion keeps handy, I set it on the table, place the paperwork in a pocket, and shove one of everything inside, but slip the mini-taser into my front pocket.Just in case.

“What are you doing?”

Tony grunts. “I keep asking the same thing. She’s not talking. She said something about Mace missing. She was...” He trails off when I glare at him over my shoulder.

My gaze shifts to Orion. “Have you heard the name Morozov?”

His eyes widen and he steps toward me. “I don’t know what’s going on, but maybe we should?—”

“No. There’s not time to do whatever you think we should do.” I zip up the bag, shaking my head. “I need to go to Mamma Lucia’s before Vito is finished eating.” Mace, the stalker and tech wizard that he is, placed a tracker on Vito’s car and phone. Right now, they’re having dinner. I need to get there, coerce Vito into helping, and get Mace back.

“Vito?” Orion and Tony trade looks.

“We need to plan,” Tony says. “We need to?—”

“We don’t have time!” My voice is heavy with emotion, and I rear back, forcing it down, shoving everything aside.

“We should at least call Dare and Remy,” Orion suggests.

“You can, but I’m going.” I’m not going to sit here and wait. “I’m going to see Vito.” Giving Tony a pointed look, I walk over, stopping in front of him. “You’re either with me, or you’re not.”

A dozen worries play across his features, but resignation is the last. Nodding, he scrubs his hands over his face. “You’re going to go no matter what I say.”

“Yup.”

“I could force you to stay, tie you up.”

Narrowing my eyes, I take a step back, muscles tensing. “But you won’t, because you’re as worried as I am.”

Tony looks away, jaw clenching. “Mace is like a brother to me,” he admits, eyebrows drawing down. “Fuck, okay. Fuck it. Let’s go see Vito.”

“Okay.” I glance at Orion. “Call Dare and Remy. Tell Remy he knows where to go, but I can’t wait for them.”

Unease ripples over his face, but he swallows whatever lecture he has planned. “Be careful.” His voice comes out rough, full of worry I’ve never heard from him.

I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep, so I simply press my lips together and turn back to Tony, lifting an eyebrow.

He sighs and heads through the office toward the Range Rover. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

You and me both, buddy.

thirty-seven

MACE

Agony bangs around my head as I wake up. I groan, a sharp pain radiating from my skull, so intense I can’t open my eyes. Shit, that hurts. I lift my hand to check the injury, but I’m stopped by thick, rough ropes banded around my body. It’s then I realize I’m not in my comfy bed; I’m lying on an unforgiving, cold surface.

Concrete.

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