Page 66 of Depths of Obsession
Gazzago’s face falls, his eyes widening in fear. “I will! I’ll tell the world, and they’ll come for you—youmostri,” he spits.
Renzo shrugs. “Maybe. Or maybe they’ll think you’re just a tired old man who’s lost his mind. I’d bet on the latter.” He steps closer, resting a hand on the table and leaning in. “A hundred K, Tommy. You give the deal with the Afghans your blessing and then you retire to the country. That’s my deal. You get to live. Take it”—Renzo says as he puts one hand on the table and leans toward Gazzago—“or leave it.”
I let my fangs lengthen, just enough for Gazzago to see, and Renzo does the same. The rapid throb of Gazzago’s heart is getting fucking annoying, and I want to kill him just to stop the pounding.
Not surprisingly, he deflates, sagging into the chair, his body trembling.
“They have my children,” he says, his voice breaking. “My sons, my daughter—she’s pregnant. If I don’t bring the girl or the necklace, they’ll kill them.”
My gaze locks with Renzo’s.What the fuck?
Renzo nods slightly, signaling me to keep going.
“Who, Tommy?” I ask. “Who’s holding your children?”
He looks at me, his face lined with exhaustion. “I don’t know their names. I dealt with one man, and… something else. Their voices…they were strange—inhuman.”
One advantage of being a vampire—I can always tell when people lie. His heart, the adrenaline, it’s all there. I know he’s telling the truth. And suddenly, everything makes sense: why he was so desperate for the necklace, why he hated his cousin for jeopardizing things. He needed it to save his kids.
“But why Pippa?” I ask.
He meets my eyes, guilt plain in his expression. “I saw the way you looked at her at the gallery. I mentioned it to the man I deal with. I said I was using her to sweeten the pot. That the way you looked at her meant you would for sure get the necklace. The guy said nothing but called me back ten minutes later and gave me a choice, the girl or the necklace for my children. Either one would do.” Gazzago shakes his head and points at me. “Someone really hates you.”
I feel ice grip my heart. “Who?” I ask. “Who hates me?”
Gazzago shifts, his fear palpable. “He calls himself Robert. Pronounced the French way.”
“Robert?” Renzo pulls out his phone, showing Gazzago the picture of the creature from my club. “Is this Robert?”
Gazzago nods slowly, his face turning a shade of green. “Yes… he looks like you, but different. Is he related to you?”
“No,” Renzo says.
I stand frozen, trying to comprehend, my mind racing. Everything Pippa went through with Gazzago, with her father, it’s all because of me. If I didn’t care about her, if I didn’t love her she would’ve been fine.”
Luca, Renzo nudges me.
I ignore him. How could I have gotten this so fucking wrong? Here I thought I was protecting her and all the while I was putting her in the line of fire.
Brother, focus. I need you here focused,Renzo growls.We need more information.
I tip my head at Renzo and then he goes back to Gazzago. “How do you communicate with them?”
Gazzago pulls another cell out of his pocket. “I call the number on here. Robert is the one I deal with. I have only spoken with the other one once or twice.”
Renzo narrows his eyes for a moment then he says, “We’re going to need you to call Robert. Tell him you have Pippa and you want to meet.”
“No.” Gazzago shakes his head. “They will kill my children. No. Absolutely no lying to them. They will know.”
Renzo starts to argue with him but I cut in. “He’s right, Renzo. The same way we know when he’s lying, they will probably know.”
Renzo stares at me, as he mulls this over. “Shit,” he says finally, and I know he’s come to the same conclusion. “We have to figure this out.” He takes the phone. “Get Rocco to see what he can pull off this.”
It’s my turn to shake my head. “It will be a burner phone. I’ve been on these people for months and they haven’t slipped up until now. They use their magick well. There’s no way this phone will lead anywhere.”
“Our choices are limited then,” Renzo says.
“Do what Gazzago asks?”
