Page 86 of Fortress of the King

“Ah, Jessica, are you all right?”

“No, I’m not. They called again, just now.”

“I’m on it, I’ve got my guy tracing –”

I panic. Everything has me jumpy and on guard. “I thought you worked alone?”

“I have an IT guy. Trust me, if it can be traced, my guy can find it. He works for me exclusively.”

I swallow hard. “I have an even bigger problem; the demands are getting um … much worse than I could ever have imagined.”

“Worse, in what way? Actually … don’t tell me over the phone, I’ll come meet you. Where are you?”

“I’m at home, but I can drive downtown.”

“I’ll meet you at the Esplanade Harbor View in an hour.”

“Okay,” I puff out exasperated. I’ve no idea how I’m going to pull myself up and get off the floor to drive downtown, but somehow, I have to. Enzo Russo is my lifeline.

“We’re going to get this fucker. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to help you.”

“Thank you.” I know I sound defeated and less than enthusiastic, but I don’t rightly give a fuck given the circumstances.

I’ve no idea if Enzo is taking me for a ride or if I can trust him, but I guess I’m about to find out. “Do you think you can find them?” I ask though I’m dreading the answer.

“This isn’t my first rodeo, kid, just sit tight and let me deal with it. I’ll see you soon.”

We hang up, and it’s only then, due to my foggy brain, that I realize he didn’t answer the question.

I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. Scream. Panic. Beg for mercy?

I don’t care what it takes, I’ll do it.

Even kill him?Well, I can’t fucking do that. I’m not a murderer.

If I hadn’t applied for this stupid fucking job at Fortress Galleries, we wouldn’t be in this mess now. If only I had known it was owned by the mob back then, I would have thought twice about it.

I dress warmly in sweats and a baseball cap; I don’t bother with the wig anymore. In fact, I don’t give a flying hoot what I look like right now. The world can go to hell.

I feel like I’m going into combat, a battle that is so far out of my league that it doesn’t seem real.

Then there’s the daunting task of having to tell Enzo about Angelo and how I’m now supposed to kill him! There has to be another way.

Angelo is a mass of contradictions.

All the things I thought I knew about him, and yet I know that he’s nothing like the ruthless barbarians that have Mia. He couldn’t come close to that because at least you know exactly where you stand with Angelo.

I slip out of my apartment building and take a cab to the Esplanade, my heart racing the entire time.

It’s late in the evening, and all of the restaurants surrounding us are winding down for the night. He’s not hard to find, sitting on a bench under a southern live oak that looks like it’s stood the test of time. I wish I could say the same.

“We meet again,” he says, looking a little grave when he greets me, which does nothing for my nerves.

“Thanks for seeing me so late,” I reply, having no idea why I’m thanking him. He’s being paid rather handsomely to be here after all.

“Take a seat.” He gestures to the bench next to him.

I plonk myself down. “Did you find anything yet?” I ask quickly.

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