Page 56 of Absolution

Paddy returned with the first aid kit. “Here, let me take a look.”

He worked quickly, putting on a butterfly bandage, wrapping it in gauze and medical tape.

“It’s only a temporary fix, and I’m not sure how well that’s gonna hold with you moving around.”

“I’ll be fine. Thanks.”

Just then my phone rang.

“Tell me something, Connor.”

“She’s still looking. But she did run another check on Carlos Jordan’s phone. He made a phone call to a local motel earlier tonight. She hacked into their security feed, and it looks like Gideon’s been staying there.”

“Fuck. I’m going to Ricci’s again.” I grabbed my keys and ran to my car.

“I knew you were going to say that, which is why I called Webber.”

“Already on my way.”

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Copy.”

I disconnected the phone and threw it on the passenger seat. Ignoring every speed limit, I tore through town, blowing through several yellow lights before finally skidding to a halt in the circle drive.

Not even bothering to knock this time, I kicked in the front door.

“Ricci? Where are you, you son of a bitch?” I raced through the house toward the office I’d visited the last time I was here.

I shoved the door open.

“God damn it,” I cursed at the empty room.

“I don’t appreciate you breaking into my home, Mr. Marshall.”

I turned to find a gun pointed straight at my face.

“Listen to me you asshole, I need to find Gideon immediately. I don’t care what kind of business you two have together. He’s taken someone from me, and I have to find her.”

That got his attention. His razor-sharp gaze focused in on me. “Explain yourself.”

I prayed I was doing the right thing. “Gideon kidnapped my girlfriend tonight. We grew up together, and he has some type of vendetta against me. By taking Gina, he knows how to hurt me.”

Ricci’s face turned red with rage, and he lowered his weapon. “Gina? This mother fucker has her? He’s a dead man.”

Confusion washed over me. What the hell was going on?

“How do you know Gina?”

Disregarding me entirely, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a cell phone.

“Pierce, we have a problem. I need you to find Carlos now. I don’t care what you have to do to him, but get me the location of a man by the name of Gideon Townsend. Find out where he’s hiding. This takes priority over anything. I need the information yesterday.”

He disconnected the call and replaced his phone. I made for the pistol under my shirt when Ricci moved, but he merely brushed past me and strode briskly into his office. When he reached under his desk, a click sounded and suddenly the large bookcase against the wall creaked. It slowly started to swing open revealing a set of stairs that descended below the house.

“Follow me, Leo.”

I blinked. Suddenly we were on a first-name basis? Needing answers to whatever the hell was happening here, I complied. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I stopped and my eyes scanned the room in disbelief. Jesus. Lining all four walls was more firepower than I’d seen since my Army days.

---