Page 45 of Pride

Nina stares at me in confusion, but I’ve got no answers for her. What just happened between us I have no explanation for. It was downright wrong and I hate that I enjoyed it.

15

ISIAH

Iwalk back into Jane’s flat two days after I gave her the job to find her buried under a mound of paperwork.

“Man, this shit you sent me after.” She shakes her head. “I’ve uncovered a fucking pedophile ring run by the man you asked me to hack. It’s deep-rooted and even has links to the fucking government.”

I swallow hard as all I really needed was a way to hurt Gio, not get entangled in something this complicated. “Are you saying he’s the ringleader?”

Jane shakes her head. “No, but he’s instrumental to the entire thing. He’s the way they get the children.”

“How?” I ask, needing to know how exactly that sick bastard lures the kids.

“He has connections with about twenty school principals that run schools outside the city. Turns out, they send him kids in return for keeping quiet for their own sick and twisted desire for kids.”

“Are you fucking serious?” I ask.

She nods. “I’m afraid so.”

“How the hell do pedophiles end up running schools?”

“Beats me.”

My chest clenches in anger.

“He gets the school children and has them auctioned off to the highest bidder. Each event is highly exclusive and invite only.”

“Jesus,” I cringe, feeling sick to the stomach. “Do you know how he even gets the kids from the school?”

“The principal of each school targets a certain child and adds a special something to their food and water to make them sick.” She shrugs. “That forces them to miss school the next day. And then he has them kidnapped from their home.” She looks up at me again. “Obviously, he has to work with numerous schools to avoid rousing suspicion. If lots of kids kept going missing from the same school, there’d be an uproar.”

I shake my head. “And you have the names of everyone involved?” I confirm.

“Every single bastard.”

“Good.” The hatred I’ve harbored toward Gio Benedetto is deepening the more I learn about him. Not only did he bring about my twin brother’s death, he’s also instrumental in a pedophile ring. I should have realized at that meeting with Alastair. It wasn’t a one off. He makes a shit ton of money doing it.

“Do you know where the auctions happen?”

She shakes her head. “I can’t find it yet, but I’m still digging. Gio knows, and you’re close to him. Can’t you enquire?”

I run a hand across the back of my neck, regretting how dismissive I was of Alastair at the meeting before, as Gio wouldn’t dare even mention the auction to me. “He knows my opinion on the subject and wouldn’t be very forthcoming.”

“Shit,” Jane says, typing frantically at her computer. “I’ll find it. It’s got to be here.”

“Maybe the location changes each time?”

She arches a brow. “It’s possible.”

“I need to know where the next one is going to be taking place.” I slide my hand into my pocket to pull out the envelope of cash. “Can you keep working on this for me?” I pass the envelope to her.

“Sure thing.” She takes the money. “I’d do this for free, but a girl’s got to pay rent.”

I laugh. “I wouldn’t let you do it for free.”

“So, I think I’ll need a few days if I’m honest about digging deeper into this.”

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