Page 8 of The Veiling

“I just mean, it makes no sense that Felipe, a great and powerful drug lord, would roll around in some van.”

“He’s right. Felipe’s always been flashy.” Joseph sighed. “He wants everyone to know he’s made of money.”

“I know I’m right.” Alessandro winked.

“Silenzio, Alessio,” I growled, taking the last drag of my cigarette and dropped it onto the helipad. I twisted my heel on it, snuffing it out before glaring at each of the guys. “I don’t give a fuck if he’s riding on the back of a three-legged donkey or in a fucking Bugatti. Find Isabelle!”

“There’s more,” Noah muttered, turning his phone screen to me.

Rage simmered in me as I observed Isabelle and the men in costume.

“After watching closer, we noticed she’s unconscious.” Noah bowed his head at the screen.

“I’m going to fucking kill them,” I rumbled.

“Now, look at this.” He scrolled over twice, then faced the screen toward me once again.

Felipe was hobbling away toward the van, supported by masked figures on each side. Once the seven second video ended, Noah slid his phone back inside his jacket pocket and pulled out the pack of cigarettes and lighter, handing them to me. I lit another, deeply inhaling, trying to piece together the puzzle.

“Felipe’s hurt.” A smirk inched over his face.

My gaze snapped to Joseph. Shrugging, he shook his head. “None of our guys did it.”

“My point is,” Noah interjected, “that blood in the bathroom might not be hers. Well, at least most of it…hopefully.” The little sliver of hope dwindled away in his gape.

“Okay, okay,” I waved lazily, “but that doesn’t explain her being unconscious and someone else taking her.”

“It means one of two things,” Noah inhaled a drag, “and I’m hoping it’s the first. One,” he held up a finger, “either they saved her from him and are looking for someone to come get her, or—” He swallowed hard.

I mumbled, “Someone else wanted to hurt her and we have multiple problems now.”

“V,” William interjected, “what do you want us to do?”

It was out of my control. Someone else was carefully calculating whatever was going on. Either way, they were all going to die. “My hope is whoever took her isn’t sure who she is, and that’s why we haven’t been notified. Tons of people use those hallway bathrooms. I just don’t get why they wouldn’t have notified the front desk or called for help instead of taking her.”

William slid his hands in his pockets. “Has anyone reached out to the police, Joe?”

“No, we have someone listening in, just in case.”

Alessandro cleared his throat. “So, how the fuck will you know which of these scenarios it could be?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” And I was dreading it.

“I know that look.” Joseph arched a brow. “This isn’t good.”

“I’m going to go public.”

“What?!” Noah, Joseph, and Alessandro spat together.

“Really?” William lifted the corner of his upper lip, darting his eyes at all of them. “None of you saw this coming?”

“You’re never open about shit.” Alessandro shifted his weight, crossing his arms over his chest. “And you’re going public with this?! Of all things! This?!”

“I’m going to regret asking this,” Joseph closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, “but what are you thinking?”

“I’m going to offer the public money for her safe r—”

“That’s a horrible idea!” Noah barked.

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