Page 81 of Forbidden Wish

She nodded. “Women. Two other names. Whatever’s going on, Yvonne’s not the only one in trouble.”

“Okay, do you want to back off?”

“I don’t want anyone to be hurt because of me.”

“They’ll kill them either way. If that’s the MO, the process, Yvonne and whoever else they have will be murdered no matter what you do. Women will continue to be abducted, tortured, and murdered. Unless, of course…”

“Unless of course, what?” Hope. Don’t snatch it away. “Sersha?”

“You take down whoever’s responsible first.”

Dissuaded, she sagged. “Like it’s that easy.”

“You’re not going to take down the whole Manzani family and wouldn’t want to. You’d be on the run for the rest of your life. Ask the Gambattos how that works out.”

“That was them turning on themselves, like the McDades, though somehow they got through it.”

“These families protect themselves. So unless you’ve got a big cache of info to dish to the feds, you can’t protect yourself from their wrath. Trish Gambatto couldn’t do it. No one trusts officials in this town, that’s why she hired private witness protection. You got a secret billionaire ex?”

“No,” she said. “And no information that would bring down a family.”

“I can ask Hell, but that will take time. And God only knows how receptive he’d be.”

“Hell?” Shock winded her. “Helios Manzani? Isn’t he in prison?”

Sersha’s head dipped up and down. “Yep. We write. The relationship’s embryonic. For a while it was just me writing, now it’s a two-way street. We’re getting somewhere. Haven’t figured out where yet, but somewhere.”

“And you’re telling me Steeple should get me protection?”

“Helios can’t hurt me from prison. Evander hurts me in his own way. Always has and probably always will. I can always play the daddy card if anyone tries to disappear me.”

“You got beat up. Bad. Not that long ago. How are you still so calm about this?”

“Maybe I got hit on the head too many times.” The joke fell flat. “You want the story and you want justice. What does that look like? Robes and lawyers and the witness box?”

“Someone has to pay.”

“Someone will,” Sersha said, pondering. “We just need a little insider information.”

“From who?”

The beauty’s chin rose a little. Thoughts dashed behind her narrowed eyes. “We need something they want. Something to bring them to the table.”

“You want to negotiate with them? You think you can talk them out of—”

“I can’t talk anyone out of anything. It’s about self-interest. Everything is with these men, with these families. What’s good for the guy is good for the family. Make the most money, grab the most territory, live your life on top.” Her gaze widened. “On top! Yes, on top.”

Sersha took one stride, and she grabbed her to a halt. “On top of what? What are you talking about?”

“Find out how Mila’s doing and if she remembers anything. I’ll meet you back at my place whenever you’re ready.”

“You’re not going to tell me? It could be dangerous.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

She tried to leave again, but she didn’t let go. “If my father knew Swerve came anywhere—”

“Our secret,” Sersha said and winked.

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