Page 34 of Concealed Deception

I don’t know what else there is to say.The way the drug is running through my system and the thought of never coming out of this is too much to bear.

“Night, New York girl,” she says, as my eyes grow heavy.

My words fall off the tip of my tongue.I’m no longer in control as darkness consumes me.

Twenty

Xander

She’s been missing for five days.Five days of torturing my father’s men for information.Every single one I’ve slit and mutilated, leaving them to bleed dry.

Doug has so far managed to keep his life as he’s proven useful.

We moved to the townhouse shortly after returning to the penthouse.I couldn’t focus on the task at hand.Not when Ava was everywhere I turned.

Vince and Knox gathered the equipment and moved it with us.With three offices in this building, I’ve let them have one to do their reconnaissance while Tony and I work from the other two.With expertise in all areas, we’re bound to gain ground.

Camille has been fussing over everyone, feeling bad for letting Ava escape.The thing is, she would have found a way to get out, and I count Camille lucky she’s uninjured from her fall.

I’m seated at my desk when a call comes through.“Griffin, what have you got for us?”I’m ready to hear what he’ll agree to.

“Alexander.I’ve been speaking with one of my FBI buddies and they have it on high authority that your father is under investigation.For what, they wouldn’t disclose, but they’re more than eager to work with you on this case.”

I ponder over his request for a beat, then give him my ultimatum.“This is how it will work.I’ll agree to help them,only ifyou can be sure that none of this will fall back on me.Let me remind you that I don’t need them, Griffin, they need me.If they want to bring William down, we’re going to make them think this was all your idea.Got it?”

“Mr.Lamont.”His cop persona slips in place.“I don’t—” I cut him off.

“Deputy Commissioner.You’ll find a way to make it happen.”I end the call then command Tony into my office.

“Anything new?”I ask, as he places his laptop in front of me on his desk.

“Not a damn thing.I’ve been checking the dark web to see if her profile comes up there, but I’ve got nothing.I’m not giving up, Xander.”His eyes hold a promise.I know he’ll burn the cryptic world down one browser at a time if he has to.

“All right.We keep searching.Someone knows something.Griffin just called and he wants me to work with the FBI.Apparently, they’ve been investigating William.They know something, Tony.If you can find something within their database then we may find her.”

My hands grip the edge of my desk as I lean into it.The thought of something more at play scares the shit out of me.Purely because there is a high chance of never seeing Ava again.

“Let me do my thing.I’ll let you know what I find the second I do.”Tony picks up his laptop and walks out of my office.Looking back, he says, “We will find her, Xander.A king can’t reign his kingdom without his queen.”

Then he disappears.

I can’t think about his statement with all the other scenarios playing out in my head.I choose to pay a visit to Vince and Knox to see what they have discovered.

“Boss,” they both greet in unison; some things never change.

Vince continues.“We’ve been in communication with our consultant friends in California.The head of department is willing to put his extraction unit on the line, but only when we know Ava’s exact location.They’re not willing to work alongside you if they don’t have a clear insertion point.”

“Fuck!No one is any help if we don’t know where the fuck she is.Tell them I agree.I’ll be in my office if you hear any more.”I walk out of their office space without another word.

The moment I get to lay my hands on William, I’m going to cut him into pieces so small that not even the fishes will be able to enjoy his corpse.

Tony comes running from the elevator and catches me before I’m back in my office.His enthusiasm isn’t what I want right now but I listen as we walk.

“I have a plan.I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier.”He’s an ominous man, and I know my right-hand is about to do me proud.

“We know he’s into something big, so we need to lure him outorget ourselves an invitation inside.If I encrypt a fake profile on the dark web, I might be able to get his location.But first, I need bait.”His Joker-like smile means he’s out to play.

I don’t need to ask.If he’s thought of it, he’s not going to yield.

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