Page 51 of Stealing His Christmas Present

Chapter 19

WATCHING CLAUDIA GETTINGmore and more worried every day was worse than torture. If I could do something to make her happy again, I’d do it.

But there was only one thing she wanted: the twins to be safe.

I was doing everything in my power to make it happen. The Casadeis and Lombardis were doing the same, but it wasn’t enough.

Benjamin was one difficult son of a bitch, and he had too many of his people everywhere. They were all very elusive and very well organized.

It was already Christmas Eve, and we were running out of time. If only I knew what Benjamin intended to do with the twins.

Simply selling them to someone would definitely piss off and deal a huge blow to the Lombardis and the Casadeis, but that guaranteed they’d all go after Benjamin. Was he so sure of himself to take that risk?

Or would he be smarter and use the children to get something? But why hadn’t he already contacted Dante?

Maybe he had, but I didn’t know anything about it. But if he’d done it, the twins would already be back home. Or a war would be raging on the streets.

Since the Casadeis and the Lombardis were all still scouring every corner of the city, then that meant they didn’t have any solid clues.

The place I suspected Benjamin would take the twins if he wanted to sell them had been empty when my men had checked it, but I had them keep an eye on it. Ricky and Miguel believed I was trying to get the twins for myself so I could blackmail the Casadeis.

It was obvious they didn’t know me very well. Not that they’d ever tried to get to know me either.

My phone buzzed, and Claudia immediately lifted her head. She’d been napping on the sofa in the room that we’d turned into a special research room.

My office was way too small and uncomfortable for all the hours we’d spent going through all the info and traffic camera footage and looking for any clues.

I blinked at the notification on my phone screen.

Could it really be?

“What is it?” Claudia asked, getting to her feet.

“A van was spotted going to that location where I thought Benjamin might take the twins.”

“Are the twins there?” Hope glistened in her eyes.

“Maybe. I don’t know, but I’m going to check.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, you’re not. It might be dangerous. The traffickers will be there. You don’t want to go anywhere near them. Trust me.”

“You won’t take your men with you because you don’t trust them, so that means you plan on going alone. Tell me I’m wrong.” She crossed her arms.

“You’re not wrong.” I couldn’t lie to her.

“And you just said the traffickers are dangerous. You’re going to need backup, even if it’s just someone who’ll sit in the car and call for help if necessary.”

I wanted to tell her no.

I could tell her no.

“I know how to use a gun. My brother taught me. I can protect myself,” she said, a determined look in her eyes. “I promise I won’t let anyone get close enough to me to hurt me or catch me. Do you think I want to end up dead or in the hands of the traffickers? Do you think I’d miss the chance to save the twins?”

She could escape.

If I took her with me, she’d have everything she needed to get away. Everything she needed to make me pay for what I’d done to her.

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