Page 79 of Crimson Fate

“I’ll try to convince him, okay? But I don’t think he’ll go for it,” she answers. “I better go. He’s waiting at the dock for me.”

“Okay,” I relent, the word tasting like acid on my tongue.

The call ends with a click, and I’m left staring at a dead screen. The room is still as a grave, all eyes on me, waiting, weighing.

“He’s at the docks,” I announce. “Gia says if we steer clear until they’re gone, Eva won’t be harmed.”

“Vincent, this reeks of a trap,” Amelia interjects, her emerald eyes sharp as cut glass.

“Maybe so,” I concede, the possibility twisting in my gut, “but I can’t sit here while—”

“I don’t think Gia would lie,” Marco interjects. “She considers Eva a friend.”

“She’s hurting,” Amelia replies. “She thinks Vincent was lying to her about their relationship. There’s no telling what is actually going through her mind. For all we know, her dad is standing right there telling her what to say.”

“No. Nico and I have both been drivers for her and her dad. Anthony is a piece of shit, sure, but Gia isn’t like him,” Marco argues.

The room is a powder keg of tension. “Vincent.” Alexei’s voice cuts through the charged air. “Nikolai and I will be your backup. We will go with you to the docks.”

Marco’s brow creases with objection. “We have our own men for that—Nico and me, boss. We’ve got you.” His loyalty is as solid as the ground beneath our feet.

I look around the room at all the men willing to put their lives on the line to help me. I can’t afford pride or turf wars now, not with Eva’s life hanging in the balance. “I need every man willing to stand with me.”

I recap what Gia has shared with me: Anthony’s plans to escape the city and my wrath.

“Do you believe her?” Amelia asks.

“Why would she lie?” Marco questions in response.

Amelia shrugs. “Because she knows Vincent is coming for her dad, and she’s trying to buy some time.”

I consider Amelia’s words.

“So what do you suggest?” I question.

“We split up,” she answers. “Send your captains to all of Anthony’s businesses. Since Smitty is already heading to Anthony’s place, Alexei, Nikolai, and I will go to Gia’s home, and you, Marco, and Nico go to the boat.”

I look over at Marco. “What do you think?” Marco sits quietly for a moment. “You’re my consigliere now,” I add.

“He’s what?” Amelia asks.

I wave a hand in my sister’s direction. “A lot has happened while you were gone.”

Amelia shrugs. “I guess so. Congrats, Cousin.”

Marco nods in Amelia’s direction. “I think it’s a good plan, but Amelia has to promise me something.”

“Me?” She seems surprised by his statement.

“Yeah. I want you to promise that if you all find Gia and Anthony, you won’t hurt her,” he answers.

She furrows her brow in confusion, and then her eyes widen. “Oh fuck, you like her.”

“Just don’t hurt her,” Marco repeats.

“Fine, yeah, whatever,” Amelia replies before looking at the men she arrived with. “Hear that? Don’t hurt Gia.”

Alexei nods, a grave understanding etched into his features. “Understood. But if Gia was telling the truth about them leaving, we probably don’t want to waste any more time.”

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