Page 144 of Ethan's Sky

“Play it forward, Hawk.”

We all watch the screen. Pride wells up inside when I watch Skyler beating the shit out her attacker. It’s short lived though when I see her voluntarily surrender and get into a cargo van.

“Why wouldn’t she keep fighting? What could he have said to convince her to go with him?” Mack tossed the question out to the room. Unfortunately, no one had an answer.

Vincenzo stands, walking ever so smoothly to the front of the flat screen.

“Can you zoom into the back of the van, Hawk?”

Mack leans in closer to the screen. Both he and Vincenzo point at something on the screen.

“Enhance the image,” Vincenzo points, “here.”

Hawk enhances the image, once, twice, three times and we all see it. The only thing Skyler would sacrifice herself for.

A child.

“Fuck!”

“Run the plates.” Vincenzo says, typing something into his phone.

“Already did. They’re stolen.”

“Matteo.”

“On it, boss.”

“On what? What are you doing? What do you know that we don’t?” Gabe stomps around the table standing in front of Vincenzo, looking about ready to bash his fucking head in.

“Mr. Anderson? Was Skyler wearing the dress I sent her?” I nod, not sure I can trust myself to do anything else without disrespecting every single one of these assholes. I love them. They’re my brothers, but they hadone job.And now my whole world is in the back of a cargo van with some crazy fucker who thinks she’s the reason his business went to shit, and his ass went to jail.

“Matteo is reaching out to a business associate. Inside the lining of her dress, is a small tracking device. It’s a prototype if you will.”

The room erupts with people talking over one another.

“Why were you tracking her?”

“Does she know you put that device in her clothing?

“Did you already know this was going to happen?”

“Why didn’t you fucking tell us?”

Matteo jumps in front of Vincenzo and pulls a gun on the room.

“Shut the fuck up and sit your asses down! The boss will explain what he knows, but not until you all back the fuck up!”

Tensions are high. We’re all on edge. All except Vincenzo. Though, I think he’s accustomed to high stress situations and locking his shit down.

“Everyone, take a seat.” Gabe demands and we follow his command. “Now, start talking.”

“Matteo, contact our associate and tell them we need to locate Miss Sinclair as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence.”

Matteo puts his gun away and does as he’s asked.

Less than five minutes later Matteo has an address for us.

Vincenzo tells him to share the information with Gabe and Hawk, then turns to the room and says, “I’m sorry to leave you so soon, but my involvement in this situation must end here. Please tell Miss Sinclair we will be in touch upon her return.” He leaves the room with Matteo in tow leaving the rest of us slightly confused and a lot fucking annoyed.

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