Page 35 of The Hunted

“To what do I owe a visit from the great Knox Bane?”

“I’m looking for a girl. Scarlett Wyatt. Word is, you know where she can be found.”

“If I do? What’s she matter to you?”

I can see in his posture he knows exactly who I’m talking about.

I need to choose my words carefully because if I seem too interested in her, it will only make it more difficult and costly to get her back.

“I’m trying to find her for a friend.”

“I see. And if I know where she can be found, what’s in it for me?”

I cringe internally because these next words will have me owing the Corrado’s. I don’t fuckin’ like to owe anyone a debt, let alone this damn family. They like smart, beautiful women who will bring them top-dollar overseas. If Scarlett has left the country, it will be even harder to get her back.

“I owe the family.”

Rico likes the sound of this. I can see him mulling it over. If he knows, he’ll tell me. What crime family doesn’t want an assassin on call?

“I tell you what, Bane. I can’t disclose her location to you, but I can reach out to some people to see if I can get her brought in. It will take a few weeks.”

“That doesn’t work for me.” I stare a hole through his face. “I need hands on her in the next few hours or our deal is off.”

“I’m afraid that doesn’t work for me, Bane.” Rico smiles, and from behind me, I hear his guard approaching.

“I wouldn’t, if I were you.” I don’t even bother to turn around when I address this asshole.

“Stop, Escalara. Go check on Missy. Make sure she’s okay.”

I hear the guard shuffle off as ordered.

“I’m coming to you, Corrado, to keep the peace. I don’t want to work around you. This is a formality, though. I’ll do whatever I need to. I take it whomever you sold her to will be none too pleased to see me show up to take her. Likely a bullet in your customer’s head and a missing girl will be bad for business.”

“Always the hard-ass, Bane. Give me forty-eight hours before you pursue other means.”

“Two days and I expect to hear from you.”

I turn and head for the front door. As I open it, I can’t help myself.

“You got two guys down out here who need a doctor.”

Escalara looks over my shoulder to his boys still on the ground and I hear Corrado mumble cuss words under his breath as I shut the door.

* * *

When I returnto my quarters, I find Raven sitting on the floor with her head in her hands, sobbing.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” I lean down and pull her hands from her face. She throws herself at me and almost topples us both over before I gain my balance. I lift her up into my arms and carry her to the couch where she settles onto my lap. Sobs wrack her small frame. I stroke her hair and just hold her while she calms down. Once her sobs die and her body is no longer trembling, I decide to try again to see what’s happened while I was gone.

“What’s wrong?”

“Lazz came by to see you,” she manages to say around sniffles.

“What the fuck did he do?” Anger pulses through my veins. My grip on Raven tightens before I realize it. Lazzaro Mondragon has been unhinged for years. Not that he doesn’t have ample reason, but I’ve barely been able to keep him reigned in. When I got back to the manor from my last assignment, Ace told me he got out of hand on a hunt, that he told him to stay away for a while.

“I’m okay,” she assures me as she moves in, pressing herself closer to my chest and clinging to my neck even tighter.

“What did he do?” I half growl, and she flinches at my tone. I exhale a calming breath as I brush my fingers through her hair, laying a soft kiss on her head. Her reluctance to tell me what happened puts me on edge. I stand and carry her with me to my security room. This place is under constant surveillance. My quarters are no exception, but I have many hidden cameras no one but I alone have access to.

I nestle her in my lap and rewind through the recordings until I see that mother fucker push his way into my goddamn home, backing Raven against a wall. My jaw clenches, and I flex and curl my fingers, trying to stay calm for the woman cowering in my lap. A white-hot rage spreads through my body. I grip Raven tighter as I feel her begin to cry again.

“Shhh. It’s okay, baby. I’ll take care of it.” My shirt is soaked from Little Bird’s tears.

I will end this mother fucker.

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