Page 124 of Impenitent Claim

I could shoot the fucker, but that would only waste one of my precious bullets while alerting the strega that I was armed. Slamming the door in his face felt good.

Until he pounded it down.

“Boss said keep open,” he gummed.

Madonna.I was screwed. How was my spectre going to rescue me now? And then a far more terrible thought pulsed in my mind. I shivered, trying and failing to shake it off.Ilya! Where are you?

Chapter 46 – Ilya

The office door swung open. The three men stopped short, wisely refraining from reaching for their weapons.

“What is the meaning of this?” Don Paolo Scorso frowned at me.

The mild irritation on his face should have been impressive. It was rare that men showed a lack of fear around me, especially when I aimed something as destructive as the semi-automatic rifle at them.

But I wasn’t in a good mood.

“Some thanks you Italians show,” I growled. “I warned you, gave you enough time to mount a defense, and ultimately helped save your women and children.”

“It’s him, signore,” one of the other men breathed. “The ghost!”

“Is this true?” Don Paolo intoned. “Are you the mysterious savior to whom I owe my thanks?”

“Some thanks,” I spat again. “You kidnapped two Rinaldi boys last night. And I will need them back—whole and well—which I hope for your sakes is still the case.”

“We took no one,” the third man protested. “We shot at the Rinaldi scum, but they retreated when they realized they’d lost the element of surprise. We took no one—we killedno one.”

I clenched my jaw. The trouble was, those were just the words of a frightened man. I needed hard proof, and I needed it now.

“Who are these boys to you?” the Scorso boss demanded, stepping right to business.

The damn keys. These boys were everything. Without them, Isabella would…. If anything happened to them….

No, I wouldn’t let it.

“Alonzo Bruno and Giovani Rinaldi.” I lifted the rifle, pressing my cheek to the edge and taking aim. We were done with games. “Where are they?”

Terror shivered over the two men flanking the boss, but the don threw back his head and laughed.

“You think—” he pointed a finger at me “—that I would be stupid enough to capture those two?”

“Possibly. I don’t know you,” I growled.

The don, barrel frame still quaking with laughter, shook his head. “With all the bloodshed, I just want peace. The best way to achieve that is to marry my daughter to either of those boys.”

It sounded like a copout, but I still listened. “You’re saying they aren’t here?”

“I’m saying we didn’t take them, and if any of my men know of their whereabouts, I’ll personally deliver the message.” The don looked me up and down. “Haven’t we seen you before, signore?”

I lowered the rifle. “Pray that you don’t see me again.”

The don nodded. “How shall I reach you?”

It was highly unlikely he would find the boys before I did. Still, the more ears to the ground, the better. I tossed a black business card on the table. The direct line went to the same burner phone that I’d used to contact Isabella. It was only the second time Igave that number away, but for this, it was too important not to distribute the contact information.

Thinking of my siren sent a stab of anguish through me. My precious, sweet, and wonderful woman was no doubt going out of her mind with worry. But I couldn’t go to her. Not until the young men she adored were safe and sound.

And the don who kept her prisoner, who allowed his man to beat her, walked.

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