Page 67 of His Ruthless Obsession

It takes us an hour to sort through what guys we need to dispose of, my guys to sweep the place and gather any information, and get loaded up.

The drive back to The Vault is tense, Luca secured between Marco and Ray in the back seat. My phone lights up — Elliott's name flashing across the screen.

"What've you got for me?"

"Nerio." Elliott's voice carries an edge I've never heard before. "We've got a problem. Jazz-" He breaks off, typing sounds in the background. "Someone grabbed her outside the club. My cameras caught two guys forcing her into a black SUV."

Ice floods my veins. My grip tightens on the steering wheel until my knuckles go white. "Where?"

"I tracked the vehicle. They took her to a warehouse on the river, off South Lumber Street. But Nerio — Don Mantione's there. His personal security detail arrived ten minutes ago."

"Send me the exact location." I cut across three lanes of traffic, ignoring the blaring horns.

"Already did. There's more — they've got at least fifteen guys stationed around the perimeter. Heavy artillery."

Luca shifts in the backseat, and I catch his smirk in the rearview mirror. My foot presses harder on the gas.

"Keep monitoring those feeds. I want to know every breath they take."

"On it. But watch yourself — something's off about this. The timing-"

"Text me any changes." I end the call, swerving onto a side street. "Marco, call our guys. I want every available man at the staging point in fifteen."

"They took your club manager?" Luca's voice drips with dark amusement. "Didn't realize she was important enough to-"

I slam on the brakes. Luca lurches forward, caught by his seatbelt. In one fluid motion, I'm out of my seat and yanking open his door, wrapping my hand around his throat.

"You knew." I squeeze, but he doesn't react. It's like he's used to this shit. "This whole thing was a distraction."

"No," he says, the strangled tone the only indication that my actions are having any effect on him.

"Your father doesn't make moves like this. This reeks of amateur hour — your signature. So tell me, what exactly was your plan? Grab her while I'm occupied with your pathetic attempt at empire building?"

Marco's phone chirps. "Three more SUVs just pulled up to the warehouse. They're moving something inside."

"Hurry," Luca rasps out, seemingly refusing to gasp for the oxygen I am depriving him. "My father shouldn't be left alone with pretty women."

I release his throat and pull my gun, pressing the barrel under his chin. "You think this is a fucking game? Every second you waste, every breath you take without telling me exactly what I want to know — those are seconds she's in danger. And if anything happens to her, I'm going to make you wish your father had never looked at your mother."

Luca tips his chin down, letting the barrel dig into him. "Then you should know my father doesn't know about The Vault. But I had no part in taking your club manager."

"You stupid fucking child." I slam him back against the seat. "So you're both running plans that have fucked each other. You think taking her was going to end in anything but blood?"

He just stares at me, but I can see it written across his face. He was hoping it would.

What kind of civil fucking war have I walked into with the damn Mantiones?

I turn away, knowing that he's useless to me right now. I need to focus on Jazz. Thankfully, Marco's already on the phone, barking orders. "I want teams in position. Full tactical. And get me blueprints of that warehouse."

I climb back into the driver side just as my phone buzzes — Elliott again. "Talk."

"They've got her in the northwest corner, second floor. Three guards outside the door, more scattered throughout. But Nerio..." He pauses. "She's fighting back. Camera caught her trying to take down one of her guards before they subdued her."

Pride and rage war in my chest. Of course she's fighting. My little dove with that fire that I love to see.

"Keep watching. I want to know the instant anything changes."

Marco catches my eye. "Our guys are five minutes out. We'll have enough firepower to level the place."

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