Page 85 of Ruthless Beast

Dominick was one of my best men. I’m furious that someone would have the gall to ambush one of my vehicles. First David, and now this.

“This is unacceptable! I want answers!”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Are you alright, Lucas?” Andreas asks me when the soldiers have left the room.

“No, I’m not alright, damn it! Emily is out there somewhere, and I have no idea if she’s alive or... I swore to her I would protect her, Andreas! I swore it.”

I rake my fingers through my hair while pacing the office floor.

“And what’s the story with Damon? Where is he? Can we trust him? I thought you checked him out, Andreas.”

“I did. He was clean. There are no known associations with local or other gangs. We don’t know enough yet to assume the worst about him. He wasn’t even supposed to be on duty when this happened. There was some sort of mix up and he stepped in to help. He was supposed to be in Detroit visiting his mother.”

“Something stinks, Andreas. I'm tired of being on the receiving end of these attacks. This is the last straw. It’s bullshit! Aren’t there any witnesses who saw what happened? Someone must have seen something.”

“We’re doing all we can, Lucas.”

"Well, it isn’t enough! Find Emily, Andreas. Do it now!”

Andreas nods and leaves the room. I’m too upset to care that I’m taking it out on the wrong man. I’ll talk to him when I’ve cooled down. What the fuck is happening around here?

* * *

It’s been two days since the incident, and I’m at my wit’s end. Emily and Damon have simply vanished into thin air. No one saw anything, and there’s no talk on the street. I know in my gut that this has something to do with that scumbag, Gallo. He’s been a thorn in my side for too long, and I intend to do something about it sooner rather than later.

But first, I have to find Emily. She must be terrified. I can’t believe I let this happen. I’m so unbelievably pissed off with myself.

Then it hits me. Perhaps Daniella knows something. It’s a longshot, but I’ve exhausted all other avenues. I dial her number.

“Hello.”

“Daniella? It’s Lucas.”

“Lucas? Is everything okay?”

“Something has happened. Have you heard from Emily?”

“What! What do you mean, something has happened? What are you talking about? Where’s Emily? Is she okay?”

Daniella is talking so fast that I can barely make out what she’s saying.

“I was out of town and…”

“I knew this was a bad idea. Damn it! I told Emily to come home. Where is she?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping she would have reached out to you.”

“Oh, no. No, no, no! This is a disaster. She needs us, Lucas! Especially now that…”

Daniella stops talking. Her silence is deafening.

“Now that? What were you going to say?”

“You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

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