Page 65 of Hawk's Sapphire

“Trident killed those people, because they were dealing in our shared territory and the whore was spilling all your club’s secrets.At least what she claimed to know, which wasn’t much.”Matteo answers, leaning his back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest matching my stance.“Kayce took your gun from your mother’s home when she wasn’t there and left no trace or B&E so as not to scare her.He wasn’t there for anything but the gun, which he then placed in the vicinity of the crime scene giving the boss the leverage he needed to get you to agree to his plan.”

“So, you blackmailed me into doing your bidding?”The words come out sarcastic, and probably disrespectful.

Good.Fucker doesn’t deserve my respect for what he’s done.

“And if I hadn’t agreed?If I hadn’t talked Agent Galina into helping me with this fucked-up plan, then what?”I ask throwing my hands into the air.

“You would’ve gone to jail temporarily.Kayce assured me you wouldn’t be detained long.Ms.Asher would have been given the proper evidence to have you out in a few days at most.”

“A few…You were going to let them arrest me for four murders and somehow thought you would magically erase the evidence?”I shout.“Who the fuck do you think you are, the fucking wizard of Oz?You’re just going to wave your hand and put up some crazy-ass smoke screen and pull some strings behind the curtain and shit will just magically disappear?Life doesn’t work that way!”

“Life works the way I want it to work, Mr.Hawkins.I won’t remind you again to maintain some level of respect while speaking to me.I understand you’re upset and confused, but I’ve run out of patience in that regard.”Vincenzo narrows his eyes.His threat is made clear as Matteo comes to a full stand, dropping his arms at his sides.

I may still be in some pain, but I’d welcome the fight at the moment.I could stand to get rid of some pent-up energy and rage.

“To answer your question, and this is as far as I’ll take it for now,” He starts.“These people, the Devils, Cusenza and whoever is pulling his strings and writing his checks, their operation is ironclad and extensively run.Our assumptions were confirmed when Carter was captured and taken to the transition home for a supposed foster care placement.It took Sadie some time to figure out the transition homes were how the Devils were acquiring children for their clientele with specific pedophiliac urges.”

“It took us a while to discover there had to be people like Agent Galina and Sherrif Swanson who were feeding information and playing both sides in order for things to have been running this long.Police officers, feds, lawyers, judges, Uber drivers, dock workers, the list goes on and on with the people we’ve found affiliated with this operation.”

“Nate knew about Galina being a double agent of sorts and led us to her.He believed she knew where the devils were keeping his daughter Shea.It was the only reason he even bothered to play the part of the snitch.Only he wasn’t snitching for the Feds.”He smiles.

“He was snitching to you.”He nods at my assumption.“Nate thought if he fed Galina information about the stolen shipments and anyone not doing their part among the operation, Galina would keep his daughter alive.”I presume.

“Something like that, yes.Although, Nate was unable to determine whether Galina actually did know where Shea is or who is currently holding her captive.”Vincenzo confirms.“Galina was working for Cusenza same as the Devils.Anything she learned from her position as a fed, she passed along to him so he could then tighten up his operation.”

“And she came upon me, how?”I ask.“You said Nate kept me a secret.So how did she learn about me all of the sudden?”

“Nate came to me for help.He knew the Devils would never give his daughter back and with the Feds working against him as well, he turned to me.You weren’t supposed to be a part of the agreement.”Vincenzo says.“Originally, I had no plans of turning Nate over to Gabriel, but then the situation with Violet and Emelia required a show of good faith.Unfortunately, it also came with consequences.”Vincenzo elaborates.

“I needed Thomas.So, I gave Gabriel Nate in an exchange of sorts.Thomas needed closure and for Sadie to hear the truth about Nate’s betrayal in hopes it would mend at least part of their relationship.Sadie wanted to spare you the torment that killing your father may have caused you, though I myself doubt you would’ve had any issues.Nonetheless, she was still concerned and made it one part of her deal with me.Kayce needed the federal agent to be proven guilty so he could get her off histrail while he continues to intercept shipments of people around the world.It was a win all around up until last night.”

“How did things get so fucked last night?And why was I shot and sliced anyway?No one ever answered that earlier,” I inquire.Matteo looks to Vincenzo, as if to ask permission before answering.

Vincenzo gives his consent with a curt nod.

“You know Sergio was attacked.Doc stitched him up last night when we arrived.He’s in the other wing, resting.”He starts, scrubbing a hand down his face.“I had six men stationed at the party last night.A woman approached our table, Clarissa Rothchild.We were in conversation when Sergio brought our drinks over.Anyway, Sadie excused herself to the restroom with Sergio as her guard.I didn’t know anything else was wrong until I saw you escorting her through the crowd in her undergarments.Then Agent Galina approached making a scene, acting like a jealous, jilted lover.I was going to ignore her outburst and just collect Sadie from you-scolding her in front of the crowd for getting do drunk-then leave without adding to the already awkward scenario.But when Sadie announced Galina was a cop, the first shots rang out.Galina was shot in the head, and in order to keep you alive, I shot you twice in the chest, then sliced your arm to produce blood on the ground and keep people from being too nosy.You hit your head on the ground pretty hard, but I pushed a small amount of Fentanyl into your system and then ordered my men to drag you and Galina out of the building.”

“But who shot Galina if it wasn’t you?”I ask, confused.

“I’m not sure.Someone who didn’t want us to grab her for questioning would be my guess.I shot you so it would appear as if you’d disrespected me and tried to take my sub without paying for her time.”I growl at that.Sadie is no one’s whore, and to know people in that room thought of her as one makes me feel like going back and setting the whole fucking place a blaze.

“It needed to look like a lovers quarrel and a business deal gone wrong.”Vincenzo adds.“Whoever shot Galina now owes Matteo a favor.They know he didn’t kill her, but he removed her body and disposed of the evidence.”

“And you think this person will come forward, why?I don’t buy it.If the mess is cleaned up and the person responsible is not known, why come forward?What’s the point?”I speak the words out loud but not because I expect them to know, I just need to hear them out loud to process everything.

“Because someone there wanted Sadie.”Matteo says.“We think the person who planned to make a play for her, saw you helping her from the bathroom and thought you were swooping in on their play.When Galina made her scene, it presented the person with the perfect opportunity to shoot her, in hopes you’d move to help your supposed woman granting someone else the opportunity to come to Sadie’s aid and steal her away.”

“Someone offered to buy Sadie at the auction?”

I want a name.

“No, but they never would’ve let my men into the auction without invitations, unless someone made a substantial offer for her.They allowed me to bring my men to ensure I would bring Sadie.”Matteo explains.

“So now what?Obviously, the plan went to shit, so why are me and Sadie still here?”

“Because your jobs here are not yet finished.Your contracts, if you will, are not fulfilled.I need you, Sadie, and your computer skills to infiltrate the compound where we believe these women are being held before they are picked up by their potential buyers.”

“Fuck.”I grumble.“Do you know where his place is?Who runs it?”

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