Page 31 of Veiled Vengeance

Looking at Zane’s screen, all I see are ones and zeroes as he types away on his computer.

“Holy shit. You guys need to see this.” Zane waves us over. “This idiot had the USB encrypted, but he must have gone cheap when paying someone to do it for him. It was stupid easy to figure out.”

We all surround him and look at the screen over his shoulder. The list has names, dates, and dollar amounts.

Rio reads, “Fifty thousand. Sixty-two thousand. Twenty-seven thousand.”

“It’s all of Anthony’s sales,” Spencer observes. She points at the screen. “Is that a New York senator right there?”

Zane scrolls through the list. “It looks like he’s dealt with almost everyone in the country and then some. There are celebrities, A-listers, politicians?—”

“The numbers next to the names are . . .” Spencer trails off as she mentally works out the answer to her question. “Prices?”

“Or more than one person,” Rio adds absentmindedly.

Spencer grimaces. “Just when I thought I couldn’t get any more disgusted.”

A knob turns in the hallway, and Dahlia and Hayes walk out of Spencer’s bedroom. Neither looks like they’ve slept much. Dahlia’s hair is messy and not in theI was just fucked into oblivionkind of way. More like she probably tossed and turned all night. They both have dark bags under their eyes.

Hayes puts on a fake smile. “Good morning! Everyone sleep okay?”

Despite my exhaustion, I reply, saying, “Like babies.”

“Speak for yourself,” Spencer groans. She rounds the breakfast bar and goes straight to Dahlia. The two embrace, and a secret conversation passes between them. They pull apart with their arms still around each other. Dahlia takes a deep breath as Spencer whispers, “You got this, babe.”

They both turn to all of us as Spencer says, “We need to find August.”

Rio steps forward. “Who’s August?”

“My son,” Dahlia answers.

“Shit.” Rio rubs the back of his neck and turns to Zane. “Do you have any CIs that might be able to give us something?”

“We can always try Hank again,” Zane suggests, but his voice lacks confidence.

“I want to help,” Spencer claims as she widens her stance, facing us.

“I think the fuck not!” Zane jumps up from his stool.

“¡Ni en un million años!”Not in a million years.

“Not a good idea, Princess,” I protest. The three of us cross the room, standing before her with our arms folded. Any other person would be shitting their pants right now, but Spencer digs in her heels.

“I’m coming with you whether you like it or not.” Her words are tinged with menace.

“Me too,” Dahlia inserts with a determination that only a mother can muster.

Hayes’s face looks like he swallowed something sour as he slides an arm around Dahlia’s shoulders and adds his opinion to the lot. “Definitely not! We just got you two back, and now you want to turn right around and walk into the fire? Seriously? Hell no.”

Dahlia stands strong. “August is my son—myson! Anthony has held him hostage for years! I’m going to be the one to get him out of there.”

“Dahlia, I can’t imagine what that’s like, but it’s not safe. Having you and Spencer there could be a distraction for us, putting everyone at greater risk. You and Spencer can’t come,” Zane says sympathetically but firmly.

Spencer throws her arms down at her sides, fists clenched. “I’m going!”

Rio is going to lose his cool. “Sobre mi cadaver.”Over my dead body.

“No,” I bark out with grave deliberation.

---