Page 114 of Nails
Nails froze.“Hang on, I’m putting you on speaker.”He hit the button, “Okay, say that again.”
“Anna’s alive.I overheard Adam and Chen.Adam said Anna’s being held in some private dungeon in Shanghai by someone named Rizzio.He’s holding her there until his buyer comes back for her.”
“Jesus,” Nails whispered, looking at the guys.“You sure?”
“Yes,” Riley said.“I caught it all.”
The energy in the room shifted instantly.Bear was already on the phone with Derek, walking into the hallway to relay the intel.The others scrambled to take notes and start pulling up any information they could find on this Rizzio person.
Nails hit the speaker button again, so now it was only he and Riley on the line.His heart was pounding, and his adrenaline was building.But something in Riley’s voice made him pause.
“I need to get back out there,” she said.“I’m in the bathroom now.I told Adam I had a headache and needed to get some meds from my purse.It was the only way I could get to my phone.”
“Are you okay?”he asked softly.“I mean it, Ry.After everything with Adam and what he did to you—”
“I hated it,” she said before he could finish.“Every second.I’m so sorry you had to see that.But I couldn’t blow my cover.”
He leaned his forehead against the cool windowpane.“I’m not mad at you, Riley.I’m mad you’re in that position at all.And I’m proud of you, more than you know.”
There was a pause, then a lighter tone to her voice.“I’ll be fine.Don’t worry, big guy.I’ll even try not to flip any more women over barstools tonight.”
He huffed out a laugh.“Be safe.”
“Always.”
She ended the call, and when Nails turned back to the team, everyone was staring at him.
“She good?”Joker asked.
He nodded.“She’s more than good.She just gave us the break we’ve all been praying for.”
Aussie let out a long exhale.“Girl deserves a damn medal.”
“She’s a hero,” Snow added.“That intel changes everything.”
Nails sat down again.He felt some of the weight lifting from his chest.“Yeah.She is.”
Just then, Bear came back into the room.“Derek’s in motion.He and Russell are working on logistics to get a team here in Hong Kong by midday tomorrow.He said he’ll be in touch with us shortly with details on this location in Shanghai.We are on standby.As soon as they give the word, we move out, most likely tonight.”
The room buzzed with renewed purpose.Finally, they had momentum.Finally, they had hope.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The water was hot, nearly scalding, but it felt like the only thing powerful enough to melt the night off her skin.
Riley braced her hands against the tiled wall of the club’s changing room shower.Her head bowed beneath the spray as water streamed down her back.Her muscles ached.Her chest felt tight.Her thoughts spun like a carousel that refused to slow down.
She should have felt victory.Relief.Hell, maybe even a little pride.She had heard it with her own ears that Anna was alive.Locked away in some monster’s dungeon, but alive.That one truth alone had the power to lift a weight she had carried on her shoulders for too long.
But it wasn’t over yet.Not until Anna was free.Not until every last one of those bastards paid for what they’d done.And until that moment came, she had to keep pretending to smile, serve drinks, and survive in a room full of devils without flinching.
She dragged in a breath and pushed off the wall.
Her thoughts shifted to the team.
They were probably at the house strategizing and getting ready for whatever came next.She had no idea when they were leaving or how long they’d be gone.
What happens when this is over?She thought, and the question sat heavy in her chest.
