Page 25 of Tristano

“That works for me.”

After making a quick stop, I have everything I need. As we get out of the car outside of the hotel and casino, I slip on the hoodie I picked up.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you dressed that casual,” Declan says as we walk toward the building.

“I usually don’t.”

“Hmm…” Declan hums.

I had no intentions of buying the sweatshirt, but when I walked by it, I remembered back to when I first met Serena. The way she kept burying her face into my hoodie and taking deep breaths as if the smell of me offered her comfort. If I can recreate that again for her I will.

We walk through the casino and make our way up to Kenji’s office. Declan knocks as he reaches the door.

“Come in…”

We let ourselves in and see Kenji sitting at his desk, across from a woman with another at his back.

“I won’t do it, Kenji. It would be bad for business if any of the customers found out,” the woman that’s sitting says.

“None of them will,” the one behind him adds softly.

“I don’t think you understand the severity of this Jada,” Kenji says coolly. “We just want you to set up check-ins with your girls and to pass out trackers that go on the skin. It kind of looks like a nicotine patch. Do you want your friends to keep disappearing?”

“No…” The seated woman sounds remorseful.

“Then stop fighting me,” Kenji tells her.

She looks over her shoulder and eyes Declan and me. “Who are they?”

“They are men who want this to end as much as we do,” the other woman tells her.

“Really?” she says in disbelief.

“Really.” I nod. “I’m hoping that if you guys do this and one of your girls is taken, we can track them without an issue and it will lead us to the other women that have been taken.”

“They took someone important to you,” she says after a moment of silence.

I don’t open my mouth to confirm or deny. I don’t know this woman, and she won’t get anything else from me.

“This is bigger than us all, Jada, and our time frame is limited until they come back to town,” Declan tells her. “Wouldn’t you rather be safe than sorry?”

Jada looks away, biting her lip. “Fine. I’ll get a bunch of the girls together and meet you at the motel on Sixth. Does that work for you?” she says, looking at Kenji.

Kenji nods. “We’ll be there.”

As she leaves, the other woman makes her way over, holding out her hand.

“Miya. Thank you for coming.” I shake her hand, noting the possessive look on Kenji’s face.

This must be his girl.

“We all want an end to this, but this time it’s personal,” I admit.

Kenji steps up, wrapping his arm around Miya. “We heard. We will do everything in our power to help get your girl back.”

“She’s not…” I trail off.

Kenji gives me a knowing look. “Whether she’s aware she is yours or not is not important. I can tell by that fire in your eyes that you feel ownership of her which means she is yours by default. We will get her back for you at all costs.”

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