Page 119 of Righteous Enforcer
"What the hell happened?" I grab Nico, the only one who could have okayed taking Eva and Mirabella off the grounds, and push him against the wall. "Why did you leave the compound? You know she wasn't to go anywhere with my daughter."
To his credit, he doesn’t try to push me off. He takes it like he knows he needs to. "The child was burning up, sir. Ms. Santoro was frantic. She insisted our doctor wasn't qualified to treat a sick child."
"Did she convince you, or did you just fail to follow orders?" My voice drops dangerously low.
"She argued that you would want the best care for your daughter."
“Let him go,” Alessandro tells me.
I do, because I can see how they’d think I’d approve anything where Mirabella’s health was concerned. But I’m still pissed. Why didn’t anyone call me, check in with me?
Nico straightens his shirt. “We brought four men. We maintained protocol, including being in the exam room with Ms. Santoro, the child, and the doctor. The doctor confirmed the child had an ear infection and fever. We arranged for medicine to be delivered."
"And the ambush?" I press.
"Professional. Waiting in the parking lot.”
I run both my hands through my hair. “How’d they know you’d be there?” I ponder out loud.
Alessandro clears his throat and I know what he’s going to say before he utters a word.
“She wouldn’t,” I say.
“You can’t discount it. The child falls ill, Eva insists on leaving the compound, and Bratva just happens to be waiting?"
“Are you saying she made Mirabella sick to get out of the compound?”
“No. I am saying that she used it as an opportunity. Somehow, she made contact.”
Nico shakes his head. “I don’t know how, sir. She was never out of my sight from the moment we left.”
“Eva made two organized crime syndicates believe she was dead. She escaped from Bratva and us. I wouldn’t underestimate her ability to contact Ivan.”
“Did you hear yourself?” I really want to hit my brother. “Why would she contact the people she’d been running from when I found her? And there’s no way she’d risk Mirabella’s life.”
“But she didn’t. They left her?—”
“Except for the fucking shooting,” I yell. “Two men dead. That could have been my daughter.”
"Sir," Leo, another of my men, who likely drove them, interrupts. "The little girl was genuinely sick. And Ms. Santoro, she tried to get away, even fought. She didn’t go willingly."
Nico nods, but Alessandro remains unconvinced. "Then why return the child? Ivan isn't known for his compassion. The only explanation is that she made a deal. The child's safe return for her cooperation."
My fists clench and it’s fifty-fifty if I’m going to plant one in my brother’s face. "You've been waiting for an excuse to condemn her since she arrived."
"And you've been blinded by your feelings," he counters. "The sickness gave her the perfect opportunity."
I want to deny it, but doubt slithers through me.
Eva's constant evasion about the Bratva.
Her reluctance to explain why they're hunting her.
The text messages. Ivan knowing she was at the doctor.
What if Alessandro is right?
I signal for the men to leave us alone.
