Page 44 of Leave Me (Touch of Death 2)
“Sir?”
Enrique turns at the presence of a new figure somewhere behind me near the stairs.
“A call for you. I think you need to take it.”
Enrique glances between Gabriella and me. “Fine.” He approaches and grabs my jaw, tilting my head back at an uncomfortable angle. “I’m going to leave for a while. I suggest you talk to your sister and persuade her to be more truthful. Otherwise, I really can’t guarantee either of your safety.” He releases me and walks away, his shoes clicking against the cobbled floor.
One of his men lingers at the back of the room. He’s so still that I almost didn’t notice his presence. The rest of them leave.
My eyes drift to the remaining man before I rush to my sister and crouch in front of her. “Are you okay?” I ask, sweeping her hair away from her battered face.
“Are you?” Her eyes drift to the side of my head.
I lift my hand, touching the top of my ear. Warm, sticky blood is still oozing, making its way into my hairline. My fingers come away tipped in crimson. “You have to tell him, Gabi.”
“If I knew, don’t you think I would have told him when he had a knife to your face, Lina?”
“Did you do it? Did you take some guns?”
Her expression stills and smooths, like water after the ripples of a pebble breaking its surface. She doesn’t answer, but it’s all the confirmation I need.
“Why, Gabi? I told you I have this under control.” I hiss, trying to keep my voice low.
“Adelina, he just tried to cut off your ear. You are so far out of control here.”
“Because you won’t tell him what he wants to know. Tell me you wouldn’t do the same if someone had taken a shipment?”
Her eyes pinch. “You’re defending him?”
“No, but it’s the mafia!” The more I think on it, the higher my temper creeps. “You deliberately put me in a dangerous situation!” I shake my head.
Enrique is unhinged enough to kill me and send my head to Gabriella as punishment. She doesn’t trust me to handle this from the inside. And then I realize that this is an opportunity. I glance at the guy in the corner, knowing he’s listening. “Give him his guns back, Gabi.”
“I told you; I can’t.”
“How can you possibly not know where something you took is?” She tilts her head back, and the collection of bruises across her throat is obvious.
And then it clicks. Of course. “You weren’t working alone.” I can take one guess who she went to for help.
Enrique will put two and two together eventually, and then… Sasha’s face flashes through my mind, and I bite my tongue. I need Enrique to believe I’m loyal, but not at Sasha’s expense. He already knows about Gabi. There’s nothing I can do to get her out of this. “Did you get screwed over?”
Her lips press into a flat line once more. Nero. This has Nero written all over it.
I jump when the door at the top of the stairs bangs closed just a few seconds before Enrique appears. I scramble away from Gabi and back toward the wall of wine bottles.
He steps into the room, adjusting the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt. “Anything?” he asks, looking at the man in the corner.
“An accomplice,” the guy says simply.
Enrique’s icy glare swings to me and then Gabi. “Yes, Rafael D’Cruze.”
I have no idea who that is, and Gabi’s face gives away nothing.
“I have to say, I didn’t think you had it in you to go to the cartel. I’m almost flattered.” He walks across the room a few feet, ducking his head, and then he turns on his heel and comes back. “Less predictable than I thought. I assumed you would take the shipment and keep it in one of your warehouses.” Assumed… “I would get my guns back, and you… Well, you’d be in hot water.”
Gabi and I exchange confused glances.
“Oh, Gabriella, you thought you were smart by putting a mole in my operation?” He comes to stand in front of her and bends at the waist until he’s eye level with Gabriella, only inches from her face. “Michael was told to make himself available to you. He’s always been my man, never yours.”
Realization washes over me in a horrifying rush. He set her up…to take his shipment.
There’s only one reason he would do that. “And now, none of the other families will oppose my killing you, since you’re the one that started a turf war.” He sighs. “Such a taint on the noble Ricci name.”
No, no, no. Horror washes over me, and my stomach churns violently.
Gabi’s expression wavers, and I can see her crumbling inside. Of all the things he could do, this is the worst because her honor is now in question. But if he kills her… She’s all I have left.
