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“If she dies I can’t promise I won’t kill you.”

McHugh was out of his mind too, Beckett realized. His eyes reminded him of Blake’s when he looked closely. “As long as she’s okay? I don’t give a fuck what happens to me. That’s a promise.”

McHugh rubbed his forehead. “Fine.
Fine
. Last time I trusted you, you ran out on me.” He gave him a look of disgust. “I’ve got a man in there. He was invited to some sort of party tonight with individuals who might be involved. That might be a place to start. I’ve got to get down to the station. They’re getting some information on the blood found at the scene.”

He pushed past Beckett and into the yard. As Beckett went in to talk to his brothers he could hear McHugh passing on the command that Beckett was to be left alone. That was one miracle. Not having the cops after his ass would make this so much easier. Well, not that it was going to be easy. Chances were he was going to have to kill a lot of people to get Whitebread home.

He came into the living room and found Blake holding a small bundle. He knew he couldn’t stay long, but he just wanted a peek at his namesake.

“I’m coming,” Blake declared immediately. “We’ll do this together.”

Beckett came close enough to see the baby. He was adorable and very asleep.

From the stairs, Emme gave him the once-over. “You’re new. My mommy is missing. Are you helping her come home?” She walked up to Beckett without fear.

He squatted down. “I will.” She looked so much like Livia, except with Blake’s green eyes. This little girl was braver than she should be. Just like her mom.

Emme reached out to his forearm and touched the brothers’ tattoo. “My daddy and Uncle Cole have that same thing.” Her touch was gentle. He nodded. “That means you’re family. My mommy will make you hot dogs when she comes home. And then you can see my frog puppet.”

“I can’t wait to meet that puppet. I need you to do me a favor. Your dad has to stay here with you. Your brother and you need your dad to make you hot dogs until your mom comes home. Okay?” Beckett smiled as the girl nodded solemnly.

Just then a flying weight pounded him on the back and kicked him in the butt. Beckett stood and turned, accepting a full-body hug from Kyle. Then she punched him in the arm.

“Seriously. I’ll bring her back. You have to make sure your man stays put. Okay?” Beckett set her on her feet and looked at his brothers.

“I’m only asking because I might need one of you to drive somewhere. I need people I can count on. Otherwise I’d bring you both in a heartbeat.” Beckett tussled Emme’s hair and reached out to squeeze Kyle’s hand.

Blake looked like he was standing in full sunlight ten years ago. “I can’t do
nothing
.”

“Whitebread needs you here.” He didn’t say it out loud, but he knew Blake got it: If he failed, the kids needed a parent.

“Anyone talk to Eve?” He had to have her on his team tonight. He just had to.

Blake sighed. “A few hours ago. She’s working on something, trying to help. She hasn’t texted me back since we spoke.”

Beckett’s stomach flipped thinking of her. Hearing her name in conversation flashed him back to the way things used to be. He wanted her. He handed Cole his phone. “Can you put John’s number in here? Does he text?”

Before he could focus any part of himself on Eve, Whitebread needed to get back home. He nodded at his brothers, collected his phone, and left without saying goodbye.

He had McHugh on the line before he even got in the car. “Sir, I need your men to stay off of anyone who’s been associated with me in the past for a few hours.”

John didn’t pretend to be cordial. “No. I’d never issue that order. Anyone doing something illegal is fair game.”

Beckett turned the car toward to his old stomping grounds. “With all due respect, I came out of foster care and ruled this town in less than a year. I can find one girl in a few hours. But in order to do that? I’m going to be busting this place up. With or without you, my brother gets his wife back tonight. There are no other options.”

Beckett sped into the parking lot that had once held his strip mall office. It was just rubble now.

“All I can say is I won’t arrest you until after Livia’s home.” John disconnected the call.

“Fuck him.” Beckett exited his car and nodded at the gathered douchebags. There were only nine. He didn’t ask about the others. He didn’t address his long absence. “Anyone hear anything about a girl? Woman? Brown hair?” Beckett crossed his arms and waited. The streets were liquid with information if the right people had their ears open. No one said anything. “You will be compensated. And if I find out you knew something and didn’t ’fess up, you will live the rest of your life without your dick.” Beckett scanned the crowd.

“Boss, I heard of one of the abandoned houses on the east side has some movement around it tonight, a few cars there.” One of his old drug runners offered the first bit of information.

“I heard Joey Fantone was making good money now. Bought himself a new Cadillac. Ain’t nobody I know giving Joey any money—unless it was you. Never imagined you were still on this side of your grave.” This guy used to run a pawn shop. Maybe he still did.

“Anybody offer you money lately?” Beckett gave the man a cold stare.

“A cop’s been nosing around. Named Ryan Morales.” The pawn owner shifted on his feet. “And some other guy came a few weeks ago asking about the cop. Swear he was looking to buy him out—like old-school you.”

Beckett absorbed the information, tried to put all the pieces together.

“Saw Eve yesterday.”

Beckett’s eyes found the man like heat-seeking missiles. This butterball used to keep the hookers in check. “She was with some pig. All over him. They were sucking tonsils at that diner on route nine. She has her hair black. Funny though, ’cause I know she went out for a call to be a girl for an organization.” He smirked. “She’d go for some good money. Bet she fucks like an animal.” He looked around with a snicker, searching for another man to corroborate his slimy point of view.

The parking lot was silent. Butterball looked nervously back at Beckett. “Just kidding. God, I was just kidding. I’m sorry. I’m an asshole.”

“What organization?” Beckett made a fist, wanting to crumble the man’s face.

“Some crazy lady down in the city. Big league. Her daddy’s in weapons—of
all
varieties. Couple of my girls went to the call as well. They haven’t come back, so I guess they got scooped up. Fuckers. I should be getting compensated.” He stretched and Beckett could see he’d added a new neck tattoo.

A tall, quiet man he remembered as Milton Conts cleared his throat. He’d procured hard-to-get things for Beckett back in the day. Mouse had trusted him. “There’s an event this evening on Long Island that’s been generating quite a bit of buzz. The woman seems to have sent summonses more than invites, but she’s still billing it as a party. Might be a good place to get information. I could possibly manufacture you an invitation if you want to get in.”

Beckett nodded. “Okay. I need you four to suit up and get a few cars between you. Arm yourself to the teeth of your balls.” He nodded at the tall man. “I’ll need that invite. Text me when it’s ready. Butterball, call Joey Fantone and offer him a job with a shit ton of money. Have him meet you here.”

First, Beckett would be checking out the abandoned house. Second, he was going to torture Joey until he had every bit of information the man knew. Third, he was going to that motherfucking party and killing them one by one until someone who knew something about Livia spoke. Adrenaline flooded his heart. It beat as if it could power a hundred men. Damn it all if it didn’t feel fantastic.

24

Night Walk

L
IVIA
T
OOK
A D
EEP
B
REATH
as someone removed the scarf around her head. She sat on the floor with her wrists bound in front of her—at least her legs were free. She found herself in a rather well-appointed house. The room was decorated nicely, but with all the cold personality of a hotel. She could count five men in the room.

Her breasts were leaking. She was wearing a black shirt, but it was still obvious. Tears slipped down her cheeks, not because of all she faced, but because she knew her baby was hungry. They were all out of frozen breast milk. Blake would have to buy formula. And what if Kellan didn’t tolerate it?
Blake
. She was terrified for him. If he’d been taken this way, she’d be a mess.

“Please let me call home and tell them I’m okay. Just a quick call.” She was about to get into how she needed to feed the baby when a harsh look from the man closest to her curled her tongue quiet.

They went back to what they were doing, which seemed mostly like consulting their phones. Hopelessness swamped her, staggering her mind. This was obviously planned. She thought back to the abduction, running through it to see if the outcome could’ve been different:

She’d heard the alarm and dragged Kyle into the bedroom. They’d blocked the door as best they could and gone into the bathroom. Livia had pushed her sister into the linen closet and closed it. She’d whispered she was going to hide in the cabinet, but after a peek, she knew she wouldn’t fit. She’d spied Kyle’s flat iron and stuck it through the handles on the linen closet to keep her sister inside, keep her safe. Livia had exited the bathroom and shut the door, barely hearing her sister’s complaints over the alarm’s piercing din.

When she’d looked up, the sight of the men made her mouth go dry. They’d grabbed her roughly and lifted her over the now-broken dresser. Everything had happened so fast. She’d clawed at them and managed to disarm the one holding her waist. While he wrestled it back from her, the gun had discharged. She’d waited to feel the searing pain, but when the man carrying her yelled, she realized he’d been struck instead. She was passed to one of the other men and restrained by a third until she quit struggling.

There’d been so many men in Kyle’s house, and they seemed intent on taking her. She’d decided that if she let them, they might leave her sister here. So she cooperated. That might have been stupid. Maybe a whole different crew took Kyle. She might be in another place entirely.

One of the men now growled in her direction, still nursing the gunshot wound on his leg. He’d been able to walk, so she assumed he’d just been grazed by the bullet.

She took calculated deep breaths, trying to settle her pulse. She had to think clearly. How many times had her father told her,
Never let them take you to a second location?
But they had, and now she wasn’t sure what the hell to do.

Her father would find her. He would not rest until she was found. She knew that as sure as she knew her name. Until then, her job would be to stay alive, to keep thinking. To not let her absolute ache to be with Blake and the kids take away her common sense, not let the choking fear steal her focus. Stay alive. No matter what it took. Her kids weren’t growing up without a mother like she had.

No way in hell.

In her room at Mary Ellen’s mansion, Eve slipped on her pale blue high heels as she watched the news. Livia was plastered all over it. The newscaster was damn near orgasming while she delivered the heartbreaking news.

Shark knocked on her door before letting himself in. The room was wired and video-monitored, so they said nothing of the news story.

“Got your accessories here. You and Micki and three others have the same necklace.” Shark opened a velvet box that held a gorgeous diamond string with a huge topaz teardrop at its center.

She held still as Shark draped it on her, clasping the chain together. She nodded. Information received. She wouldn’t be alone. Micki had been chosen to attend this evening as well. Mary Ellen liked to be flanked by women. Eve swore the chick had been a big, hat-wearing pimp in a previous life.

“I’m your security tonight, just so you know.” He stepped away from her and she took in his monochromatic ensemble. It consisted entirely of the color gray.

Eve took one last look in the mirror. She was unarmed, so she couldn’t touch anything deadly on her body reassuringly. Instead she looked like a dark-haired version of Birthday Barbie. Mary Ellen had picked a pale blue ball gown for Eve. It would do for Cinderella in a pinch. Her hair had been swept into an elaborate updo and adorned with more diamonds. Eve picked up her clutch, and Shark held out his hand. He rooted through it before handing it back to her.