Page 56 of Forged

Cash leans over the table. “Have you upped your protection? She’ll be a target now. Does she know that?”

I meet his eyes. “She knows enough. And I have men assigned to her.” I shrug. “Not that she knows that, but I have eyes on her at all times.”

Cash nods once. “Smart.”

Hale blows out a heavy breath. “So, what is our next move? We have your reinforcements doing surveillance, our men are purposefully more visible on our properties.”

I walk to the wall and look at the picture of Maravilla on one side of the board, then to Falco’s on the other. The lines between them cross, there’s a common goal and we need to cut the ties.

“Does Maravilla have a wife?” I tap the image. “I didn’t see any mention of one in the file.”

Cash comes to my side, tipping his jaw toward the board. “He prefers to pay for the company of women. There’s one son that we know of—sixteen years old, at a private school in Dallas.”

“Fuck. My family never goes after children?—”

My phone sounds with the ring tone designated for Neomi’s detail. I pick up the call before the second ring.

“Talk.”

Ramon’s voice comes through the call: “Sir, we’ve identified a tail on Mrs.Marchetti. Black sedan, Florida plates. We’re currently engaged.”

The foreign feeling of fear spikes through my body. I bring up their location app and see they’re heading east out of the city.

“Stay on them. Remember, her safety is your number one concern. You have permission to do what it takes to neutralize any threat.”

“Yes sir.”

“I’m on my way.”

I hang up the call just as a text comes through from Neomi. My focus narrows instantly.

Neomi:

I think I’m being followed.

Hale steps toward me. “What happened?”

“My wife is being followed,” I say, voice tense.

Hale moves first. “Send Cash the coordinates.”

Cash reaches for his radio. “Saints—lock it down. Possible tail on Chicago’s wife.”

I hit call on Neomi’s thread.

“Lars?” Her voice shakes and it makes me feel fucking sick.

“Bella, I need you to keep driving. I’m going to send you the location of the Saints Compound, come straight here.”

“There’s two cars.”

“One is my men. Just keep driving.”

“Your men? Lars, what the?—”

“I want you to concentrate on staying safe. I’ll see you in a couple of minutes. I promise.”

“Okay.”