Page 84 of Power & Punishment

“It’s been a pleasure, Russo,” I say, turning on my heel. But before I can walk to my car, he clears his throat, prompting me to turn back around.

“If this blows back on her⁠—”

“It won’t,” I snap, as if the mere idea is an insult.

His eyes flash with the same softness from before, but it’s fleeting. “You care about her.”

I bow my head, biting the tender flesh inside my cheek as I debate my answer. It is still hard to say out loud. Because the second I do, my feelings become real. And so does the realization that I might lose her someday.

I lift my head, staring him straight in the eye. “It doesn’t matter. All you need to know is I will keep her safe.”

“You better,” Dante grunts, “because I’m not losing another sibling to this. And if I do, it’s your head, DeLuca.”

“I know,” I say, turning before he has a chance to respond.

And it’s true.

Because if Mia doesn’t survive this, neither do I.

24

MIA

The clear liquid burns going down, but I swallow anyway and nod to the bartender as soon as my glass meets the countertop.

I know no amount of drinking is going to erase the cluster fuck my life has become.

But I didn’t know where else to go.

I couldn’t run to Keith even though he’s been blowing up my phone since I left the station. And I couldn’t go to Leo’s place because being around him makes me think with anything other than my head.

And of course, I couldn’t reach out to Dante or Alice. The one place I should feel most at home has suddenly become a war zone.

I smile at the older woman as she sets another shot down in front of me. I can’t remember how I ended up in the dusty little dive bar. When I left the precinct, I kept walking until the rubber of my boots felt like it was going to melt off. Then I pushed myself toward the first place I saw with a neon sign and boarded-up windows.

My phone continues to buzz in my back pocket, and finally I decide I can’t take it anymore. I reach for the device fully intending to shut it off, but then I see Alice’s name and a sinking feeling takes precedence over my off-grid moment.

“Alice? Is everything okay?”

She responds with a ragged breath, as if she just ran a mile. “I know I’m not supposed to contact you right now, but Dante isn’t answering and I⁠—”

“Alice, what’s wrong?” I ask, springing to my feet and dropping a couple of bills on the bar. By the time she replies, I’m already on the curb attempting to hail a cab.

“Someone’s been following me,” she says, swallowing hard. “I just finished a shift at the hospital, and on my walk home two men followed me the whole way. I just got inside.”

A cab pulls up to the curb, and I quickly slip inside while rattling off her address. “Lock the door and go upstairs. Get one of Vince’s guns out of the safe and make sure it’s loaded. When I get there, I’ll knock three times, so you know it’s me. I’ll be there in ten.”

Alice murmurs a few more shaky words before ending the call. I toss a few more bills at the cabby while dialing my brother. The line goes to voicemail instantly, telling me his phone is either off or he doesn’t have service. I’m praying it’s the latter.

My foot taps against the floorboard as I scroll through my contacts. I’m tempted to call Keith, but I don’t want cops involved. I bite my lip, hovering over the one name that I’m hesitant to call.

But I do it anyway.

Leo’s phone number does the same as Dante’s. Ringing once and then going straight to voicemail.

“Fuck,” I whisper to myself. The one time I willingly call him and he’s not there. What are the odds?

As soon as Alice’s block comes into view, my hand is on the door handle. I barely wait for the cab to come to a halt before my feet connect with the asphalt.