Page 136 of After 5
“Who is this woman?” Victory asked.
“Jennifer Cloud is Elma’s niece. She seems to have performed a task you could not.” Gian-Carlo said to Victory.
She cast her eyes downward and wrapped her arms protectively under her belly.
This wouldn’t be too hard. When we made the trade, I could put my plan into action, but I had to make Victory understand she was on the wrong side. I couldn’t tell her Caiyan was alive and waiting for her and the baby. General Potts would have my key if I disobeyed a direct order. Caiyan was dead to them. I had to get her away from the Mafusos.
“All right Gian-Carlo, let’s get down to business,” Jake said.
Gian-Carlo held up his hand. “Oh, I almost forgot, just to have a little insurance.”
A resounding, “Bullocks,” from Campy came through my earbuds.
Mortas entered the bar tugging a gagged, bound, and struggling Evangeline-Marco’s sister-with him. He held a knife to her throat. Her eyes grew wide when she saw us.
“Angel!” Jake and Marco cried out.
Marco looked at Jake, and Gian-Carlo chuckled.
“You asshole,” Marco yelled at Gian-Carlo. “She’s not part of this.”
“I know, that’s why I can kill her.” Gian-Carlo stood, smiled. “We agreed on three extra people at this meeting, no guns, no hired men. I’ve kept my side of the bargain.”
“Let her go,” Jake growled.
“Which one are you referring to?” Gian-Carlo waved a hand at the girls. “The seer, or the woman you’ve been seeing?”
Marco’s eyes widened.Jake’s secret girlfriend.
Everyone looked at Jake.
“You see, Marco, your boss has been spending a lot of time with your little sister.” Gian-Carlo lifted his chin at Marco.
“You son of a bitch!” Marco grabbed Jake by the shirt.
“Not here.” Jake kicked Marco’s injured leg out from under him. Marco rolled around on the ground in pain, then recovered and stood. The two men squared up against each other.
Mortas snickered.
“Stop it, both of you.” I shouted at them.
Marco dropped his fists, and Jake followed suit.
“That was amusing, but I haven’t got all day,” Gian-Carlo stood, adjusted his jacket, and turned toward me. “Now, you give me the key, and I’ll let you choose which one lives.”
Victory’s head snapped up, and her eyes narrowed at Gian-Carlo. “What do you mean?”
Mahlia held Victory and placed the knife against her pregnant belly.
“They have a seer,” I told her. “They don’t need you, only your key.”
“You can’t kill me,” Victory said to Mahlia.
“She can bleed you, and who’s to say your unborn child will survive a blood bath?” Mortas said to Victory.
“Ya wankers are scum!” Brodie called out.
Jake raised a hand to subdue him.
