Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
He turned an image around to show them.
“Where were these taken?” Victor asked.
“At one of Santiago’s clubs. My informant was able to take these images of a meeting in the backroom. See that man there?” He pointed out a scrawny, middle-aged guy who was wearing an ill-fitted suit. “That’s Snake.”
“Snake?” Gracen asked. “His parents give him that name?”
Victor realized then that Regent was showing how much he trusted Gracen by allowing her to see these images and hear about his plans. He didn’t usually believe in including women in meetings like this. Well, the only woman that had been around them for any length of time was their sister. And Regent was hugely protective of her.
But he guessed that Gracen had a stake in this.
“Snake?” he asked. “The leader of the Ventura gang? He’s meeting with Santiago?”
“Yes,” Regent replied grimly. “And doesn’t he look stressed? Probably because he’s bleeding cash at the moment thanks to us. Interesting how things keep leading back to Santiago, isn’t it?”
“So, you think they’re working together?” Gracen asked. “Santiago and the Ventura gang? That might explain how Ice got a job with Santiago. He’s not officially a part of the gang, but I got the feeling that eventually he’d join.”
“So, Santiago could be working both with Patrick and the Ventura gang? What is he trying to do? Find partners who will help him build an empire?” Victor asked.
“That’s my guess, yes,” Regent said. “The Ventura gang aren’t that powerful, but they have plenty of foot soldiers Santiago could use. What Patrick brings, I’m not sure. Connections? Ideas?”
“Or maybe he’s the ringleader,” Gracen suggested as she glanced over the photo. “And he’s bringing all of these people together.”
Regent stared at her for a long moment. “Maybe.”
“Was Patrick at this meeting?” Victor asked.
“No. Our informant believes he’s laying low. Could be he’s getting Santiago to recruit for him. There wasn’t anyone else interesting in the room.” He turned the other images around. In one, Snake was shaking Santiago’s hand. In another, Santiago was looming over a slight, red-haired woman. He seemed to be upset with her if his tense stance was anything to go by.
Gracen took in a sharp breath, growing tense. “Little bit? You all right? What is it?”
“Who . . . who is that?” With a trembling finger, she pointed to the red-haired woman.
“I don’t know,” Regent said. “I just thought she was some fling of Santiago’s. I’ve heard rumors of a long-term girlfriend. This could be her.”
“I think this is the woman who approached me in the bathroom at Matteo’s,” she said, turning to Victor. “The one who thought that you’d hit me. She offered to help me. Only, her hair is different. But why would she be there?”
“And why does it look like she’s having an argument with Santiago?” Regent mused.
“She could be the girlfriend,” Victor said.
“She doesn’t look happy. Perhaps she was reaching out to me because she needs help. It sounded like she’d helped other women, why would she be with him?”
“Maybe she helps them in secret,” Victor mused. “In which case, she could be in a lot of danger if Santiago discovers what she’s doing. Especially if any of the women work in one of his clubs.”
“We need to help her.”
“Or she could be working for Santiago,” Regent suggested. “Maybe she saw you with Victor at Matteo’s and knew that Santiago was working against us with Patrick and wanted to gain your trust.”
Gracen bit her lip, trying to think.
She rubbed her temples. She had a raging headache.
“You need sleep.” Victor rubbed at the knots in her neck. “And something to eat.”
She wished she could. But she felt nauseous every time she thought about eating. After they’d gotten to bed in the early hours of the morning, her mind had been too busy to sleep. She’d lain there, secured in Victor’s arms, the only thing keeping her grounded.
“Talk to me, baby,” he practically begged.
Guilt filled her. Poor Victor. She knew he was having fits, not knowing what to do to make her feel better.
“I’m all right. I just . . . I didn’t get the feeling she was lying to me. I know that’s not a lot to go on. I mean, I’m obviously not a great judge of character. I didn’t even know what my own niece is capable of . . .” she trailed off.
The sense of betrayal was enormous. She felt like she’d been through a whole rollercoaster of emotions. Disbelief. Denial. Anger. Sadness. Now, she was kind of numb with exhaustion. But she also wanted some resolution.
“That doesn’t mean you’re wrong about this woman,” Regent said gently. “Let me find out what I can about her. If she is what she seems to be, someone who’s helping other women, then she might be someone we can use.”
“Use?” Gracen asked. “We shouldn’t use her, we should help her.”