“Here comes someone,” Rix said as headlights cut through the darkness.

A blacked-out Escalade pulled to a stop next to the jet, and the driver jumped out to open the back door. A man stepped out that I recognized all too well. It had been a long fucking time, but Dominic Casso wasn’t someone you forgot.

A flunky in the front passenger seat had circled around to open the other back door, revealing a second man. Both doors were shut after the two men exited, and it was clear there was no one else inside.

“No Eden.”

“But you’ve got the boss man, and you’ve got questions to be answered about where the fuck his goon took his girl. I say, no time like the present to ask them.”

I inhaled and slipped my gun into the back of my jeans.

Dead man walking.

The two bodyguards carried suitcases up into the plane, and Dom and the other man stood on the tarmac.

It was time. Fuck it.

“Where the fuck is Angelo Francetti?”

Both men spun around to face me as I stepped into the light, and one bodyguard came back to the stairs and drew a weapon.

“Who the fuck are you?” Dom demanded.

He looked exactly the same as I remembered. It was like the man hadn’t aged a day, despite running an empire that should have aged him years ahead of his time.

“Doesn’t fucking matter who I am. What matters is he’s got your daughter, and I’m not leaving until I find them both.”

Dom’s face pinched with confusion. “My daughter? What the fuck do you know about my daughter?”

“You don’t tell us who you are, you’re gonna catch a bullet to the skull in five seconds.” This came from the other man.

“You really don’t care where she is? Or that Angelo Francetti knocked her unconscious and dragged her out of a shop in New Orleans and put her on this same plane?”

Dom’s head jerked back and he looked at the other man. “What the fuck is he talking about, Vin? New Orleans? You told me she was safe. Why the fuck would Angelo dare lay a hand on her?”

“Get on the plane. I’ll take care of this fuck. He’s stirring up shit he has no business stirrin’.”

“I’m not going any fucking place until you answer my question. Where the fuck is my daughter? You’ve been puttin’ me off for days.”

“She’s safe. She’s fine. No one will bother her.”

“She’s not safe,” I said. “She sure as shit didn’t ask to be knocked out or kidnapped. And neither of you is going anywhere until I have my answers.”

Dom turned to Vin. “You’ve got sixty fucking seconds to get Eden on the phone or I’m gonna put a bullet in your brain. I don’t give a fuck how long I’ve known you.”

Vincent bristled. “All due respect, Dom, but you’ve got a lot more to be worried about right now than where your daughter is. You need to get on this plane and get the hell out of the country before the Feds catch up with you.”

“You’re not hearing me. Why the fuck aren’t you hearing me?” Quiet, yet lethal, anger edged Dom’s tone.

“Yeah, answer the fucking question, Vin.”

“Shoot this guy,” Vincent yelled to the bodyguard, his arm flung out toward me, but Dom held up a hand.

“Don’t fucking shoot anyone until I give the word.” He looked at me. “Now, tell me why I shouldn’t leave you bleeding out on this tarmac right now?”

“Because I’m here to find your daughter. Because apparently I’m the only fucking person who’s worried about her.”

Dom looked at Vincent. “New Orleans? I told you I wanted her in a safe house, and you said it was taken care of. What the fuck is your problem? Are you deaf?”

“She was taken care of. You wanted her out of the way; I told you, I got her out of the way.”

“In fucking New Orleans? Where the fuck is Angelo now?”

Vincent shrugged. “Busy doing what he’s told.”

Dom’s voice dropped into a harsh whisper. “You give me a fucking straight answer, Vin, or I will shoot you myself. Where the fuck is your kid, and where the fuck is my daughter?”

Kid?

Vincent looked at me closer, and recognition finally hit me. Ten years ago, he hadn’t been the number-two guy. He’d been climbing the ranks and carrying out orders.

He recognized me at the same time. “I remember you. You’re the one who ran like a fucking coward and never stopped. You’ve got balls of brass, boy, to come back here. You didn’t have so many fucking tats or as much hair then, but I remember you.” He leveled the pistol at my head. “Time for you to pay in blood.”

Two red dots popped up on his chest.

“That would be a really poor idea on your part,” Titan said, stepping up next to me. “Two ex-Special Forces snipers will take you out before you can pull the trigger.”

I looked at Dom. “And if you let your guys shoot me, I won’t be able to tell you about the burner phone we found in Vin’s kid’s hotel room and all the interesting numbers it has on it. Like the Feds.”

I’d been saving that piece for leverage, and it worked.

Dom held an arm out in front of Vin. “Put the fucking gun down.” To me, he added, “What the fuck are you talking about? You trying to tell me Angelo is a rat who kidnapped my daughter?”

Before takeoff, I’d tried every number on the burner phone we found in Angelo’s room, and had two conversations with very special agents who were ready for the information Angelo had promised to deliver.

Vincent didn’t notice, but from behind him, both bodyguards leveled their weapons on his back.

“This fuck doesn’t know jack shit.”

“All I want is to know that Eden is safe, and you can have everything we found and do your own investigation, Mr. Casso.”

Dom looked at Vin. “Get Eden on the phone, now. No more fucking excuses, or I will end you. I don’t fucking care who you are. And you.” He raised his gun at my head, and one of the little red dots jumped to his chest. “You’re going to tell me why the fuck you’re so interested in my daughter.”

“Can’t you tell the guy’s in love with her? Jesus, why else would he face down the mob boss who had his family killed ten years ago?” Titan’s drawl was thicker now. “That’s storybook shit right there.”