Page 3 of Queen of Misfortune (Shadows of Redemption)
"Please," the first man implores again.
"Tell me where he is. Now. Is he hurt?" Her voice is getting stronger, and I’m so proud of her.
The first man sighs. “It’s complicated.”
“Just because I’m a woman, doesn’t mean I’m stupid or ignorant. I’m the daughter of a Don. Do you think I don’t know what goes on?”
“We’re not at liberty?—”
“And I say you are. Niko isn’t here, and that means I’m in charge.”
The three men glance at each other, clearly uncertain of the truth of that.
“The woman of a don is to be held up, respected,” I inform them. She’s not married to Niko, and it’s clear that he’d told her he didn’t intend to make her his wife, but maybe his men don’t know that.
“They’re not married?—”
“That’s inconsequential. Do you think Don Leone would want to see you bullying the woman he sleeps next to?” I continue.
“We’re not bullying. We have orders to keep you safe.”
“I’m safe here. Now, tell me, where is Niko?”
Movement across the room has us all looking, tensing as if my father’s men had breached Niko’s sanctuary.
Liam, Niko’sconsigliere, strides in. “Are you supposed to be taking her to the compound?”
“You weren’t with them?” Elena asks.
Liam is FBI, so while I’m sure he helps Niko in some areas, it seems unlikely he’d be involved in the more nefarious, violent tasks.
“No. I was preparing your documents and travel plans.” He turns to the men. “Why aren’t they on the way to the compound?”
“Because I'm not leaving without answers," Elena says firmly. "Answers you're going to help me get."
Liam's gaze sharpens as he looks at her. I hold a breath because I know that Liam has more power than the three men sent here to pack us up and take us to the compound.
I glance at Elena, who arches a brow, challenging him.
He sinks his teeth into his lower lip as he turns to the men. “Well? What's the hold-up?"
"Orders are to take them to the safehouse," the younger man says, almost apologetically.
"The mistress of the house has other plans." Liam's words are clipped, authoritative. "Elena, what do you need?"
Inwardly, I’m shouting,Yes! Liam is going to support her.
"Information. Confirmation. Assurance that Niko is not on death's doorstep." She sounds strong, but I can hear the undercurrent of panic.
“We don’t know where he is or how he is,” one man finally says. “All we know is that Giovanni ambushed him.”
Liam turns to Elena. “That’s all I’ve heard too. But” —he puts his hand on her arm— “there is a protocol. We’ll know soon. In the meantime?—”
“In the meantime, we secure this place. If he is okay, he’ll come back here, right? This is his most secure location in the city.”
Liam nods. “Right.”
Elena turns to the three men. “Station men outside the garage and at the elevator. At least two men should be in the hall and one at the stairwell outside the penthouse. No one, except Niko or his known men, go in or out without my say-so. And you" —she turns back to Liam— "get on the phone. Find out everything you can about Niko’s location and condition.”