Page 50 of Merciless King

“I agree. But why were our guys there? That doesn’t make sense. I didn’t send them. Did you?”

“No. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

“Must we wait here?” Lana asks. “We’re not helping and it will look suspicious. Plus, Rinella’s men are probably reporting to him that he’s won.”

“I’m not leaving until I know what happened. And I don’t give a fuck about what Rinella is told. He’s an idiot if he thinks this little adolescent stunt means he won.”

“Yeah, he’s just fucking with you,” Matteo agrees.

“And you’re letting him,” Lana quips.

I sigh. “If you don’t want to be a part of this, you can go.”

She makes a face but sits down next to Matteo.

Time moves slowly when waiting for something. In this case, it was over an hour before Tony, the family lawyer, strides through the door.

“Elio.” He holds out his hand, and I shake it.

“What the fuck, Tony?”

He shakes his head. "It's all bullshit. They got nothing on our guys. No evidence, no probable cause, nothing. They're just jerking us around."

I clench my jaw, my anger rising. "So why the fuck are they still in there?"

Tony holds up a placating hand. "Relax. They're processing the paperwork now. Should be out within the hour."

I pace back and forth, my impatience growing. I can’t wait around here. Not when I need to be helping Piper and Elysse pack and move in with me.

“Why so long?”

“You know how it is. It’s like trying to buy a cell phone or a car. The process is slow.”

"This is unacceptable," I growl. "I want to know who ordered this. And I want them out now."

“They’ve got a protocol?—"

"I don't give a fuck about protocol. These are my men, and I want them released. Now."

“I’ll go see what I can do.” Matteo exits the room.

I turn back to Tony, my frustration boiling over. "How did this even happen?"

“They got a text about taking a looksee at the docks. So they went down and were then picked up by a detective… Finster, I think.”

“Text? From who?”

“They thought it was from Caro.”

I frown. Joey Caro is one of my street men.

“In hindsight, they see now that it wasn’t.”

“Contact Caro,” I say to Lana.

“When do you want to see him?”

“As soon as I get home.” I turn back to Tony. “What else did they say?”