I held the phone pressed to my ear, the gravel beneath my feet crunching as I stumbled backward against my bike. Did I just hear him right? There was no way. My heart pounded in my chest as the quickening rhythm reached my ears. I thought I would surely collapse onto the ground. I waited for Collins to tell me more but no response greeted me. Finally, I regained enough composure to clear my throat.

“What are you talking about?” I finally asked.

“I know that you heard me, Peyton. Don’t play dumb. If you want to find Shannon, you bring me Brandi’s head.”

“Are you insane?” I asked as the rage started to build inside me. “If you knew that Shannon was alive, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Peyton, I’m just about done with this conversation. I don’t answer to you or anyone else, got it? Now, what do you plan on doing?”

“If you already have men out looking for her, then why do I matter? Why does Shannon?”

“Because I think you’ve already found Brandi. I think you’re trying to protect her for some reason. So, what’s is going to be? Your sister or that bitch?”

I was no longer stunned into silence or submission. Collins had known my sister was still alive but he hid the information from me. What was his endgame? Why was Brandi and his sick revenge so important to him? I had more questions than answers but I knew that Collins wasn’t the one who was going to give them to me. There was only one thing that I could do to save my sister. If he was telling the truth and Shannon really was alive, then I would stop at nothing to get her back.

“You are one sick fuck,” I hissed.

He laughed on the other end. “You act like that hurts my feelings, but you are nothing to me but a bug stuck to the bottom of my boot. I can end you just as quickly as I can end Shannon. Is that what you want?”

“No, I will find Brandi and take care of it,” I said quietly. “Give me a week.”

“And give you a head start? You have three days. Don’t forget, I’ve got others down there too. If you don’t do it, someone else will. There is always someone else to take your place. Keep that in mind the next time you decide to branch out on your own.”

“One of these days, Collins—” I started to say.

The line went dead and I glared down at my phone. I had half a mind to tell him to take his job and shove it up his Irish ass, but that would get Shannon killed for sure . . . if she were even still alive. I needed help, someone on the inside. Right away, I thought of Danny and dialed his number. When I heard the monotone female voice alerting me that the line had been disconnected, my blood ran cold. He hadn’t made Collins’s final cut, after all.

Danny was a good kid, and knowing that he’d been put down was almost more than I could handle on top of the whirlwind news of Shannon. Collins was a snake for his part in her disappearance. I’d foolishly though that we’d bonded in prison and his loyalty to me was as ironclad as mine to him. I needed a plan. There was one other man who might know what was going on even though he’d faded into the mafia’s background. Kane was two years younger than me at twenty-six but sharp as a tack.

After Collins had been arrested, the story I heard was that Kane went dark within the organization. Unable to take the brutality, he’d become a distant connection within the group. I was a new member when I first met him and we quickly hit things off. He was sweet, too sweet for the harsh life of a mafia member. Dialing his number, I waited with bated breath as it started to ring. Even after all these years, I knew that he would help.

“Peyton?” he said groggily. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Is everything okay?”

I laughed softly. “Its almost nine in the morning. What are you doing still sleeping, princess?”

“Ugh, I’ve been running a crew on the north side for Collins. Nothing but a bunch of idiot kids. They are keeping me young.”

“You aren’t that old. I thought you were keeping your hands clean right now?”

“I am. This was as a favor to Mad Dog. Just sent them over to him last night, hence the need for sleep.”

“Boy,” I said nostalgically, “I haven’t heard that name in a long time. How is old Mad Dog?”

“Still a leader who keeps it low-key. Can’t seem to keep a crew or woman around him.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right. He always did push them hard, but he was a good man, unlike that brat, Collins.”

“Uh oh. I don’t like the sound of that. What’s going on? I haven’t seen you in what, three years now?”

“That’s about right, ever since Collins sent me on this damn Brandi trail.”

“Oh wow, he’s still tied up on that one, is he? I don’t go through his neck of the woods very much. A bit too much drama for me. I like to stick to the elders. They’ve got a code.”

“So, you are working for the big dogs now?”

“Here and there to fill the time.”

I nodded my head in approval, even though he couldn’t see me. Working for the elders offered security if you were good at your job. They kept you safe from the lower trash like Collins and paid you well. It helped that Kane really did have a heart of gold. It was one of the reasons I’d called him. Once he knew what I knew, he would jump to help me. I just had to make sure nothing about him had changed. I couldn’t risk Collins knowing about Rosa.

“I wish this were a social call, mate, but I have a problem and I could use your help.”

“Anything. You have saved my ass more times than I can count. I think I owe you one.”

“One? Try half a dozen!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. What kind of jam are you in?”

“A big one, and if I’m going to get myself out of it, I’ll need some help . . . but I don’t want to talk about it over the phone. It’s too dangerous. Are you up for a drive?”

“Sure, but if you’ve got issues, why not call Collins? Wouldn’t he be better suited to help you?”

“Not this time, friend. This time, Collins is part of the problem. I’ll send you the address for my safe house here.”

“So, you pissed off Collins? I knew it was just a matter of time. He’s a crazy person, not the type that should be in charge.”

“Why aren’t you telling that to the elders then?”

“You don’t think I’ve thought about that? My word, as good as it is, is just the word of one man against a second-tier crime boss. They don’t like it when people stir the pot, so unless you’ve got something damn good, we may need to take care of this quietly.”

The conversation paused for a minute as I sent him my address and he looked it over. I knew he wanted more details about what I was doing so far from home, but they would have to wait. Collins was a hothead but he was a smart one. He would be looking out to see who came to my aid.

“Kane, coming down here is dangerous. You should know that Collins won’t be happy about it.”

“You think I give two shits about what that sadistic fuck thinks? Try again. Whatever is going on between you two, I know whose side I’m on.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate that. And Kane? Hurry.”

“Sure thing,” he said, concern in his voice. “Peyton, is this about Brandi? Did you find her?”

“I don’t want to talk about it on the phone, but she is part of it. The rest . . . well, I don’t think you would believe me if I told you. It’s risky to talk about on the phone, but I’ve got some news about Shannon.”

“Shannon?” he whispered.

“Yeah, turns out Collins said she’s still alive and he knew where to find her. Like I said, too dangerous to talk about on the phone. Can I count on you, Kane?”

He was quiet for a few minutes. For a second, I though the line had gone dead when I heard him clear his throat. Kane had always had an affection for women like Shannon, but my sister was as wild and free as they came.

“Count me in. See you soon.”