Sebastian

“Slow your roll!” Banks throws a hand up and his dark eyes shift between Calder and me. “You think I had something to do with that bomb going off?”

“You threatened me the day before.” I narrow my gaze on the picture in his hand. “Your girlfriend helped you escape the scene by using her car to block our pursuit, and Vinny Karras just gave you up as the person who bought the igniter that caused the gas tank to explode. Yeah, I’d say you’re pretty fucked, Banks.”

“Well, I’d say this reeks of a setup, because that what’s going on,” he says as he reaches into his pocket.

“Keep your hands still,” Calder barks, holding his gun higher.

“Chill, Blake number two. I’m calling my girl. Sierra can at least clear up where she was when the bomb went off.”

“It’s Calder,” he snaps, then nods to Banks. “Move slow or you’ll find out how accurate my aim is.”

“Put it on speaker,” I tell Banks.

He nods and we all listen to the phone ring four times before it goes to voice mail. “This is Sierra. I’m out blowing all the boys. Hahahaha! I’m just joking, Banksy. You know what to do.”

When her voicemail beeps, Banks says, “Hey, babe. Call me back ASAP.” Hanging up, he dials another number and tenses as he glances my way. “Paulo might know where she is. They both work at the Crazy Horse club.” When Paulo’s phone goes to voicemail too, Banks leaves him a message. “Hey, Paulo, forget that errand I asked you to run. I need you back here now.”

“Two down. Ready for your third strike,” I say in an impatient tone.

Setting his lips in a line of annoyance, Banks punches another number with vengeance. It rings and rings, then he hangs up and snaps his fingers at the young guy beside him. “Call Vinny’s number.”

His phone rings and he holds his hand up to the kid, telling him to wait while he answers. “Paulo, are you heading back?”

“No, man. I just got to the store. I’ll just grab what’s needed then—”

“I want you back here now,” Banks bellows.

“What’s going on, Banks?” Paulo asks in a calm tone.

Banks’s gaze shifts between Calder and me. “Do you know if Sierra had to work? I can’t get in touch with her.”

“I’m not sure. I’ve had a few days off.”

Banks blows out a frustrated breath. “What was I doing on Saturday night?”

“I don’t know. What were you doing? I was out, remember.”

“What do I usually do on Saturday nights?”

“Well, you usually have a beer with your uncle.” As Banks shoots me an “I told you so” look, Paulo says, “Except you left early.”

Confusion flickers in Bank’s eyes. “No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did. You got mad at the server about the bill.”

“I didn’t leave early.” Banks shakes his head, his forehead furrowed in frustration. “You weren’t even there.”

“You told me about it later. Maybe you were too drunk to remember?”

Banks opens his mouth to speak, but Paulo continues, “Listen, I’m already here, so I’m grabbing what we need. Then I’ve got some other errands to run. Be back later.”

When Paulo hangs up, Banks grunts and nods to the kid beside him to complete the call. Once the kid dials Vinny’s number, Banks snatches his phone and puts it on speaker.

“Vinny’s Electronics, what can I help you with?”

“You can tell me why the fuck you’re lying about me buying certain parts in your store, Vinny!” Banks barks.

“Sorry, I can’t talk right now, Banks. A customer just walked in.”

“Answer me, right now—”

Banks growls at the distinctive click and throws the phone against the wall across the room. I raise my eyebrow as the cell bursts into pieces. “And strike three.”

“How can you not see this is a set up?” Banks rails, flinging his arms wide.

“Seems it’s your word against Vinny’s,” I say. “Why would he lie?”

Banks puffs his chest up. “Exactly, why would he lie?”

Narrowing my gaze on him, I pull out my phone and call the office. “Hey, Elijah. I need you to dig a bit deeper into Vinny Karras. Call me right back.”

As soon as I hang up, Banks crosses his arms and stares me down. “I think you’re asking the wrong question.”

I scowl at him. “What question should I be asking?”

“Whoever is setting me up...why did they drag you into it?”

I don’t like Banks trying to mess with my head, but if there’s even an ounce of truth to what he’s saying, then whoever blew up that limo is still out there with devious planning skills. That makes them even more dangerous.

I call Talia’s number and when it goes to voicemail, I glance at Calder and quickly tap the number for Den’s phone. The moment I get his voicemail, I hang up and call Elijah back. “Before you work on the other, I need you to ping Talia’s cell. Something’s not right.”

“She was on her way back to the office.” A pause, but that was longer than she said it would take. Let me check…” A couple seconds pass. “Her phone’s not even a mile from the office, but that’s weird. The signal’s on the road and not moving. I also just pinged Den’s phone. It’s the same.”

“You’re closest. Get there now! We’re on our way.”

I nod to Calder and tuck my gun away. Just before I reach the front door, Banks says, “What about me?”

I follow Calder out. “I’ll deal with you later.”

“I’m being set up! Hey, you own that security company. You can help me—”

I close the door, cutting him off and instantly dial Den’s number again, my heart beating hard as his phone rings several times.

Banks yanks the door open and follows us out, his voice raised. “Wait? Deal with me later? What the hell’s that supposed to mean, Blackie?”

My phone rings and I quickly answer, barking into the phone at Elijah, “Tell me she’s okay!”

“That depends. You didn’t do your job.”

Paulo. Ice slides down my back and I halt my fast stride in the middle of the sidewalk. Barely resisting the urge to chew the little shit’s head off, I say, “Which was?”

“Banks is in my way.”

Calder looks at me with concern when I glance back at Banks. “What do you want?” I say, turning so Banks can’t see my expression.

“Fuck you!” Banks yells, then slams his door in the background.

“You want your wife back? Take out Banks, permanently. Isn’t that what you SEALs do?”

“Touch her at all and you’ll learn that monsters truly exist.”

“You do your part, she’ll stay safe. Do you understand?”

Is he so delusional that he thinks I won’t go after him later? Either that or he has help. “Yes,” I grit out.

“Good. Now go back in there and take care of him. Once I see video proof that it’s been done, I’ll let Talia go.”

I punch the End button and say in a low voice to Calder, “Back me up on this,” before I turn around and take the stairs to bang on the door.”

Banks pulls the door open and yells, “What do want now?”

“For you to die.” Throwing a fast, hard punch, I send his big body slamming to the foyer floor.

Following me inside, Calder kicks the door closed and draws his gun, his voice booming throughout the room as he addresses the guys ready to jump to Banks’s defense. “Stay back. This is between Sebastian and Banks.”

I bend on one knee and grab Banks’s shirt, then get right in his face and say loud enough for the tense men in the room to hear what’s going on, “Paulo is your traitor. He has Talia. In exchange for her safe return, he wants you dead.”

Banks’s eyes slit in anger and he grabs my fist on his shirt with one hand as he tries to punch me with his other. I quickly deflect his swing and pound my fist into his shoulder to keep him still. As he moans in pain, I snap, “You’re going to do exactly what I say. Is that clear?”

Banks grits his teeth and spits blood onto the floor. “Fuck you! You broke my nose, motherfucker!”

“Shut up!” Smashing my hand against his hurt nose, I grunt my satisfaction at his growl of pain, then wipe my hand off down the front of his shirt. “Where’s your liquor?”

“What?” Banks’s eyes widen, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Might as well celebrate your impending demise,” I say, twisting my hand in his shirt once more.

“Kitchen,” the young teen whispers, eyes wide.

I glance up at the others staring at me with a mixture of fear and fascination as if they’re not sure what they’re seeing is really happening. “If you three want to survive this, do as Calder tells you.”

Standing, I use Banks’s shirt to haul him to his feet. He struggles and tries to fight me, but I pinch a nerve on his shoulder. The second he drops to his knees, I turn and tell Calder what I need from him. “Get moving,” I bark at Banks’s guys, then release Banks to grab a straight-backed chair near a side table.

Calder lifts his gun, his expression supportive and determined. “You heard him, back in the kitchen now!”

“Get out of my fucking house!” Banks hobbles to stand and tries to rush me, but I swing the chair, forcing him to jump back.

When I send it into the big window near the door and glass shatters, raining everywhere, Banks snarls, “You’re going to pay for this!”

I get right in his face, my voice lethal with my worry for Talia. “I’m going to burn this fucking place to the ground.”