Страница 23 из 111
Jackson grimaces. “Damn.”
His brows knit together and he appears to be lost in thought right before he says, “Shit, Ricardo—if that didn't get him to speak...he must be getting something in exchange for his silence. Something he wants. And there's only one thing I can think of...given he's currently stuck in prison and all.”
I begin walking again. “I know, and something tells me that him ending up in the hospital last night was no coincidence. I thought he was hiding from me so I couldn't visit him last night and attempt to make him talk again, but the more I think about it...he's probably pla
“Watch over Alyssa.” His entire body tenses. “Trust me, that's not something you or anyone else ever has to worry about.”
“I'm sending extra security to the complex,” I inform him as I reach the front door. “Make sure no one leaves until I get back to New York. And don't attempt to handle the Ford situation without me.”
I snap my fingers as my next thought hits me. “And you might want to find a way to either warn or threaten a certain ex-wife of his—depending on which side of the coin she falls on.”
I slam the door behind me and look at Momma. “Let's go.”
She purses her lips. “I'm ready when you are, sugar.” She glances at the gun I'm holding and frowns. “Or should I say, Mr. DeLuca?”
My expression hardens and I start walking ahead of her. “I don't have time for this crap, Momma.”
“Well you better make some time, sugar,” she shouts, until I spin around to face her.
“No.” I say through clenched teeth. “I have to find her. And not for nothing...but maybe if you had told me that she was staying with you she wouldn't be in danger right now. I've spent weeks looking for her...worried sick about her...and this whole entire time she was—”
“Making me promise to never tell you where she was,” Momma interrupts. “Good grief, Ricardo. You don't think I wanted to tell you? Trust me, darlin', I did. Especially after—” She sweeps a hand up and down. “After you—after this happened.”
“Enough. Let's go,” I say for the second time, trying to ignore the pang in my heart with those words.
Lou-Lou obviously didn't want me to know where she was hiding because she doesn't want to see me again...and I wouldn't go looking for her myself because I don't want her to see what I've become.
Which means I only have one option at my disposal once I find her...because she's certainly not going to come willingly.