That much was true. No one could possibly dispute that. Alonzo pinned Brice with his ice-cold stare. “What is this about? I’m not into game playing. You made your bid for my woman and you lost. She’s mine. She was always mine. Coming to my home on some bullshit pretense is beneath you.”

“Crispin has disappeared.” Brice watched him closely and then flicked his gaze to take in Evangeline.

Alonzo didn’t dare look down at her. She didn’t have a poker face. That was one of the things he loved most about Evangeline. She was exactly who you saw. No subterfuge. For a man like him, one who spent his entire life one way or another in a crime family, her innocence was like a breath of fresh air.

“I don’ understand, Brice.” She spoke very softly, genuinely concerned. “Why would he disappear? How long has he been gone?”

“He didn’t show up for work this morning and we went to check on him. He was gone. He doesn’t answer his cell. He’s vanished. We can’t even raise him by calling or trying to track his cell.”

“Just this mornin’?” There was relief in Evangeline’s voice. “He could be anywhere, Brice.”

The cop shook his head. “No. Someone took him. His security camera was offline. His house was armed as if he’d left himself. No signs of a struggle.”

“I’m more confused than ever. It sounds like he just is runnin’ a little late,” she said. She frowned, looking from Brice to Reeve. “Brice, are you accusin’ Alonzo of somethin’? Of kidnappin’ Crispin? Because if you are, that’s just ludicrous.”

Now there was a little bite to her voice, and Alonzo loved that as well. He didn’t have to say a thing. He kept his gaze glued to Brice, who looked more uncomfortable by the moment. The detective didn’t want to disclose the fact that Crispin’s cell phone had mysteriously shown up on his captain’s desk along with a file showing the payoffs the undercover officer had been taking. The phone had countless pictures on it, ones Crispin had taken showing he had participated in shakedowns, sex with unwilling prostitutes and one particularly damning picture showing him doing cocaine with Patrizio Amodeo. How he’d taken that picture without Amodeo knowing, Alonzo would never know.

“Alonzo and Crispin weren’t friends.”

“So?” Now she looked outraged. “I’m not friends with lots of people, but that doesn’t mean I’m goin’ to harm them in some way. And he’d have to do the kidnappin’ while I was takin’ my bath because we weren’t exactly sleepin’ last night.”

Alonzo could have kissed her. He raised his eyes and caught the smirk in Timur’s eyes. Yeah, his woman was truly magnificent. He was glad his brother could witness her defense of him.