“The only places we visited were New York and Miami. The only change to that was our honeymoon. We went to Paris, but after that our world centered on those two places, but sometimes the family came to visit us.”

“Miami was where Fredrick was, right?”

“Yes,” Abigail said. She appeared more grief stricken by Nicola’s survival than her death. “Do you think he could’ve survived that crash too?”

“That’s going to take time, but we’ll get there. Don’t worry that I’ll go back on my word. The world is a big place, like Dallas said, but when you’re hurt, you have a tendency to run to the familiar to lick your wounds. We find the place a monster like Nicola feels safe, and we find Nicola.”

They went back out, and the big guy had put his gun away, but Cecil didn’t appear any less scared. “I need you to write down exactly what you did and what’s wrong with Nicola. You can add what you did for Nina as well.”

“How’s that going to help us?” Finley asked. She didn’t say another word when Cain stared her down. This was no longer an FBI operation where plenty of questions were helpful.

“I want a full medical report, so get to it.” She sat and drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair with one hand while Emma held the other one. It took Cecil a half hour before he handed over what she wanted. “I’m not sure what Mr. Giordano has in mind when it comes to you, but working outside the parameters usually brings stiff penalties.”

“I know that, but when you’re having to put in stitches with a gun to your head, it makes you forget whatever promises you made.” Cecil’s laugh was grim. “Hell, Mr. Giordano might do the same and pull the trigger, but I knew what I was getting into. He’s been good to me over the years, and I’m sorry I betrayed his confidence.”

“I’m sure his man here will tell him that. But I need to know if, in your medical opinion, Nicola will survive.”

“If I had to guess, the odds are less than fifty–fifty. You can survive a shot to a vital organ if you have it treated in a hospital. If she’s traveling outside the city, I doubt she’ll live past Jersey.”

“Let’s hope, for all our sakes, you’re right.”

Chapter Twenty-four

Emma ran her hands down Cain’s back in the shower. The night before everyone hadn’t left until almost one in the morning, and Cain had been exhausted by the time they finally got to go to bed. They’d all agreed to a later start in the morning, and they had to talk to Sacha one more time before they headed home.