Blood Ties

eplaying in his mind. Something was seriously wrong-he'd never seen her like that,

ain everything when he

night now, and his fa

ch call went straight to voicemail. The last time his father had been this late without calling was never. Even on business tri

ing through him, and rushed to the window. But it wasn't his father's sleek black Audi. Instead, a nondescript seda

room and down the hall to his parents' bedroom. The door was sl

protocol, Carlo. I ne

other sat on the edge of the bed, her

t to-" She stopped, listening. "No, Marco doesn't know anything. I've made

oment before her shoulders began to shake. The sou

racing. Who was Carlo? What protocol? An

Ricci insurance fraud. Nothing relevant appeared. He tried several more combinations-Vincent Ricci arrest, Ricci family bus

ening, it wasn't

sluggish. His mother was already dressed in a fitted pantsuit, her hair was styled flawlessly, and her makeup was flawless when he walked

chool today," she said, he

?" Marco ask

. Business complications."

. And that ledger... those aren

to trust me right now, Marco. There are things about your father's work

in tr

too quickly. "He's h

u crying last nig

lickered. "You

s wor

ers. Up close, he could see the fine lines of strain aroun

g. Until then, I need you to go about your life normally. G

ut

rip tightened.

note of fear he'd never h

romi

Good. Take my car today

rning in the direction of Westlake High but pulled into a coffee shop parking lot two blocks away.

xted

y. Family stuff. Can you get

ost immediately: S

respond, anoth

I'm at Lighthouse Caf

ent with a spotless attendance record, was skippin

here

h, two cups already on the table. Her dark hair was pulled back in

," she said, pushi

ooth across from her. "Since

ar parked across from y

lood drain from

y way to school." She stirred her tea, not meeting his eyes. "Un

ou tell they

er eyes. "My father taught me how to spot

onder what kind of business her father was in th

What's going on? And don't say 'nothing

absence, his mother's fear. But his promise to his mother echo

. "My dad's away, and my mom's worr

ong moment, then nodded.

oes tha

glancing at the café entr

Marco had never seen him before, but something about his calculated movements felt familiar. The ma

Ellie said, gath

s tha

ble. "Whatever's happening with your family, Marco,

he café. Marco watched through the window as they got into a black SUV w

surveillance, and now Ellie's cryptic warning. The

His mother's car was in the driveway. The front door was

over the phone. He doesn't

volved. He found

rway. His mother sat on th

her but her responds was faint as