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“No, Lucas, I don’t need you.”
I pull the trigger, and his skull muffles the sound of the shot. I see the crowd of people flinch and turn their faces away as my uncle’s body slumps to the floor. I place my gun back on the table and turn to face my audience again.
Lucas is staring at his father’s body. His face is free of expression. Free of pain or guilt or anything that tells me he doesn't agree with my actions here tonight.
The muscles of my jaw feather for a moment, and then I address the room. “I don’t take lightly to betrayal, and every single one of you would do well to understand that.”
People nod and whisper confirmation, and not a single person in the room makes a move to protest.
“Seraphina is missing, and anyone who comes forward, anyone who worked with Lucas to take her — you have an amnesty for twenty-four hours. After that, I'llfind her, and when I do, there will be no leniency for those involved.”
I look around the room. No one gives away a thing. Not one of them looks guilty. I’ll give them the twenty-four hours to come forward while I continue my search. And I'llhonor my word.
“Now, seeing as this is a night of resolution, does anyone have anything they would like to say?”
One of my second cousins stands, his hands pressed against the table as he leans his weight into them. “Antonio, on behalf of the family, I wanted to welcome you into your new position and assure you that you have our love and respect, as did your father.”
“Thank you, Geraldo. Now, everyone should enjoy the rest of the evening. Appetizers are being served outside; help yourself to a drink, and please, enjoy my home.”
I step away from the table and turn toward Arton.
“There is no need. You did what you had to do.”
“Alright, then, is there any news on Seraphina? With Lucas gone, I assume anyone involved is skittish. They are bound to slip up or just let her go.”
“Nothing yet.”
I grit my teeth, looking across the sea of faces around me. One of them knows something. I just need to find out who.
43
Seraphina
Marcus places a plateof food in front of me at his small dinner table. I push it away, my stomach so knotted that I don't think I can stomach it.
“Eat, Seraphina.”
“I can’t. I have been waiting here for two days, and not only is he not calling me, but now his phone has been turned off. The line just stays dead.”
I push the plate further away from me and stand up.
It has been two days of hell, waiting to hear from Antonio. My heart is convinced that he is dead or in serious trouble. Whatother reason would he have for not getting in contact with me? This is too much to bear.
“I have to go back to the hotel. I have no other choice.”
“No,” Marcus says. “You can’t. I can’t lose you.”
“And I can't live without Antonio, so I would rather risk going back there to find out what is going on than just waiting.”
“They will kill you.” Marcus’s face is strained.
“Like I said, I’ll risk that. I can’t live without him.”
“At least wait until the morning?”
“No, Marcus, I have waited long enough. It is time for me to face whatever it is I need to face.”
I take out my phone and call the taxi company, telling them where to pick me up.
