If they got Lea’s picture from the security camera, then it’s only a matter of time until they figure out who she is. If we were close to the safehouse when we passed that security camera, they’ll have a general idea of her location. My phone signal isn’t strong enough to mask a camera. I’d need some additional equipment for that—equipment Erica is obviously familiar with.
I just hope Lea does what I said.
It’s too late for me, but she’s still got a fighting chance.
CHAPTER 35
Lea
Too much time has passed.
I haven’t heard from Massimo, which means something is wrong, and I’m supposed to flee Las Vegas as fast as humanly possible.
It’s the smart thing to do. I’m inwayover my head. I’m still shell-shocked from stabbing the hitman. My emotions have been on a roller coaster for days, and that roller coaster ran off the tracks long before I had to pull a knife out of my purse.
But I don’t regret it. Massimo couldn’t die without knowing the truth. Except now that he does, I still want him to live. We may have a chance together, if he forgives me for starting a Mafia civil war to save his life and let him know what Cadence found out about his wife.
So, the smart thing goes out the window. I tap my phone and take a deep breath as I wait for an answer. It’s a video call. I’mnot crying right now. I think I’ve cried every tear my body can produce.
“Sarah!” I say, staring at my screen. “Are you still in Las Vegas?”
“Yes, thank god you finally called!” Sarah replies. “I was worried sick! What happened? I’m still with Cadence.”
I’m done keeping secrets and I’ve already shared so many with Sarah, a few more aren’t going to hurt. At this point, evenshewill understand this is the kind of stuff she can’t put on her podcast unless she wants to get murdered.
Cadence—I don’t know her, but we wouldn’t have made it this far without her. I catch the two of them up on the latest developments, even though I’m not entirely sure what is going on now.
“Okay, so Massimo went to confront his brother?” Cadence asks and Sarah turns her phone so I can see the hacker. “How long has he been gone?”
“Hours,” I mutter. “He said he would text me, so I know there’s a problem. But I have no idea where to start.”
“I do,” Cadence says, opening her laptop. “What kind of car was Massimo driving when he left?”
“A rental… uh, California plates. Silver Mercedes,” I reply, giving her all the information I know.
I chew my bottom lip while Cadence types away. I don’t know what she’s doing, but I mutter a silent prayer to anyone who is listening that she can figure this out. I just need to know Massimo is alive. If he’s too busy to text, or dealing with his brother, I’ll follow his instructions. If not… I have no idea what I’m going to do.
“Okay, I got something,” Cadence says, finally breaking the silence. “I found Massimo’s car on a traffic cam. The footage is a few hours old, but if I can follow him…”
“There!” Sarah points at the screen.
“Yep, that’s him,” Cadence confirms. “But this still doesn’t help.”
It’s a painstaking process, or at least it feels like one. Cadence switches between security cameras and traffic cameras, combing them all for a glimpse of Massimo’s car. Every time she locates it, I feel a surge of hope, but when it disappears without an answer, the hope dissipates.
“There’s nothing after this,” Cadence says.
All the hope vanishes. My heart sinks into my stomach. If this is a dead end, then I’m out of options. My only choice is to flee Las Vegas and mourn him—again. I’m not sure I can go through it a second time. The first time nearly tore my heart to shreds.
“Hold on!” Sarah opens her laptop. “I have a map of everything registered to the Dirty Vegas Mafia. What I could find, at least.”
“It won’t be much,” Cadence sighs. “They hide everything in shell corporations except their personal property and a few legitimate businesses.”
“This is where Massimo’s car disappeared, right?” Sarah asks, turning the laptop to Cadence, who confirms with a nod. “The only place he could be going is Emilio’s house.”
“Okay, let me find all the cameras in that area,” Cadence says, furiously tapping on her keyboard.
I sink to the carpet and stare at my phone. The money Massimo left for me is on the desk behind me, along with the businesscard, and directions to the next safehouse. That’s where I’m supposed to be. Not sitting here playing hero, like he told me not to do.
