It’s late afternoon when Carlos finally tells me that it’s time to go home. We need to check in with all the security teams to see if anyone has spotted anything at any of the locations that we have them stationed at. Christopher has checked in and he has grabbed a few more men, so we’re up to 10 now. Quite the little team Robert has put together. I chuckle inside my head. I guess the Russo underestimated the Gallos from the beginning.
Carlos joins me for dinner, and we concentrate more on Robert and what needs to be done once we get a hold of him. He joins me for a drink after supper and heads home. I head up to my bedroom, pausing momentarily at her door again. That door’s going to haunt me till I find her, just like the knife mark on my desk. I need them to keep me on track.
I go into my room and go to the closet and spend the rest of my evening hanging up every single solitary piece of clothing in that suitcase. I take her toothbrush and her toothpaste, and her night cream. I’m putting them beside mine in my bathroom. Maybe it’s foolish to pretend like she’s still here or that I’ll actually get her back. But I can’t stop myself. I just need her to be a part of my room, even if she doesn’t want to be a part of my life.
On Monday, I wake up and have my coffee in my office avoiding the dining room. It was never a good place for us, let alone sitting in there by myself staring at her empty chair, which she will never sit in again. I think I should have that entire room redone. Get rid of that fucking table and those stupid fucking chairs. Pushing my cup away, I look across the room at the small little round table that we always hold our meetings at. We should start eating in here if she ever comes back.
Christ, my chest is killing me.
Carlos texts me and tells me that the car is ready. We’re picking up my father and going to confront Anna at the museum. Danny is going to meet us there. Anna went to the museumearly yesterday morning; she went to work and stayed there. She never came home. So, either Isabella is still at the museum or Anna and Danny are on the outs. And I could see it. He has divided loyalty, and so does she. I thought my situation was fucked, but so is theirs.
I grab my phone and stuff it in my pocket, take my suit jacket off the back of the chair and shrug into it as I cross the floor to the foyer. Pulling it open, Carlos is down by the car with the passenger door open and ready for me, his arms crossed at his chest. I hop into the back, and we are off.
We were quiet all the way to my father’s house. As we pull up, my father is already standing at the top of the stairs with James, both of them on their phones. He looks up, nods to James, and comes down the stairs. Carlos parks the car and opens the door for him, and he gets in, tucking his phone into his breast pocket. “So, we’re off to see this little spitfire. You think she’ll talk?”
I just shake my head. “No, she isn’t going to say anything. She’s loyal; she’d never give Isabella up for anything.”
He grins. “Loyalty is important to people in our lives.”
I just stare at him. I’m not sure if there’s a hidden meaning in that or if he is impressed that Anna is so loyal to Isabella. Either way, I don’t think I want to examine it too closely. Carlos pulls up behind the museum and we park. Danny is already there, sitting on the back of his car with his arms crossed. He looks tired and angry, like he hasn’t slept since Friday either. Anna can be a handful. I don’t actually envy his duty.
Carlos opens the door and my father, and I step out, and Danny pushes off his car and starts walking towards us.
Danny holds his chin in his hand. “Anna has been in there since Saturday night. She hasn’t come out or checked in. The mic I planted on her jacket. It’s quiet. It’s like she’s not even in the same room. But yet, there’s still music in the background. I have no answers for you, man. All I can say is that we just go inthere and ask her straight up.”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “You think she’ll tell us the truth?”
His tone is dry. “Not a fucken chance.”
I sigh. “I figured as much.”
We all walk to the back door. Carlos presses his key card into it. Sebastian made one up for us. He hasn’t really spoken to us since Friday. Sebastian is kind of a sensitive guy, and this really sent him over the edge. He feels guilty, like we all do. But he retreats into his room when the world throws him for a loop. I wish I could do the same, but we have revenge to get for my father and Isabella.
The door opens and we walk down the hall. Professor Daniels is at his desk, and he looks up and points his finger at us, his mouth bobbing open, trying to form words. But the moment he sees the four of us, he closes it. My father just nods at him with a polite smile on his face and keeps on walking. We reach the lab, and I open the door. Anna’s on the scaffolding with her headphones on, picking away at the fresco. She’s working on Isabella’s side, and my heart drops. I took this away from her too. The one thing that she wanted most in the world was to finish this fresco. She wanted to work.
Carlos stands in front of the door to block it in case Professor Daniels decides he wants to come in. My father just stands with his hands behind his back, his head tilted to the side with a smile on his face, watching her work. I’m doing my best not to look like a lost puppy. Danny stands off to the side, sitting on the side of Anna’s desk, watching her. I can see it in his face; anger mixed with pain and loss. His expression is not too far off from my own.
Anna belts out a few song lyrics and shakes her ass like she always does. And then suddenly, she just stops, pulls one ear bud out of her ear, and looks over her shoulder at us. Her eyes go wide, her face flushes pink, and then you can see it. Thatfear turns into determination. I try to hide my smile because she isn’t going to give us anything. Isabella could hide in her coat pocket, and she won’t tell us.
But that’s not the only reason for coming. If she has any chance of contacting Isabella, she needs to know her father isn’t a safe choice.
Anna pulls out the other earbud and turns around, braces her hands on the railing, and looks at all four of us, including my father, with those steely blue eyes of hers.
She points at us. “Well, I’m not going to stand here and fuck around, boys. I’ve got work to do. Yes, I stole her, yes, she climbed into the crate and left your sorry ass.”
She holds her hands up to indicate the room.
“But be my guest. You can look around all you want, and as Danny can tell you, she is not in my apartment. And she’s not here, dumbass. You think she’d stick around here knowing you’d show up, and try to take her back? She’s fucking gone.”
My father breaks out in a smile, and Danny grabs his throat and keeps rubbing it. I take a few steps closer to the scaffolding, and she leans over on her elbows and glares down at me.
“I’m not going to lie to you, Anna. And I’m not going to beg. She’s in serious trouble. Yes, I want her back. Yes, I want to make everything right. I doubt if I ever can. But she needs help that only we can provide and protection. I can’t tell you everything and don’t ask because I can’t tell you without putting you in further danger, and neither will Danny.”
Anna purses her lips, crosses her arm over her chest, leaning over the railing.
“The only protection she needs is from you. Have you seen her body? Her throat? I highly fucking doubt it, because you choked the shit out of her and just left her there, lying on the floor in tears.”
I dropped my head to the floor and sigh out a long breath.
