14
DANIELA
Chef Charleston’shouse has an old feel, with original oak floors that groan in just the right places, a mantel crowded with mismatched pottery and framed drawings done with a child’s untrained hand.Gwen’s.It’s comforting and infuriating at once.It makes the danger outside feel obscene.Evil shouldn’t be allowed inside rooms like this.
Or anywhere near this house.
But itwashere.
“Thank you,” I say to Chef.
He nods.“Of course.I want her to come home safely.We all do.”
“I know.I don’t think I’ll sleep a wink until then.”I attempt a smile.“I’m sorry to wake you and then force myself into your home.”
“It’s okay.”He offers a small smile.“Please keep us posted.”
“I will.I promised Hawk I’d go straight home.I… I may not be in class for a while.”
“Please don’t worry,” he says.“You’re already at the top of your game.If you miss anything important, I’ll let you make it up.There are more important things than culinary school.”
I nod slightly as he walks me out the door to my car and then waits outside until I’m out of sight.
Chef Charleston is a good man.
The lights are on at home, so I park in the garage and enter through the kitchen into the main house.I find them in the family room.Vinnie stands with his palms planted on the back of the sofa.Raven is next to him, robe belted tight.
“Anything?”Raven asks the second I step in.
“Hawk is coming,” I say.“He had to take care of something first.”
Vinnie’s gaze flicks to mine.He doesn’t press.
“Chef found something on his security cameras,” I say.“He sent it all to me.You need to take a look.”
Vinnie raises his eyebrows.
“You’re not going to believe it,” I say.
He flexes his jaw.“What are you saying?”
“Let’s just take a look.”
Vinnie fires up his laptop as I send him the files.
“Got it,” he says as he pulls up the footage.
I look over his shoulder.
And I see it all again, only this time it seems clearer.Probably because I know what’s coming.
There’s sweet Belinda slipping out the back door, the sliver of a hooded man, the wind lifting the fabric just enough to flash a profile I would know blindfolded.
Vinnie’s jaw goes rigid.“What the fuck?”
I swallow.“I know.It’s him.It’s Diego Vega.”
He blinks for a few seconds.“But…I saw the photo.And it was from a source I trust.”He shakes his head.
