Page 106 of My Favorite Kidnapper

“Then she hasn’t gone far.” Another thought hit me. “Her passport?”

“It’s in the safe.” I heard him move and the sound of the safe opening. “It’s—fuck.”

“What?”

“It’s gone.”

“How would she get it?”

“Carolina knows the combination.”

I hung up and dialed my goddaughter. She answered with a breezy hello.

“Never mind the sweet shit, Carolina. Where is she?”

“Where is who?”

“You know goddamn well who. Where is Brianna?”

“On a walkabout.”

“On a what?”

“You wanted her to discover who she is. What she wants. She decided to do that.”

“With what?” I yelled. “She has no money, no credit cards. Not even a decent fucking cell phone. Where the hell is she?”

“Why do you care? You sent her away.”

“I sent her to be looked after!”

She sighed. “Uncle Dante, I always thought you were a smart man. Brianna isn’t a child. She doesn’t need to be looked after. She’s a grown woman, and she can make her own decisions. She is doing what she wants right now. Spending time in her favorite places. She is clearing her past so she can start her future. Just like you wanted her to.” She paused. “And you and Dad aren’t the only ones with money, you know.”

“Where. Is. She?”

“Think about it.”

And she hung up.

* * *

All day, I racked my brain. Brianna had mentioned wanting to see more of Canada. But how was she funding it? Later in the afternoon, on a whim, I called my sister-in-law. The puzzle was solved instantly.

“Yes, I loaned her some money,” she said when she answered. “I don’t want to hear about it. You are being an ass. She is the best thing that ever happened to you.”

She hung up.

So I knew Brianna had money. But where would she go? She had told me her favorite place in the world was the villa. That she couldn’t imagine loving any spot more. So where—

I stood, grabbing my phone.

Gia answered on the second ring. I didn’t have to ask.

I heard my little bee singing in the background.

“I’ll be home shortly,” I snapped.

I headed to the car, stopping only to grab a few things. I drove like a madman, not caring if the police stopped me.