Page 28 of The Boss

July 19th

Unknown

I understand why you don’t want to respond or use my help, but this is the best way.

July 22nd

Unknown

Not responding to me is going to make this harder for you.

July 30th

Unknown

Your tech people should really focus on other things than trying to find me. I’ll tell you who I am soon.

August 4th

Unknown

Your guy can keep trying to find me, but it’s not going to help you find your friend.

THIRTEEN

JULIET

EARLY AUGUST

Gino is starting to get antsy, and he doesn’t get antsy. Sure, he can get impulsive. For example, pretending to date me because of these messages I’ve been receiving. It’s late summer now, and the heat is getting to us all. It’s been weeks of constant text messages, mostly nothing of importance, clearly there to scare me. The rest of the group, not so much; not unless it’s out of fear for my safety.

I follow my usual routine of waking up at six, but this morning I decide to go down to the gym before cooking breakfast. I change into yoga pants, a sports bra, and a grey sweatshirt.

Walking into the kitchen, I grab my pre-workout and chug it next to the sink.

No one is awake here this early in the morning; this is my peaceful time to relax and reset.

Entering the gym, I make sure to be quiet, even though it’s just Gino and I in the house right now. I know the second he hears any sound, he will wake up and look for me, which is why I decided against dancing this morning.

The gym is a state-of-the-art space, and everything you would need is in here: punching bags, weight machines, a treadmill, and stretching and yoga mats. Gino spared no expense when he redesigned this place two years ago.

I turn on the TV and lay out a mat in front of the wall of mirrors. The sun is rising later with the late summer weather rolling in, so the sun lights up the room.

I start my yoga routine, and my body takes the relief of the stretching and deep breathing I haven’t done in weeks.

Once I’m done, I clean the mat I was using, turn off the TV, and walk to the fridge in the gym to get water.

As I walk out of the gym, I am not paying attention and run right into a wall.

A wall of muscle.

I step back and look up, seeing Gino’s tired face looking at me. He’s dressed in gym clothes, so he had the same idea as me this morning.

He grabs my waist to steady me.

This is the closest we’ve been alone in weeks.

“Hi,” I squeak out. “I’m going to take a quick shower, then I’ll make breakfast.”