Page 63 of The Voicemail

“Spit it out,” I order.

“Maya’s been taken from her apartment,” he says quietly. “We had a team there like you asked, but Bianchi knew when the guard would change. He left this.”

He holds out a folded piece of paper. I snatch it, my hand shaking, and unfold it. I have to read the words several times.

All of this can end. Just give me back what’s mine.

“He’s threatening Elena,” I breathe. “This message is for her.”

He nods, grim. “How do you want to handle it?” he asks.

The bathroom door opens, and I close my eyes. Elena steps out, and I feel her behind me, looming like a shadow.

“I heard my name,” she says tightly. “Figured I’d better get the news from the horse’s mouth before you two have a chance to cook up a new lie.”

Luca looks between us, a question in his eyes.

“She knows everything,” I murmur under my breath.

He whistles low, then meets my eyes. A silent conversation passes between us. He wants to know how to proceed. I gesture for him to tell her the truth. There’s no point holding back now.

“Maya’s been taken,” he says bluntly.

Her gasp of horror nearly undoes me, but I don’t try to comfort her. She doesn’t want me to. I’d only make the pain worse.

“No!” she screams. “I told her it wasn’t safe to stay there. I told her!”

Luca seems to register the stark shift between us. He steps in when he realizes I can’t.

“There’s nothing you could have done,” he says quietly.

“Yes, I could have,” she says through clenched teeth. “I could have insisted she come with us. Or I could have stayed with her.”

She moves past me, but Luca blocks her path to the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks.

“I’m going to find her. Bianchi wants me. I’m going to offer him a trade.”

“No, you aren’t,” I say, unable to hold my tongue. “I’ll find her, Elena. I’ll end this.”

She turns on me with venom in her stare. “All you do is bring pain,” she spits. “I don’t trust you to bring her home safely.”

“Then trust me,” Luca cuts in, jumping to my defense. “I know I went through your things, Elena. Fair enough. But I’ve never lied to you, have I?”

She narrows her eyes at him but lets him continue.

“Let us go after her,” he says gently. “Don’t put yourself in danger. Especially not out of anger. You could end up getting both of you killed. I know you probably hate Alex right now, but he knows what he’s doing. I’d trust him with my life.”

I give him an appreciative nod, which he returns.

“Bring her back,” Elena orders, fighting through a sob. “Bring her back, and then both of you can fuck right off. You find us somewhere safe and then you stay away from us.”

“Okay,” I agree.

I don’t want to agree to those terms, but I’ll say whatever it takes to keep her from getting herself killed.

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