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He gets to his feet. “Fine. Let’s go.”
“Really? I thought you were going to argue with me.”
His gaze flickers to Nicole. “She’s not doing us any good and it’s pissing me off to have her in my house. Nothing personal, Nicole. Those pictures of you brought back a lot of bad memories.”
She gives him a tight smile. “I just want to put everything behind me.”
Lorenzo gives her a dark look. He doesn’t get the luxury of putting everything behind him while he’s still living in it. “Meet me in the garage. I’ll be there two minutes.”
“That man doesn’t sugarcoat anything, does he?” Nicole whispers as we head downstairs.
“Not a thing.”
We’re waiting by Lorenzo’s Mercedes when he strides toward us, something in his hand and his gaze fixed on Nicole.
“This is a silent panic button,” he says, holding up a small object. “It’s got a tracker. If you’re abducted, hit it, and keep it on you. Stick it in your bra or something. He probably won’t kill you right away which will give us a chance to find you. We’ll be coming as fast as we can. Us, and everyone who works for us.” Lorenzo stares at the device in his palm for a moment. “Screaming and crying won’t do you much good. If you talk a lot and ask questions, he’ll, uh,” Lorenzo trails off and swallows. “Slow down.”
He thrusts the tracker at Nicole and she takes it from him. “Who’s tracking it?”
“Me.” He holds up his phone. “With this.” He shows her the new smartwatch that’s replaced his broken one. “And this. If it goes off at any time, I’ll know.”
She gives him a tentative smile. “Thank you.”
He frowns at her and darts a look at me, like he’s not sure what to do with her gratitude. “Yeah, okay.”
“You really think he’ll try and kill me?” Nicole asks.
“Maybe. I don’t know how that asshole’s mind works, but it would piss me off if someone tried to copycat me and didn’t even finish the job.”
“Lorenzo…” I say softly, seeing Nicole turn pale.
“Just being honest,” he mutters.
Nicole closes her hand around the tracker and nods. “I’ll remember your instructions.”
He jabs a finger in her face. “I’m not doing this for free. I want something in return. If you find out where your father is, call a bar in the west called Strife and leave a message for me. De Luca doesn’t know it, but he could help us catch this killer.”
“You won’t hurt Dad, will you?”
“No one’s going to hurt Mr. De Luca,” I assure her.
“Depends how long he takes to show up. I’m losing my fucking patience,” Lorenzo says as he turns away and gets in his Mercedes 4WD.
I sit in the back with Nicole as we drive through the streets. Twenty-five minutes later, we pull up outside her house.
She sits forward to talk to Lorenzo. “Thank you for protecting me this past week. I’m grateful for what you’ve done. You and Chiara.”
“Yeah, well. It’s good you’re in one piece. Try and stay that way.”
She squeezes my hand and smiles before getting out of the car. At her front door, she reaches for her keys, realizes she hasn’t got them, and knocks. Mrs. De Luca opens the door and bursts into tears when she sees her daughter.
I get out of the back seat and open the front passenger door, giving Mrs. De Luca a wave as she hugs her daughter, but she doesn’t even notice I’m there.
As I get into the car, Lorenzo has both forearms resting on the steering wheel and he’s gazing at mother and daughter. Before she disappears inside, Nicole glances over her shoulder and gives Lorenzo an uncertain wave and a smile. As if without thinking, Lorenzo lifts his fingers in salute. Then he starts the engine and we peel away from the curb.
“I’m glad she’s home with her mom,” he mutters at the road ahead.
“I know you are. That’s why I love you.”
