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“I’m Sean. And this is Peter, ma’am.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Sean, Peter.” I exit the lift and press the key fob to unlock the car. “Try to keep up… if you can.” I smile politely as I close myself into the vehicle.Thisis what I need. I need to feelthis. Freedom. Before I reverse, I decide to try to get a response one more time.
Me: Just so you know, I’m taking your car. I’m going to break every traffic rule, and you’ll probably get loads of fines.
Just like the first two, the message is read. But no response. I press my foot down and feel the rumble of the engine. I don’t even make it out of the garage before my phone is ringing through the speakers of the car. I answer it quickly. “T?”
“No, Holly, it’s Neo. What the fuck are you doing? Where are you going?” He growls into the receiver.
“Sorry, I can't hear you—bad connection,” I say. Now, I’m more convinced than ever that he knows where my husband is. T isn’t dead. He can’t be.
“Don’t you dare fucking hang…” Oh, but I do dare.Click. I’m tempted to turn my phone off, but I don’t, on the off-chance T calls or messages me back.
Fifteen minutes later, I pull up to the gates of his parents’ estate. I wind down my window and smile at the guard. “Good morning. How are you today?”
He looks baffled by my question but silently smiles back and presses the button to let me in. Huh, thisbeing Mrs. Valentinothing really does get doors opened for you.
I stop in front of the ridiculously huge steps and climb out of the car. Taking a deep breath, I look behind me but don’t see the SUV with Peter and Sean—I guess they couldn’t keep up after all. Then, straightening my shoulders, I ascend the stairs. The doors swing open as I get to the top.
“Mrs. Valentino, how are you?” The housekeeper greets me.
“I’ve been better. How are you, Teresa?”
She looks taken aback that I remember her name, but she recovers quickly. “Same. Please come in. Mrs. Valentino is in the library.”
“She’s awake?”
“She hasn’t really been to sleep.”
I follow the petite woman to the library and find Gloria with a glass of wine. She looks terrible… I’m second-guessing coming here now. Nerves fill my stomach. But I need answers.
“Gloria, it’s me… Holly,” I say as I approach. Her eyes are just as red-rimmed and puffy as my own. And I can’t help but burst into tears the moment we make eye contact.
“Holly, it’s three in the morning… What are you doing driving around at this hour?”
“I-I don’t know. I needed to speak with you. I don’t know what else to do. I don’t know how to do this. Everything is wrong.”
“I’ve lost my husband and son within weeks of each other. I’m not going to be of much help to you,” she dismisses me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. It’s just… I… What if he wasn’t in that building? What if T wasn’t there?”
She looks up, waiting for me to say more. So, I blurt out everything, every little inconsistency—every hope—that I’ve had over the last three days, ending with the viewed text messages from his phone. “Someone has his phone?” she reiterates.
“Yes, look. I sent these tonight. Someone has read them.” I hand her the device. “Why would he do this, Gloria? Why would he leave me like this?” I ask with tears running down my face.
“You really love my son, don’t you?” It’s an observation, not a question.
“I love him more than I ever thought I could love anyone. I need him to be okay. I need him to come home.”
“Have you tried calling the number?” she prompts.
I shake my head no. “Who would have his phone? If it’s not him, who?”
“I don’t know. Theo was very paranoid and careful when it came to security. I don’t think even Neo knew how to get into his phone.”
“Then why is someone reading the messages? I don’t get it. Is it possible he’s still alive?” I can hear the desperation in my own voice.
“I knew something was off. Those fucking assholes. Whatever it is they’re up to, they won’t tell us about it. If there is a reason Theo wanted us to think he’s dead, then we need to go along with it, Holly. We can’t mess up whatever bullshit plan they’ve concocted.”
