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“I can’t find him, and neither he nor Santino are answering their phones,” Mateo explains.
“Oh.” Is all I can say. “Does that mean I can go home?” I ask sarcastically.
“No,” Mateo replies, his jaw clenched.
Rubbing the back of his neck, he says more to himself than me, “I’m sure he’s fine. They’ve probably just turned off their phones.”
Emotions I don’t want to feel are bubbling just beneath the surface, and I find myself worrying now too.
No! Remember, you hate him.
Just that I know I don’t.
Why do I still care after everything he’s done?
I really shouldn’t.
“It will be fine, Ella. I gotta go. I’ll see you later.” With that, Mateo disappears through the same door he came in.
My stomach churns uneasily at the thought that Tiero might be hurt.
What would happen to me if he doesn’t come back? If he was dead? Would they let me go?
Tears loom in my eyes at the thought of Tiero dead.
No! I can’t let myself be so morose. Tiero knows what he’s doing. He’ll be fine.
I sink back in my chair, my feet bounce nervously, and my fingers tap rapidly on the table.
Voices in the garden have me shoot up and rush to the edge of the terrace, leaning over the balustrade to have a look. Has Tiero returned home?
But it isn’t him, and my stomach plummets.
God! Stop caring, Ella!
I watch as an older guy sternly talks to Mariella. He whisper-shouts at her, looking furious.
Mariella seems intimidated as hell, and I want to march over there and tell the asshole not to speak to her like this. Before I have the chance to do anything though, I see her nod and quickly disappear. The guy turns around and walks off the other way.
What was that all about?
I sit back down, the worry about Tiero lingering in my mind.
Dammit.
After what happened last night, I would have thought any feelings for him would have withered permanently.
But here I am, trying to figure out in my head what might have happened to him.
I pick up Oreo from the basket and hold him against my chest, rubbing his tummy absentmindedly.
Where could Tiero be?
Did he go after someone alone?
No, he’s not that reckless. Everything he does is well thought out. Even my abduction seems to have been organized well before he took me, given he got me a whole new wardrobe and hired Mariella just after we met. Then he got someone to impersonate me with everyone that’s important to me, pay my rent, et cetera. No, Tiero plans everything thoroughly. He’s not the impulsive type.
“Is everything okay, Miss O’N… I mean Ella?” Mariella asks, looking concerned. I hadn’t noticed her coming back onto the terrace. “Is Signor De Marco all right?”
