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Just then, one car after the other races past, the noise deafening. “Jesus Christ. That’s loud,” Gary exclaims, and I can tell he’s holding the phone away from his ear.
“Gary, can you check something for me right away?” I shout.
“Fuck, Angel. Go somewhere quieter. I can’t hear you.”
Shit. I don’t want to let Ella out of my sight. But what choice do I have? I need the information.
I hang up and look around. The VIP building has some soundproofing, it should be quieter in there. With one last glance at Ella, I jog the few hundred yards and enter the building, dialing Gary’s number once more.
“That’s better.”
“I can’t talk long. Can you have someone check if De Marco is still in Sicily?”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure. But I think we’re being watched and there are too many Italians here.”
“On it,” Gary replies, and I can hear him pick up his office phone and ring our overseas division. I wait, tapping my fingers against the glass, observing everyone who walks past.
My pulse speeds up and the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
What’s this all about?
“Angel, they’re onto it. I will let you know as soon as I hear. Get out of Brazil now and come back here. Even if it turns out to be nothing, trust your gut. I want you on the jet in the next couple of hours. I’ll inform the pilot.”
“Roger that.” I hang up and jog back to the grandstand, scanning everything around me carefully.
The Italians are still in place, and I can sense their eyes following my every move. Finally, Ella is in sight, and I’m happy and frustrated all at once.
Happy because she’s fine and unharmed, and frustrated because this is not how I imagined our engagement weekend to go. Ella is so excited to be here. A dream come true she said this morning.
I want to make all her dreams come true.
Fucking De Marco. I hope for his sake he’s not here. Given what he’s done to Ella, I’m ready to put a bullet through his head. It’d be karma for all his other crimes too.
Whether he’s here or not, he’s really pissing me off. How can I get rid of the man?
I climb the stairs and make my way to Ella. When she spots me, she gets up and meets me halfway, throwing her arms around me.
“You scared me. Why were you gone for so long?” Her face is full of worry, making me wonder if somebody dared approach her.
“Did something happen?”
“No. But I can’t shake the feeling I’m being watched.”
Putting my arm around her, I kiss her forehead. “Yeah. I think it’s best if we leave.”
“Why? What happened? Is Gualtiero here?” she asks in rapid succession.
How am I going to answer that? Truthfully, of course, but I don’t want to stress her.
“I don’t think De Marco is here. Nevertheless, I asked Gary to confirm his whereabouts. He thinks we should return to Atlanta immediately.”
She looks at me, her eyes jumping between mine, trying to read me.
“What aren’t you telling me, Ade?”
I sigh. I know I have a poker face and still she senses when there’s more.
