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"Have you looked anymore into Isabella's past? Have you been able to find anything?" he hedges.
Stones brows lower as he shakes his head slowly. "No, and it's not for a lack of trying. I haven't been able to put as much into it as I'd like because I've still got a shit ton to handle with the Bakersfield job and I've also got a few programs constantly running facial recognition and looking for her ex and roommate. Nothings come up with either of those and I know you've got Delgado looking for him also."
"One of the local tabloids ran a story yesterday about the Governors son being off on some big island with a bunch of his socialite rich friends," I cut in, thinking about the article that popped up on my Facebook yesterday. Stone nods absentmindedly and I'm guessing that he already knew that information which is why I didn't jump to share it.
And because I didn't want to seem like I was paying any fucking attention to her issues.
"Yeah, I looked into that also. No facial recognition popped up for any international transportation services nor on the island itself. If I had to guess, I would say it's a fake story. Either just some tabloid trash or a planted story to keep him in hiding but if his face pops up somewhere, I will find it."
"What did you mean when you said it's not for a lack of trying?" Madd asks, circling back, "About Ella's background, I mean." I roll my eyes, because obviously. When is henottalking about her?
Stone cringes and throws back the remainder of his second drink before setting the glass down on the coffee table. Sitting back up, he rests his elbows on his knees and his face takes on a serious expression that is generally reserved for Diablos business. My hackles rise and I find myself leaning in a bit more, as though the information he's about to share is some sort of secret. Maddox and Gage mirroring the pose and if Stone didn't look so fucking grim right now, I might laugh at our eagerness.
"So, the other day when you first asked me to look into her past, I did just a one-step, basic background check and that's where my first red flag appeared," he says softly, though his face contorts in both irritation and confusion. "Most people's information is public record and easily accessible. Any random Joe off the street can look up whoever they want with a simple Google search and anyone with half a brain can gain access to a person, likethat" Stone emphasizes his words with a snap of his fingers.
"We know how easy it is. That's how a large number of people are trafficked. Their private information isn't private these days, especially with social media. Phone records, addresses, birthdays, cars driven and license plate numbers, social security, and banking information. It's all readily available for any predator to latch onto, giving them an in with basically any person they may want to acquire. We know how it works, Stone," Gage supplies his voice laced with irritation at the reminder of how easily people, especially women and children, can be targeted and taken. All it takes is less than a minute and a person can be kidnapped or coerced, never to be seen again.
Stone nods his head and sucks his bottom lip into his mouth as he thinks over his next words. "Right, but what I'm saying is that when I did her background check, the information was minimal, at best. Her name, birthdate and age,which are both incorrect," he muttered the last part, sounding pissed as hell about the wrong information, "but that's it. Her address, social, phone number, even place of work are all blocked."
"Blocked?" I grunt, my brows furrowed. "How can it just be blocked? Especially from you?"
He looks up at me and shrugs before glancing at the others. "Don't know. I've been continuing my search since then, but I haven't been able to find anymore more than that. I also haven't had time to really thoroughly dig or use some of myalternativeinformation sources but I will now that I know who she is. The fact that I couldn't find anything previously was strange, yeah, but now that I know she's not just some random chick, it makes things more suspicious."
"So what you're saying is that when you thought she was just mine and Gage's girl, she wasn't important enough for you to dig deeper but now that you know she'syourgirl, you're going to try harder?" Madd growls lowly as he pauses the switchblade's continuous rotations.
Stone sighs and leans back on the sofa, shooting Maddox an incredulous look. "No, dumbass. What I'm saying is that when I thought she was just a normal chick with her basic info hidden, it didn't make me think anything nefarious was going on. Just that she had found a way to block her shit, it's not unheard of, not to mention the fact that her ex has powerful political ties and there is a chance that her information was hidden by his father's associates. Again, not uncommon. However, given the fact that sheisthe girl from my past, that also means that she is more involved or related to our lives than justa random chick."
"You're talking in code, bro. What the fuck are you saying?" I snap, running a frustrated hand through my hair. I'm fucking exhausted. It's been a long ass week, and I'm still coming down from the fact that I thought I was walking in on my dead best friend earlier. My adrenaline is fucking crashing and I just want this asshole to get to the point.
Stone stands and tucks his hands behind his back before beginning to pace. Something he does when he's trying to solve a puzzle. "Look, I have had a lot of time to think about this over the years. Don't you think it's odd that Mi Cielo disappeared when she did? She lived in our neighborhood or at least close to it. She is close in ago to us. She was secretive as fuck about her life. She showed skills that any young girl her age should not be able to demonstrate, including her knowledge and defense skills. She is brilliant, yes, but her skill was beyond that. Not to mention the fact that a few nights before the massacre was the last time I ever saw her? And now she's back, with no memory from that age and before? Now, I'm unable to find any information about her?"
Stone continues to pace as we all sit in silence, letting his words sink in.
"So, you think she's lying?" Madd murmurs, his fist clenching around the handle of his knife.
"What? No. Where did you even get that? No," Stone pauses in his pacing and shakes his head back and forth, adamant that there is no way her memory loss could be faked. "You weren't there, you didn't see her reaction. There is no way she could fake a reaction like that. She doesn't remember me, at all. I don't think she remembers anything."
"And you still believe that the best thing to do is not bring up her past? To not try and remind her? Especially since you were a part of that. Don't you think that maybe you could help?" Gage presses that look of hopefulness returning to his eyes.
Stone goes back to pacing once again and I find myself getting more and more fucking pissed off the longer we're in this room. Clearly, none of us has the right answer. How could we? This situation is unprecedented and royally fucked.
"I don't think it's a good idea to purposefully enlighten her or inform her of her past, no. Especially considering the fact that we don't even know what her past is, besides what I ascertained over the few years she was in my life. I don't have enough to truly remind her of what she's missing, besides my time with her. But maybe, we could help jog things for her, unintentionally." A mischievous smirk comes over his face and it's so out of place with his normal stoic expressions, that I actually shiver.
Dude looks creepy as hell right now.
"How do you suggest we do that?" Maddox asks, finally looking less like he's ready to stab someone with his knife, and more like his usual playful self.
"Well, brothers. Let me tell you all about Mi Cielo and her many, many skills," Stone chuckles, his smirk turning into a full grin.
Fuck, we're going to be here for a while.
Gage
"Whatthefuckhappened!"It's a bark, a statement, a death knell.
Definitelynota question.
So, I stand, and I wait. Arms clasped behind my back like the perfect little soldier, ready and willing to report for duty, or for a beating. Same difference.
