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Keeping a close watch on her as he ran through the conversations his equipment had just recorded through his own set of AirPods, Nick’s prayers were answered. Just as he’d predicted, Roland had told his soldiers to leave Matteus Anderson where he was, then barked out his orders.
“Let the local cops try to figure out why he was here,” the slick gangster exclaimed. “Jimmy, I’m heading down the beach to check out the lifeguard stations. I don’t know how far down they go, but I’ll be a while. The fucking road is still closed, so take the car over the canyons and text me when you’re approaching Malibu. I’ll let you know where you can pick me up. Jack, take Tony back to Vegas, but before you leave, make sure he shows you where he spent most of his time. We’re wearing gloves, but that idiot hasn’t been. Wipe all the door handles and shit. Mark, follow Jack in the van Tony drove here, then find a desolate spot and scorch it. Mike, you’re coming with me.”
Pulling the AirPods out and hastily rising to his feet, Nick signaled Bianca to stay where she was, then moved quickly to the front bedroom and stepped out onto the patio. It was almost twenty minutes since Roland had addressed his troops, but Nick could see Roland and a taller, heftier man next to him, striding along the beach. Letting out a relieved sigh and hurrying back to Bianca, he found her crying. Quickly sitting next to her, he placed his arm around her shoulders.
“Hey, Matt was a bastard,” Nick remarked, confounded by her emotional state. “Why are you so upset?”
“He died because of me,” she sniffled, leaning against him. “This is all my fault.”
CHAPTER14
As Nick helped Bianca to her feet and hugged her tightly, he silently chided himself for allowing her to hear the ugly scene play out. She’d been through a traumatic few days, and he suspected it had been the last straw.
“Listen to me,” Nick said firmly. “Matteus had a serious heart condition. He should have been resting and taking care of himself, not kidnapping you and getting caught up in a whirlwind of trouble. Why do you feel responsible?”
Taking a deep breath, she pulled back and stared up at him with red-rimmed eyes. “I ran off, and that started this whole thing in motion. If I hadn’t, then—”
“Stop!” he said, cutting her off. “Second-guessing like that is no-man’s land. You need to focus on what’s happening now, and it’s all good. Roland and his crew are leaving. We just dodged a bullet. Let’s walk down the beach to my house and enjoy this gorgeous day before we take off. I need to gather up some things and speak to Brad.”
“That’s a great idea, I’d love to,” she replied, her lips curling with the suggestion of a smile. “It’s a shame we have to leave here though. It’s wonderful being by the ocean.”
“I have a home here, remember?” he said with a grin. “Do you think I’m going to take you back to Vegas and walk away? You won’t get rid of me that easily.”
* * *
Inside the family’s private lounge at the Albertini compound, Lorenzo stood by an arched window and stared down at his artfully landscaped backyard. It was where he’d spent endless happy hours with his children when they were young. He let out a heavy sigh. Time had slipped through his fingers like fine grains of sand, and the giggling little girl who had once adored him was now an obstinate, difficult young woman. But he no longer cared about her attitude, or that she had a fiery temper and could make him crazy like no one else. She’d been cruelly snatched away, and all he wanted was to see her beautiful face and hug her tightly.
“Dad!”
Hearing his son’s urgent voice, Lorenzo spun around to see him marching into the room carrying an envelope.
“By special courier,” Alfredo declared, waving it in the air.
“Oh, dear God!” Lorenzo’s wife exclaimed, jumping up from the couch. “Do you think it could be about the ransom?”
“Try to stay calm, Ariana,” Lorenzo said, doing his best to keep his voice steady though his heart thumped in his chest.
“Sorry, Mom, I doubt it,” Alfredo piped up. “It’s sealed with the red and black tape.”
“Holy crap,” Lorenzo grunted, hurrying across the room.
The tape signaled the envelope had been sent by the head of another family, and was used only in extreme circumstances. If it wasn’t peeled back correctly, a toxic powder was released, and the package remained sealed.
“It could still be about Bianca,” Ariana continued hopefully.
“Stay back, both of you,” Lorenzo ordered solemnly, taking it from Alfredo’s hands and carrying it to the fireplace.
Pushing a button on the hearth to start the flames, Lorenzo studied the tape, searching for the tiny red dot, then peeled it back and gave it a gentle tug. A narrow strip ripped open, revealing a letter. Lifting it out and making sure there were no other contents, he tossed the envelope into the fire, then unfolded the single piece of paper.
Bianca has been rescued and is safe. Text me a secure number and all will be explained. C.V.
Swallowing back a surge of emotion, he briefly closed his eyes, silently thanked God, then tossed the note into the fire.
“It wasn’t about Bianca,” he said, though desperately wanting to share the wonderful news with his wife and son. “Alfredo, you’ll have to excuse us. It’s something I must discuss with your mother alone.”
“Dammit, where is she?” Alfredo shouted, throwing his hands in the air. “Why haven’t we heard anything?”
“Bear in mind she’s extremely resourceful,” Lorenzo said confidently. “No news is probably good news. It’s possible she’s managed to get away and hasn’t been able to get in touch yet.”
