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It was too quiet.
I walked out of the room dressed in dark jeans and a plain tee. I didn’t even bother to put my shoes on, I just needed the quiet to stop. To find her.
My phone rang as I walked down the stairs, and I answered before the second ring.
“Pronto,” I answered in Italian.
“We have a problem,” Arlo replied, and my steps slowed.
While our phones were secured thanks to Viktor’s built walls, we were always careful. There was always a risk, a threat to be recorded. Right now was no different, and I detested how I couldn’t discuss or hear the details of such problems.
“The rooster is not following the trail, and some of his chickens are causing scuffles in the pen by drawing too much attention.”
What the fuck? That was the best Arlo could come up with. An idiotic analogy to explain how Pietro Borelli hadn’t left California, and some of his soldiers were now in Miami, causing havoc in the city.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the news.”
I didn’t reply.
“You haven’t.”
“No.”
“Two more have been found.”
My body stilled. Borelli must’ve given the orders after finding out about his son’s death.
“The conditions of the bodies were bad and bold.”
Two more lives had been taken. Meanwhile, I slept in a state too far from home to solve anything, counting on others to follow my orders, andnothingwas going according to plan.
Thingsalwayswent as I planned.
Things always wentmyway.
“And the rooster?” I asked, calling Pietro Borelli what Arlo had as I checked the last door of the house for Katia.
“Some said it caught the bird flu as it mourns, but he hasn’t been seen leaving his coup yet.”
The last room was empty.
“Stop with the fucking nonsense, Arlo!”
He chuckled, missing the annoyance and my tone of urgency. I knew Arlo’s bile humor enjoyed the chaos, sought it, but as I glanced out the front window, then hurried to the back of the house with no sight of Katia, I couldn’t entertain it. Something was brewing. I could feel the cracks expanding and filtering away from my control.
“I’ll figure it out.” I stepped outside through the back door. “I’ll call you back with new orders soon. We are running out of time.”
Ending the call, my eyes adjusted to the cloudy midday light, and I quickly scanned the grounds for her dark brown waves.
“Katia?” I called out.
Nothing.
No one knows you are both here.
“Katia!”
No one could have known.
