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He hesitates. “I’m not sure. I can—”
I swear again. Fury is quickly overcoming the rest of my out-of-control emotions, and I don’t give the kid the slack he usually gets. “Andrew, you’re lucky I’m not there yet. Clear out. And if she gets hurt because you dropped the fucking ball, I'm going to break every one of your bony little fingers and put you on gravedigging duty with Danny for the next month."
"Right. Got it." His voice is faint before the line goes dead.
A few minutes later, I fly past the street with my penthouse home and see no one. Maybe I should go back and see if something there freaked her out–but Ace would have already checked. If she's not there, there's no use stopping.
Her family's house. That's the first place she would go, besides the nearest airport.
By the time I pull up in front of the Rivera house, I still don't have my temper under control. It doesn't help that Ace's car is nowhere to be seen. Could she have left so fast? Surely that would have taken her mother's old Toyota still parked in the driveway.
I get out and slam the door, marching for the front porch. Before I get there, my phone rings. I check the ID and then answer with a swear.
"You're way past thin ice, Ace. Why the fuck—"
"She's headed out of New York City. She's not at her family's."
I glance at the Attolini vehicle I see nearby, where a couple of my top-notch enforcers are stationed on their regular shift. They look confused about why I'm here, which backs up Ace's words.
"I called a few people," Ace goes on quickly, spitting words out faster than my angry ears are ready for them. "Martin and One Thumb saw a Gatto car following someone and trailed them. They don't know if it's Sybil, but who else would it–"
"Where are they now?"
"Headed toward Elmsford."
I hang up and turn back for my car, but someone calling my name makes me hesitate. I glance over my shoulder.
Sybil's younger sister—Krista, I remind myself—is all smiles as she skips down the front porch steps and hurries to me. But as she nears, she tips her head curiously and looks around. “Nico! Well, I was really excited because I thought you and Sybil were coming to visit, but…is everything all right?”
“Have you seen your sister?”
I’ve only ever seen her smiling and bubbly, but her face falls immediately. It’s the reaction of someone who’s seen how quickly an ordinary day can turn into a nightmare thanks to families like mine. She tries to keep her chin up as she speaks.
“No. Why? Should I have? Is something going on? Should I call her?”
There’s no use worrying her or the rest of Sybil’s family, no matter how furious and panicked I might be. I put on an easy smile. “She doesn’t have her phone on her, but it’s fine. Just a miscommunication between us. I’ll have her call you later.”
She watches as I get back into the car, and I note that her gaze drifts to where my men are parked. Then she goes back to the house quickly.
As I drive away, I worry more, and the worry feeds my anger. What the fuck caused her to do something this stupid? Is Sybil that unhappy with the contract–with me? Was she really just going to try running away from me again?
I squeeze the steering wheel hard enough for my knuckles to pop. I let her go four years ago because she was involved in my brother's death and the sight of her made me sick. Now I know she was in the wrong place at the right time and the idea of her running from me in fear again makes me just as sick.
I'm not having this. There's nowhere she can run that I won't find her. I'm keeping my promise and keeping her safe whether she fucking wants it or not.
My phone rings again, and Martin–one of my most reliablecaporegimes–wastes no time in telling me where exactly to pull off the road. I turn into the forested entrance to the area full of hiking trails and park beside two familiar cars and a Gatto junk on wheels.
Martin is leaning against their car, rubbing a bruised jaw. There's an unconscious, bloodied Gatto tied up in the back.
"Where's One Thumb?" I demand.
"I sent him out looking while I grabbed this guy. I don't know if this one came alone or if there's another Gatto jackass out here."
As he finishes speaking, I spot a thin trail nearby. Without another word, I plunge into the trees all aglow with afternoon sunlight. I don't see anyone mixed in with the forestry for a painful few minutes until I spot a large figure hunched over by the side of the trail.
One Thumb straightens immediately at the sight of me, eyes rounding. "Shit. Boss. I didn't know—"
"Are there any Gattos out here?"
