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“What? Lorenzo, what happened?”
“She got a threatening call today at work while Marco was with her. Then someone pulled the fire alarm in her building. Marco and our guys got her outside, but one of them got hurt. She took off, and all we know is she rented a car. She left me a message saying she’s safe, but her reception will be shit. Where did she go?”
“Her grandparents’ lodge in the Poconos. It’s small and hidden. We used to go all the time as kids. We would pretend we were Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn searching for the right old tree that would have treasure. She probably called you from the sat phone. Lorenzo, no one will find her up there unless she wants to be found. It really is remote. Her family keeps a ton of nonperishable food, and she has winter clothes too. The garage is big enough for even a large SUV. Her grandparents don’t hunt, but they have a couple rifles and a shotgun in case of bears, coyotes, or bobcats. She knows how to shoot to kill, even if it’s only large animals. Push comes to shove, Michelle will shoot to kill a person. Don’t doubt that.”
“I don’t want it to come to that. How do I get there?”
Laura hesitates, and it pisses me the fuck off.
“If you’re thinking about sending Maks, I will find him and follow him. She didn’t fucking run from me. She ran from whoever the fuck is doing this. And they only noticed her because of her friendship with you not her relationship with me. I’m not blaming you, but I want to know where my girlfriend is. Believe me, I’m no less determined than Maks was to find you.”
“I wouldn’t stop you. I don’t want you storming up there and laying into her.”
“I’m not going to. I just need her, Laura. She and I will decide what happens because of this naïve decision, but I’m not angry. I’m terrified.”
I will punish her, but that’s no one’s business but Chellie’s and mine. I listen as Laura gives me directions. It’s going to take me at least three hours to get near the Poconos. Then it’ll take an hour to get from the closest airport to where she is. I’m firing off a text as Laura continues to talk.
“There’s a gate, and the code is six-three-eight-one.”
“Sixty-three-eighty-one?”
“Yeah. There isn’t an alarm system, but the lights are on motion sensors.”
“No alarm?”
“No. Even the satellite phone isn’t always reliable. There’s no ethernet or Wi-Fi there. It’s too remote.”
“Does it have electricity and running water?”
“Yeah. It’s off a generator, and the water is from a well. The property has been in her mom’s family for generations. It goes back to the settlers.”
“I’m going to be wheels up in thirty minutes. Do you know the satellite phone number?”
“No. I’ve never called it before. I only used it as a kid to let my parents know I arrived. Lorenzo, please find a way to let me know she’s okay.”
I hear the distress in Laura’s voice with her plea. She’s sounded direct until now. I know her emotions are there, even if she doesn’t want me to know. I soften my tone.
“I will, Laura. I’m certain she’ll want to talk to you as soon as she can. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Bye.”
The last word comes out choked.
“Bye.”
* * *
There’s a fence that runs the entire perimeter of the property. It’s electric, so at least there’s that. I don’t know if they run it all the time, but I threw a rock to test it. It’s live now. My men are going to hang back and surround the place on three sides. The property backs onto a ravine, so there’s no need for fencing along the fourth side. We’ve had no sign that anyone’s followed us, but I’m going in alone.
I don’t want to scare Chellie since I don’t know if she’ll have one of the guns with her. I dressed casually for the rest of the mission, and I’m still in jeans and a polo shirt. My clothes were dark when we waited for Giacomo, but now my shirt is baby blue. Nothing intimidating.
I punch in the combo for the gate and ease past it. I’m walking up to the house in case she isn’t alone. I don’t want to alert a captor. I inch along the side of the house until I get to a living room window. I peek inside. My fists clench along with my jaw. I stalk to the door and try the doorknob. At least, that doesn’t turn. I think about ramming my shoulder into it to get it to open, but that’ll just break the hinges. I pull out the lock picking kit I brought with me. I have the door open with a thud against the window.
“Take your shirt off now,piccolina.”
She jumps, and her bowl of whatever goes flying. Her book drops to the floor, and her feet that were resting on a table kick a bowl of chips and a cup of something.
“Enzo?”
