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I brace myself as the door opens and Nero Furnari stares at me through hazel eyes. Their color doesn’t match his sister’s, but the resemblance between them is still enough to make my throat tighten when I think of the situation my fiancée is in.
Because of me.
The smile that was resting on Nero’s face falls when he recognizes me. “MacKenzie.” His eyes scan the hall on either side of me.
“I’m alone.”
“I can see that.” He widens his stance and crosses his arms. “What are you doing here?”
“Nero? Who is it?” Heather, Nero Furnari’s girlfriend, rounds the corner and peers over his broad shoulder. Surprise flickers across her expression, but there’s no fear. I’m glad the blonde beauty isn’t afraid of me despite the fact Itechnicallyabducted her to get the Furnaris to give into my family’s demands.
A move I’d repeat in a heartbeat if it meant Catarina would be mine…
“Declan,” Heather greets. “Come in.” A slender hand lands on Nero’s shoulder. She tugs him back.
He doesn’t move. “Where’s Cat?”
“That’s what I’m here to discuss.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Nero.” Heather tugs him again. “Let’s talk inside.”
This time, Nero allows his girlfriend to move him back into the apartment, but his untrusting eyes remain locked on me as I step inside and close the door behind me.
“Would you like something to drink? We have sparkling water?”
I look at Heather. “No, thank you.”
She nods and continues to tug her boyfriend. I follow the pair into the living room. I hide it well, but I’m nervous. I don’t know how this conversation is going to go. I pray it isn’t a mistake to come here.
“Please, sit.” Heather gently shoves Nero onto a couch pushed against the far wall. She motions for me to take the armchair with its back to the massive window revealing a perfect view of the city’s skyline.
I sit.
“So.” Heather seats herself beside Nero, positioned between us. “What’s going on, Declan?”
“Where’s Cat?” Nero repeats.
There’s no point in beating around the bush. “She’s missing.”
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop.
“What do you mean, ‘she’s missing’?” Nero growls, breaking the stunned silence.
Heather places a hand on his forearm as if that will be enough to keep him from launching himself at me.
I inhale a steadying breath, then tell him, “Catarina went to work at the gallery this morning. Around noon, I received a call from the police commissioner informing me that officers patrolling the area noticed her bodyguards weren’t in their position. Upon investigation, they discovered she wasn’t there.”
“They think she was abducted?” he asks, clenching his fists.
I nod. “There were signs of a struggle.”
“Fuck.” Nero jumps to his feet. Heather tugs him back down, and he lets her.
He runs a hand through his hair, glaring daggers at me. I don’t mind. I deserve it. “Who took her?”
“It’s unconfirmed, but I suspect Luis Diaz.”
