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"Look, Isabella, we've come across Don Conti's name in connection to some really dangerous deals. How is your cousin connected to him?"
"I don't know. Juan claims my father and Conti were friends. But in my heart, I don't believe it to be true."
"Okay, we'll see what we can find out for you."
"We?! Please, Clara, no one can know about this."
"Clara gives a soft chuckle. "Isabella, the team of girls that are Illuminati, have stealth, discretion and loyalty in their DNA. Our clients recommend us for our quick, anonymous, no-questions-asked approach. Trust me, Isabella."
"Fine," I state. "Find out what you can. I'm a little low on trust right now. And there's more. Someone tried to frame me. The FBI took me in at the airport accusing me of smuggling cocaine. Conti was able to get me out of there, but now he says I owe him."
"Woa, Isabella, this is getting serious. Are you sure you're okay?"
I swallow back the tears. Unable to speak."
"Clara's voice softens when she speaks again, no longer just business. "I'll see what I can find out. How do I contact you?""
"Don't try to call me on this phone!" The thought of Stefano intercepting a call from Clara nearly chokes me. " I stole it and need to plant it back. I'll make a plan to call you, when it's safe."
"Wait," says Clara. "Remember to delete the call log. I'll get into the network and erase the call data, so it doesn't show up on their phone bill."
"The network?" I ask, confused.
"Network, now Isa."
I nod, even though there's no chance she can see me. I put the phone down and stare at it. "Verizon," I say.
"Good. I need 6 hours."
I find my heart racing with fear and panic. My plan was to sneak out and place the phone somewhere random, like a bookshelf, so that Stefano would think he misplaced it by error. But the longer I have to keep it on me, the higher the chances of Stefano noticing it missing and I can't risk placing it by error at a space he already might have checked out. It would be too suspicious.
"6 hours for what?" I ask. "Please, I can't keep it on long. It's risky.”
"The fact that you called from this means the call history can be traced. Delete the call log from the phone, but I need to hack into Verizon and delete data that these calls were ever made. You get it? It shouldn't even appear on their phone bills, Isabella."
"I breathe out a sigh of relief and whisper my thanks to Clara."
"Good. Stay safe. Talk soon."
She cuts the call and I delete the call logs.
In the past thirty minutes my world has shifted on its axis. It seems Juan is no longer an ally I can count on. And if that's the case, what else that I believe to be true, is in actual fact a lie? What if it isn't an enemy I should be afraid of, but the very people I've trusted since childhood?
The thought sends a ripple of fear down my back. I shake it off. I'm just overthinking. Right?
I wake up famished the next morning and Stefano shuffles in with my breakfast plate.
“Can I go for a run?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
He sighs, “Sure.”
"You didn't ask me where to," I point to the obvious.
"What do you mean where to? The compound boundary stretches into miles."
"I want a new challenge. Different scenery. Central Park. It's really boring doing the same thing every day, and I figured it would be alright to go since we went shopping yesterday,” I say quickly in justification as I shovel bites of omelette into my mouth.
The thing is, I don't care if it's Central Park, Riverside or Bryant Park. I just need an excuse to get back in his car.
