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"Enzo? Keeping someone company?" he teased.
I chuckled. "I'm serious."
He didn't look entirely convinced, but a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Alright then. Ready to head back?"
I nodded again. "Sure."
And as we left, I stole one more glance around his lab.
As we drove back, Enzo's words played on repeat in my head. What was it about Emilio that he hinted at that I wasn't fully grasping? Did he catch what was swirling in my thoughts?
My eyes shifted to Emilio, who was focused on the road. I couldn't help but wonder how deep his involvement with the mafia was.
The penthouse felt strangely void as Emilio dropped me off, his reassuring smile doing little to lighten my disappointment.
"I have some things to attend to," he said with a hint of regret.
"Sure," I responded with a shrug, trying to seem unaffected.
As he left, the door clicking softly behind him, I was left alone with my thoughts. Glancing around, I took in his living space. It was a lavish abode. There was no way I could afford it on my salary. Even though I was a lawyer, I worked at a small firm.
Thinking of work, my mind wandered into troubling territories. Could his sudden departure be linked to the mafia?
I let out a deep sigh, leaning back and resting my head on the arm of the couch after turning on the TV. Its senseless chatter, filling the room, couldn't drown out the questions poking at my mind.
My phone was absent, Emilio having taken it for my safety. At first, I was irritated by this precaution, but after witnessing the marvels of his hidden lab, doubts about his motives seemed baseless.
Minutes they turned into a quiet hour.
I watched TV absent-mindedly, the news anchors discussing events that felt worlds away from my current mess.
The sudden sound of the door opening snapped me back to reality.
In walked a man I didn't recognize. My senses immediately went on high alert. Who was he, and how had he entered the penthouse? Frustration hit me, I had no phone. I couldn't contact Emilio even if I wanted to. I also didn’t have his number.
Wonderful.
I eyed the telephone on the island counter, calculating the distance and wondering if I could make a run for it. The intruder, sensing my unease, raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Don't be scared!" he said hurriedly, attempting to reassure me. "I'm not an intruder."
My wariness remained, my posture defensive. Trusting strangers was a luxury I could not afford in my present circumstances.
“Emilio sent me, don’t call the police.” He implored, his hands raised in a placating manner. I was still not sure if I could trust him until he pulled out a phone—a familiar one. My phone! Immediately, I was on edge.
“I work for Emilio. He asked me to check your phone.” He explained while keeping his distance. The pieces were slowly falling into place, but I remained cautious.
His next move was just as unexpected. He retrieved another phone and dialed a number, putting it on speaker. The call connected, and I heard Emilio's voice, “What’s going on, Lucas?”
"Emilio, I’m with Griselda," the stranger said, and I could hear the tension in his voice.
There was a brief pause and then Emilio's voice, carrying a note of understanding. "I see. Griselda, you can trust Lucas. He's a part of my team. I'm sorry I didn't inform you about this beforehand.”
I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. If Emilio vouched for this man, I felt a bit more at ease.
I glanced at Emilio's picture on my phone's wallpaper. He had chosen to help me even though we had our differences. That act spoke volumes. It was clear that Emilio cared for my safety and had taken significant steps to ensure it.
I listened intently as Emilio continued, "I can't explain much right now due to time constraints, but please trust Lucas. He's here to help."
