“As for Dutch getting herself kidnapped again—well, if anyone can take care of themselves, it’s her. I don’t believe in coincidences. You guys were out there on your own, and there’s both a kidnapper and a sniper?” I snort. “What are the chances? I think we have to go under the assumption that the biker and sniper are one and the same. They killed Vincenzo’s men, so we can safely assume they aren’t with them. And Nate, you said they shot at you but missed? Yet took out all the others?” I shake my head. “I think that was to get you out of the way so they could get to Dutch. If they wanted her dead, she would be.”
I’m worried as fuck about Dutch, but I’m going to need to trust in her training and determination to get herself out of whatever mess she’s in. I believe what I just said. I don’t believe in coincidences, and I have a gut feeling she’ll be okay. It won’t stop me from worrying about her until I see her again, but in the meantime, I’ll be optimistic and hope for the best.
The conversation goes back to the trackers, and everyone agrees to have one put in. Eric and Trey will set up monitors to keep track, which will record twenty-four-seven. To help everyone feel better about the lack of privacy, Eric and Trey won’t manually monitor the trackers. The recordings will be kept in case anyone goes missing, and those will lead us to where they’re being held, and hopefully, allow us to perform a rescue.
Just as we’re about to break up this impromptu meeting, my phone rings. It’s an unknown number, and just before I decline it, I pause. I remember who was at the end of the last unknown number that called me, and a flicker of hope lights in my chest.
I raise a hand, and the lobby falls silent. I click ‘answer’ and put it on speaker. “Hello?”
“We once had a little chat in a western state about a rumor you heard about me. Do you remember that conversation?”
Everyone’s head whips around at the sound of Dutch’s voice. It’s so silent you could hear a pin drop.
“I remember,” I reply, wondering why she’s being cryptic.
“Do you remember what I told you about it?”
“Yes.”I’ve never been in love. There was one time it maybe could have been, but he’s long gone now.
“I’m safe. I promise. There’s something I have to do, and then I’ll be back. It might take a few days.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“Oh and tell the giant I’m sorry. He was right. Love ya, whore.”
“Love ya too, cunt.”
The call goes silent, and everyone stares at me, questions in their eyes.
Me? I just stand there, gawking at my phone in shock.Holy Jesus, the serial killer is back.
After I explain Dutch’s cryptic phone call, the Charon Group goes off, probably to do some research on Cruz. Before Tessa and Rebecca go back to their rooms, I invite them over later for dinner. They agree, and we go back to our separate apartments.
Justin and Theo pull me toward the bedroom, probably for a nap. I’m sure it won’t be to finish what we started earlier.
Candles are lit across the apartment, the mood lighting turned down so we can appreciate the evening views. Laughter rings out as the alcohol flows, and we dine on the finest New York-style pizza, or so claims the restaurant. Over lashings of Italian sausage, fried onions, pepperoni, and melted cheese, we chat and drink, our earlier fears over Dutch’s disappearance allayed.
I don’t care what New Yorkers say, Chicago-style pizza is way better.
Pizza night turns into game night, none of us ready to end the evening. Nate and Eric take a game of Twister too far, and our raucous laughter can probably be heard up on Ryan’s floor.
As the evening wears on, the revelry dies down, and talk turns, as it usually does, to the past, and Nate and Eric share some stories. As I learn more about them and Tessa, the guilt I felt over letting them escape dissipates. It’s as if I was carrying a boulder on my shoulders, which is now gone. They did what they did, and while a judge and jury would disagree with me, I can’t fault them for killing their abusers. They got exactly what they deserved.
Rebecca has been listening intently, sitting on the floor between Trey’s legs. “It’s strange, isn’t it?” she asks softly, running a hand up and down Trey’s calf.
“What is?” I reply.
“We’re all connected. Nate is Vincenzo’s son and Dutch’s brother. You told me there are suspected links between Tony D’Angelo, the man who kidnapped me, and Vincenzo. And now we are all here, together, trying to help Dutch bring down her father. It all comes back to Vincenzo.”
Trey twirls one of her curls around his finger as he nods. “I don’t have any connection with him that I know of. But Kian was telling me the other day that the Charon Group has come up against parts of his organization for years.” He leans down and whispers something I can’t catch to Rebecca, and she nods.
“There’s something I haven’t told you,” she admits, looking down at her lap. “After I saw a picture of Vincenzo, I started having nightmares. Bad ones.” She goes quiet, then looks up, meeting each of our eyes. And then starts telling us about the day she was taken.
Chapter 29
Vincenzo
Seventeen Years Ago
