No one answered.
I called out again, louder this time.“Francesca?Where the fuck are you?”
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
The entire room shook from the force of whoever—or whatever was hitting the door.
Terror shot through me.
Was Francesca outside?Had she locked herself out by accident?
“Fuck.”I pushed out of bed and stumbled to the door.“Hang on, I'm here,” I said loudly, so she'd stop panicking.My hand landed on the doorknob, and I turned it.“What the hell did you—” I started saying, positive I'd see my woman strolling through the door.
“Oh, my gosh.Stefan,” Eve's voice answered.Then I felt a woman hug me.From the cherry scent, I knew it was Eve.“We've been so worried.Thank goodness you're okay,” she sobbed into my chest.
I moved her head over slightly, away from my almost healed wound.“Why are you here?”I said, my voice groggy with sleep.“And where the fuck's Francesca?Was she outside with you?”I asked as I hugged Eve back.
She tried to answer.However, nothing intelligible came out.
“I can't understand a word you're—” I started to say before the main light went on.I shut my eyes against the bright assault.
“Get your shit.We're going home.”My brother strode into the apartment as I opened my eyes.“What kind of shithole have you been living in, Brother?”Hands on his hips, he turned around, taking in the surroundings.“This is even worse than your old place, Giselle.”
A loud gasp came from behind me.“Excuse me if some of us weren't born rich.”Giselle's voice was clipped and sharp.And then she walked up and joined the hug.“Thanks for not letting us know where you were.Jerkface.”She kissed my cheek and rubbed my back.“We were worried about you.”
Carlo shook his head and glared at me.“Fuck, you look terrible.And this place stinks.”He sniffed, a look of disgust crossed his face.“Is that corned beef I smell?”
He was probably right.I'd grown so used to the constant cooking smells emanating from the main floor that I didn't even notice anymore.
“This reunion has been great.”I tried to push away from the beautiful women hugging me.“But I have to find Francesca.Did you see her when you came in?”
Eve's red, blotchy face looked up at me, and she continued sobbing.
Fuck.
“She left you.Now, grab your shit and let's go.I want to get out of here before the cockroaches wake up.”
I stared at my brother—my blood running cold.“What do you mean—” I swallowed over my dry throat.“She left?Did she go out to grab something from her car?Sometimes she forgets shit in there.”
Eve wailed and shook her head.“No, no, no.”
Carlo walked into the kitchen and started opening the cabinets one by one.“She left you.Called us an hour and a half ago.We had to wait for the nanny to show up.”He bent down to peer into one of the lower cabinets.“What the hell were you eating?There's fuck all for food in this place.”
Suddenly, my legs felt weaker than they had in days.“Let me sit for a minute.”The women let me go, and I headed for the bed.
The empty bed.
After I sat, Eve and Giselle flanked me.
“We're so sorry,” Eve said.Or at least that was what I thought she said.Her crying hadn't stopped.Carlo strode from the kitchen to the bathroom.I heard him rustle around in there, opening drawers or something.
“What does he mean, Francesca called?”My heart stuttered while my brain tried to make sense out of everything my brother had said.Because it didn't make sense.
At all.
