“It won’t be long now.” My dad removed his gun from the holster inside his jacket and set it on his desk. “We can’t rush something like this. It has to be right the first time.”
As Marchello and my dad strategized, I took out my phone so I could place the order for Franchi’s. I’d have one of the guys pick it up in about an hour. I wanted it to be hot when Sable got home.
Lissia blew into the room and unbuttoned her coat. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“I thought you were going to the boutique,” Chello said as he greeted her with a kiss. “I didn’t think you’d be back this soon.”
“The roads were too icy.” She wiggled out of her coat. “Dom decided it wasn’t safe.”
“That was a good call.” Chello smoothed out her windblown hair. “It’s supposed to get worse tonight.”
I glanced at my phone, checking for a message from Ax. “Weren’t you supposed to go with Sable?”
“I went to my mom’s house first and then I was going to meet her there.” She held up her phone. “I texted her and called and left a message, but she hasn’t responded. Have you heard from her?”
“Maybe she’s trying on clothes and doesn’t have her phone nearby,” I said. “I’ll try calling her.”
When I called, it went straight to voicemail. I tried again with no luck, so I dialed Camila. No answer.
“Did you get her?” My father got up from his desk.
“She’s not answering, but I can check the tracker.” I opened the app and found her location. “According to this she’s at the boutique.”
“Call there,” Lissia said.
I scrolled on my phone until I found the contact for the boutique, but no one answered the landline. I shook my head as I called Ax. He picked up on the first ring.Finally!
“Hey, Milo,” he answered. “What’s up?”
“Are you with Sable?” I asked, feeling more anxious than I would have liked. “I want to talk to her."
“She’s upstairs.”
“She isn’t answering her phone,” I said, but I was relieved that he knew where she was. “Were you with her the whole time?”
“I saw her go into the boutique and I had her text me once she got upstairs.”
“Why didn’t you walk her in?” I glanced at Marchello. “I told you not to leave her.”
“I had a little trouble with the police. They had a warrant to search the car,” he said. “I called Lucas and he said to cooperate. I didn’t want Sable to stand out in the cold.”
“You did the right thing.” The relief faded away, leaving me with an uncertainty that nagged at my soul. “Do me a favor?”
“What do you need?”
“Go up to the boutique and make sure she’s okay. Put her on the phone with me once you have her in front of you.”
If I heard her voice, I would know she was okay. I’d tell her to come home immediately.
“Sure,” Ax said. “I’m getting on the elevator now, so I’ll probably lose you. I’ll call you back as soon as I’m with her. I’m sure she’s fine.”
“Just humor me.” I ended the call. “Ax is checking on her.”
“I’m going to call the guard you have on the boutique.” Chello took out his phone. “Make sure nothing unusual happened today as a precaution.”
“That’s a good idea.” I gripped my phone, waiting for Ax to get back to me. “Has she texted you?” I asked Lissia.
“Not yet, but I’ll try again.” She sat on the window seat and sent a message. “I should have gone with her. I didn’t expect the weather to get bad so fast.”
