Sophie’s eyes are huge pools of horror. And I’m still not letting my sister deal with guilt over this.
“This had nothing to do with you, Sophie,” I reassure her as she stares from me to Andy and back. Her face is pale. Her lips almost gray. “Andy’s right about Dad. But the rest, is…is… It’s complicated.” I lick my lips.
“Your sister is the strongest human being I’ve ever known,” Andy interjects. “She’ll die for you. And I have no doubt that her tangled sense of loyalty is going to excuse Dario’s behavior too.”
I stand and turn to my friend. I don’t want to argue with her on this point – there are too many things going on right now to dwell on these details. And besides, suddenly I’m feeling lightheaded. When I sway slightly, Andy races to my side, a hand on my arm.
“Oh, babe…I’m so sorry.” She squeezes her eyes shut. “I’m being a complete bitch. I’m just so damned relieved that you’re okay. Both of you!” She looks at my sister, who’s still hunched on the couch, clutching the blanket around her like a life-preserver.
Mateo’s still standing silently off to one side.
“Thank you,” I say to him, after Andy has guided me to sit down again. I huddle up against Sophie, who leans her head on my shoulder. She’s shivering like a leaf. “I don’t really understand what’s going on, but I know you saved me back there.”
He gives a curt nod. “Part of the job,” he says gruffly. Though I know it’s not.
“I need to know what’s going on, Mateo,” I say as firmly as my shaking voice will allow. I can see he’s weighing up what to tell me. How much I need to know.
These fucking men!
They’re happy to mess around with my entire world…with Sophie’s, and even Andy’s… Yet when it comes to telling us the truth, they think it’s fine to keep us in the dark, to share what suits them. I’ve had enough of this shit!
“Tell me what the fuck is going on, Mateo!” I bark. Andy rounds on him with as much fury as what I’m feeling right now.
“Spit it out, dammit!” she snarls. She’s curled a hand around one of his massive biceps, and I see him glance down at it. He doesn’t remove it or step away, and after I moment, I see her glance down too. Her cheeks get that strange flush again and she snatches her hand away.
“Like I said, I’ve been tasked with keeping an eye on the Caraldi family,” he says eventually. “There’s not a lot I can tell you. I hope you’ll respect that.” His eyes are hard when he looks at me, yet I’m sure I sense them soften as he turns to Andy. “When you called me this morning—”
“You called Mateo?” I ask my friend. She looks mildly sheepish, then shrugs.
“The armed response team arrived shortly after you disappeared,” she says. “I’d been locked in my room. They found the patrol guards,” she pinches her lips together, then shakes her head. “Dead,” she whispers. “And there was a…dead man in your bedroom. I told the guards one of the guards did it before they were shot,” she goes on. “And then I had to figure out how to find you!” For the first time, I see that’s she’s shaking as much as I am. She runs a hand through her usually impeccable hair. “They called the cops – obviously. But I knew I wasn’t going to find you that way. So…so I called Mateo.”
“You had his number?” I say, frowning. Andy shrugs.
“I…uh…I needed it for when we planned Dani’s party. Anyhow, that’s not important now. I just knew that if anyone could help, it would be him.” He’s watching her intently and yet again, I get that strange sense of something going on beneath the surface.
“But how did you know how to find me?” I ask Mateo. “He locked me up! He scared the shit out of me!”
Mateo heaves a sigh. “I’m pretty sure he was trying to keep you safe,” he says. “He knew they were coming for you. Knew we couldn’t get out of what we’d planned with Eduardo and the meet with the Russians. If I know him, he was taking you the only place he knew they wouldn’t find you.”
“And what now?” I ask Mateo. “You’ve been working to turn him in? He looks away. “Mateo?” I ask more sharply.
“I don’t know,” he mutters. Then fixes me with a hard stare. “I don’t fucking know, okay?” We lock eyes for several long seconds.
“I need to see him,” I say brokenly.
Chapter 5
Dario Caraldi
“Motherfucker!” I spit out, as I try yet again to get the dressing to stay in place over the torn flesh of my bicep. I probably need stitches, but right now, this will have to do. “Fuck it!” I mutter as the goddamn gauze slips loose for the third time. Even standing bare-chested in front of the mirror, I can’t get the stupid thing on. I’m half tempted to leave it – there isn’t anyone else I can call for help with it. Raoul’s off briefing the rest of the men, and Mateo…
Fuck Mateo.
I can’t think of that now. Not with everything that’s going on in my head.
Mateo…my mother…my cunt of a father.
I shake my head, sucking in a breath and focusing on the ragged fleshwound again. If I can just get it to—
