She shakes her head. “No, I said I didn’t see her properly. She’s been around, but she always left early and came back late, if she came back at all.”
“I see. Do you know where I can find her?”
“The club or the gym?” She inspects me. “Maybe you should talk to Nico. I’m sure he knows.”
“Thanks, I will.” I turn to leave.
On my way to the club, I text Marco Valentina’s number and ask him to find her location.
“Where is Valentina?” I ask for the third time this evening. The bartender, the same one who was here the night I first met her.
He narrows his eyes at me. “I told you, she isn’t here. If she comes, she comes either after we close or before we open. Ever since her engagement to you, she’s been busy with the wedding.” He throws the dishcloth over his shoulder and leans over. “Look, there has been something going on with her for the last week. Talk to Nico or, better yet, Mack. For the last week, he has been her shadow.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
He raises his hands. “I don’t know. I’m just a bartender. Nico will be here any minute; he has a VIP area set for him. You should ask him.” I watch him as he pours a drink before passing it to me. I take it and watch the entrance, waiting for Nico to show up.
The comment that Mack never left her side keeps ringing in my head as the burning in my veins and the tightening in my chest surface. Feelings I buried deep inside me. I shake my head. I’m not going there. I take a sip of the drink in hopes of swallowing the bitter taste on my tongue, but it lingers, waking up hidden doubts I covered with the lust I felt toward Valentina.
My phone rings with a text.
Marco: Tell me, why do you want to track her? Should I be worried about your well-being?
Gabriel: Just do what I’ve asked. I don’t need therapy, especially not from you.
Marco: I’m hurt.
Bastard. I ignore the next row of texts when my eyes catch Nico entering. I put my phone in my pocket and follow Nico into the VIP area.
I approach him, and if he’s surprised to see me, he doesn’t show it, nor does his sidekick, Max. Ever since we started to work together, he’s never without him. I look around for the rest of the trio, but only Max is here.
He tilts his head to the side, assessing me. “If I’d known you were coming, I would have welcomed you properly.”
“It was a last-minute decision,” I say, lowering myself into the booth. “I’m looking for Valentina. She hasn’t answered my calls.”
He laughs. “Welcome to the club. I don’t know what’s going on with her, but I was told it could be wedding nerves.” He leans toward me. “Maybe she got cold feet, and I will have to find you a new bride.”
“You wish.” I run my hand over my jaw. “She was supposed to accompany me to the event tonight. I arranged for her to fly in and then send her back. The pilot waited two hours for her to show, but she never did. She didn’t answer my calls, and my texts are left unread. She usually texts every hour.”
“Oh, is that why you’re in a tux?” He shrugs. “I talked with her this morning. She said she needs to take care of something before the wedding.”
“Like what?”
“She didn’t say. She just told me that Mack is with her. You should leave her be; she doesn’t like being controlled.”
I shake my head. “I’m not trying to control her; I’m just concerned.” Or irritated that she’s ignoring me. I stand and turn to leave. The only way I’ll know where she is is when Marco finds her.
I take my phone out and scroll through the texts Marco sent.
Marco: Found her. This is a live link. You can thank me later.
I click on the link he sent and open the coordinates of where Valentina is.
What are you up to, Valentina?
When I arrive at the location, I slow my car and look around the street. The street is pretty busy, with a couple of restaurants and bars. She could be in any of those. I look for her red bike. Not seeing it, I exhale and park my car, eyes on the street. Movement from the SUV on the opposite side of the road catches my attention, and if it weren’t for Mack, I wouldn’t have recognized her.
Her long hair is now cut to her chin. She fixes a cap on her head and lowers her head as she enters the SUV. They don’t move; their SUV stays parked there. After I’m sure she's staying put, I exit my car and cross the street toward them. I open the back door and slide inside, closing the door, and face the gun pointed at my face.
