“Look, don’t shoot the messenger.” Maybe it’s the lack of sleep. Or the fact that it’s been months since I’ve felt like things are where they should be. But I feel my patience slipping with every word out of this idiot’s mouth.
“You’re right. I shouldn’t.” Relief crosses his face as he misunderstands my words. Quietly, I grab a knife attached to the bottom of my desk and get up to stand behind him. His shoulders tense, but he doesn’t speak. “I shouldn’t shoot the messenger. But no one said anything about maiming him.”
My hand wraps around what’s left of his hair, pulling his head backward. My other hand, the one holding the knife, presses to the skin of his throat. He lets out a small gasp, knowing that every move he makes could be fatal. My voice is as cold as ice as I speak. “You can tell your little friends that they’re free to go wherever they want to. They just need to be fast enough so that I don’tcatch them. Because you know what happens to people who betray me.”
“I-I,” he stutters. “I’m not leaving the business. We just want things back to the way they were.”
“You don’t think I want the same thing?” I caress his throat with the metal edge of the knife. It’s not my typical choice of a weapon, but it’s Luka’s favorite. The appeal is obvious when I feel him shiver underneath the blade. “But some of you… some of you lost your way. You better get your act straight before I’m done with cleaning other messes.” I poke the blade into his skin, almost imperceptibly, and he lets out a hiss. It’s not nearly enough to injure him, but it’s enough for blood to appear, staining the tip of my knife. He releases a frightened whimper, and I add, “Get the hell out of my office.”
I step away from him, and he’s up and out of the room sooner than I’m able to turn around. My gaze follows the drop of blood trailing down the blade, and determination builds within me. If I think about the fact that I can’t find either Luka nor Alex, I will poke my eyes out, so it’s best to focus on something else.
Dom informs me of the advances in our plan for the distillery before dropping me off at home. I walk into my apartment exhausted, Persephone barely acknowledging my arrival. She’s still angry with me.
I slip off my dirty shoes, wash my hands of any traces of blood, and drop into the seat next to her. She turns her head away but allows me to scratch her favorite spot beneath her neck.
I miss her too.I think, but don’t say aloud, because admitting that would be admitting how far control has slipped out from me.
CHAPTER 28
Leon
My finger traces the glass in front of me as Andre tells me he still has no leads on Alex’s location in a distinct Croatian accent. No matter how many times I hear it, it doesn’t get easier. I click to end the call, disappointment growing inside of me. Dom lets himself into my office, his frame filling the doorway.
“Tell me you have good news.” I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
“I have news.” He clears his throat and drops another folder onto my desk. “It took some extra steps, but we found something.” His motion is eerily familiar, making my skin prickle with the sense of déjà vu. The last time he did so, he revealed Alex’s identity.
I’m more apprehensive this time, preparing myself for the inevitable disaster that awaits me inside the ordinary-looking folder. But as my fingers turn the page, I realize nothing could have prepared me for this.
It’s a photo.
One I doubt I will ever be able to erase from my mind. There’s a woman in the photo, lying in a hospital bed, beaten half-way to death. Even though her features are unrecognizable, Ihave a bone-chilling feeling about who it is. The name at the bottom of the page confirms my suspicions.
Alexandra Landers.
Her hair is light brown, but darkened and clumped with blood. Her blue eyes are practically hidden behind the swelling. She has a cast on her arm and a sling around her chest. The date states that this happened over four years ago, which is only a slight relief, since I know she was alive and well just a few days ago.
“Who?” I barely manage to mutter out.
“Check the next page.”
I turn the page, finding a second horrifying photo, this one showing the bottom half of her body. Her stomach and legs are covered in bruises.
My eyes skim over the text, catching on terms like contusions, lacerations, and multiple fractures. I continue reading, bile rising in my throat.
24 y.o. female presented to the ER in acute distress with multiple contusions and lacerations. Upon exam, she was immediately referred to surgery and later diagnosed with femoral sublixation, radius fracture, and multiple rib fractures. The nature of her injuries were suspect of domestic violence. Law enforcement and Patient Advocacy were notified. Her next of kin was contacted as well. She underwent imaging and tolerated anesthesia well. When patient advocate met with her, she adamantly refused any abuse and stated, “please don’t call the police, they’ll just make it worse” (see LISW documents). She refused social work follow-up. The patient requested to be discharged against medical advice, and was discharged after signing the AMA into the care of Lt. Robert Welding, whom assured staff that he was her fiancé and could care for her injuries.
For a second, time stops. My breathing halts as my heart thuds in my ears. My vision narrows to the point of almost blacking out, focused on the three words in front of me.
Lieutenant Robert Welding.
The puzzle pieces click into place, one by one. Her injuries.The story she shared. The fact that the motherfucker is looking for her.
No wonder she uses a fake name. No wonder she carries a gun. She barely survived getting away from him, and now he’s after her again.
Her wide eyes filled with fear flash in my memory. I fucking yelled at her. I was mad she lied to me, and I yelled at her. In my mind, she was afraid of getting caught. But she was probably afraid for her life. My head drops to my hands, my fingers pulling on the strands of my hair. My stomach slowly fills with dread, guilt consuming me. As if there’s further down to go, a thought pops into my head.
“How did you find out her real name?”
