“You’re dating…Pretzel?”
“No? I’m dating Teddy.”
Nikki’s eyes flood with anger.Alright, this is more the reaction I expected.
“TeddyTaranov?”
“Um, well no, Teddy Williams.”
I glance at Gabri to see him seething as well. “His last name is Taranov. Williams was a ruse.” His voice is calm. Too calm.
“Taranov, like the family that killed our brother!”
Nikki never yells at me, but I see now why he inspires such fear in people. I’ve never been so afraid as they both glare at me. Not that I believe they would ever truly hurt me, but Teddy and our baby…
“What do you mean? Teddy would never hurt—”
“Wouldn’t he, Elia? Doesn’t the timing of it all seem suspicious? When exactly did you start dating him? A few months ago would be right after he got traded to Thunder Bay…Out of fucking nowhere, might I add. That kind of trade mid-season is rare. Unless someone with power is pulling the strings. Wouldn’t it make perfect sense for him to use you, the daughter of Dante Santori, to weasel his way into our family? You’re the easiest way to do that. No offense, but you’ve always been the weakest of us. Always trying to see the good in everyone. Your naivety is undeniable.”
“Kindess isnota weakness! And I don’t believe you. Teddy didn’tuseme. He wouldn’t. I know he wouldn’t.”
Right?I know things have been tense between us, but he wouldn’t hurt me like that. I’m notthatnaive. Even if every word out of his mouth was a lie, there was authenticity in the way our soulscalled to each other.
“Then where is he now?” Nikki asks, but it seems as if he already knows.
“I…I haven’t talked to him since Leo di…I haven’t even looked at my phone.”
Gabri stands from behind his desk and rounds the corner to stand over me. “If you’re so sure of his innocence, then go to him. Ask him what he and Leo were doing together the night before our brother died. Take ten of our best men and be careful. Mama won’t survive losing another child.” He leaves in a huff, and I don’t think he’s ever made me feel so small.
Nikki follows without so much as a goodbye as they leave me to cry alone. I’m equal parts frustrated at my brothers for believing Teddy would do this and at Teddy for not being honest. Not that I can blame him for his lack of transparency, when I didn’t tell him about my family either. One thing I do know is that Ihaveto see him. I’ve been too wrapped up in the loss of Leo to think about anything else, but I owe it to my heart and our baby to resolve this.
With the lockdown still in full effect, I didn’t think I would stand a chance, but Gabri was true to his word. Ten of our best men are waiting for me in the garage. They file into three bulletproof SUVs after helping me into the most heavily guarded vehicle, then my driver turns to me.
“Where to, Miss Santori?”
My entourage parks at the back of Teddy’s condo and leaves their vehicles to scope out the safest vantage points around the area. I tried insisting that it would be best for me to go in alone, but that was quickly shot down. I guess it’s time to clean out all the skeletons in my closet anyway. My two lead guards flank me as we knock and wait for Teddy to answer the door, but he never does.
“He’s probably already on his way to the game. Here let me…” I pull my keys out of my pocket and find the one for his condo, then shimmy my guard out of the way to let myself in. They go in before me with guns drawn before giving me the all clear.
His condo looks bad. It’s always been a bit bare, something we’ve discussed multiple times about remedying, but this seems even more dull than before. It lacks the usual clutter that comes with daily use, and without that proof of life, it almost seems haunted. It’s like Teddy hasn’t been here in days…Just like my brothers said. Alarms blare in my mind as I go farther into the condo to find every room sterile.
The only thing out of place is a picture album on his nightstand. I’ve looked through his albums many times, admiring his photography, but I don’t recall this one. It’s beautiful, with leather binding and etchings of roses on the spine. My guards stand at the bedroom door as I take a seat on his bed.
His portfolios are themed to each place he’s lived, and I smile when I open this one and see a picture of him and me with the Thunder Bay skyline behind us. He told me he was struggling to find the desire to take pictures here, and it makes me happy that he was able to find joy in his hobby again. Flipping through the album brings tears to my eyes. Each picture represents a memory—from our first picnic on the beach to me standing on the balcony the last morning we were together.
I’m only halfway through the pictures,and I’m excited to see what he’s been up to in the month we’ve been apart, but as I flip through the pages, I’m stunned. They’re all photos of me: sleeping, changing clothes, in the shower. They aren’t sexual in nature, even though I think I would be less creeped out if they were. A boyfriend taking nudes of his girl is way more normal behavior than this.
I’ve just flipped to a picture of me in my bedroom on a night Iknowwas a night he was across the country playing hockey when the front door opens.
My guards usher me into the closet as a voice I know all too well rings throughout the condo.
“There they are! Thanks for agreeing to bring me. Mila would be pissed if she found out I didn’t go straight to the game.”
Mila?
A voice I definitelydon’trecognize answers him. “No problem, man. I get it. You can’t play without your lucky…socks. Anyway, nice condo. It could use a little color, though. It might be a shock to your system at first, but trust me when I say, coming home to a cheerful house makes all those kills a little more manageable.”
“Yeah, as if Mila would ever let me add color to her place.”
