Right now, my phone was ringing.
It was time to pay the piper.
I’d already had a message and two texts from Alexander, the last being more pointed.
I stood with a cup of coffee in my hand on the lower deck, staring out at the harbor. When my phone rang, I was forced to realize I wouldn’t be able to hide from reality any longer. The Prince family needed a status report on my findings.
Now, I could lie and say I’d yet to find her, but if one of them checked with the pilot, realizing we’d been stationary in Rio for a full day, questions would be asked.
However, seeing Jaxon on the line surprised me.
We were best friends and had been for a very long time. I’d never lied to him and as far as I knew, he’d never lied to me. Was it possible I was considering doing so now?
My God. I’d sworn an oath, not entirely based around Emmeline to any degree, but she was a part of the honor that I felt obligated to adhere to.
I took another swallow before answering. Avoiding the hand that fed them was never in anyone’s best interest.
“Jaxon.”
“There you are. We were all getting worried about you. At least we knew the plane hadn’t crashed.”
I laughed. Hopefully the sound wasn’t too disingenuous. “I told you I do my best work doing so alone. I’m safe and sound.”
“Does that mean you found my sister?”
A deep, almost frustrated sigh escaped my throat before I caught it. I thought about the night I’d shared with her, the joy of the passion that I’d hungered for. I almost felt as if I was betraying her, although she knew we wouldn’t be staying in Rio but for so long. It simply wasn’t possible. “I’ve located her. She’s perfectly safe, albeit highly agitated that I interrupted her vacation.”
“Where the fuck is she?”
“As I said, somewhere safe.”
“You don’t want to tell me.”
“Let’s just say giving her a couple days to decompress isn’t a bad idea. Plus, I have a bad feeling those photographs were to be used for something other than having her appear in a magazine.”
Jaxon muttered under his breath. “By what you’re saying means you found the same thing I did. A whole lot of nothing.”
“At this point, it would appear the company is nothing but a magazine hungering for a bestseller. However, I have a feeling she could be safer here. My instincts are working overtime.” What I decided to keep to myself at this point was about her speed dating adventure.
“Interesting.”
“My suggestion is you track down the photographer.”
“Already ahead of you, but so far, he hasn’t been found. Maybe you put the fear of God into him, but he hasn’t been seen around his apartment since I assigned a soldier to track him down.”
“Then it would seem you need to find him. Fuck. I should have killed the bastard.”
“Donatello, there isn’t a member of the Prince family who isn’t grateful for how much you care about your job. But you can’t go around killing everyone who gets in our way.”
“Maybe not, but I have a bad feeling.”
He chuckled, taking this far too lightly. “Then people will die. We need to find who torched your house.”
“Yeah, I know. However, do me a favor, Jaxon. Call off the dogs.” I glanced just inside, making sure mydolceAmbrosia wasn’t listening in. The phone call to her family she’d believe to be betrayal on its own.
He was shocked by my request. “What do you mean?”
“You’re right to be edgy. My house was blown up. Three potential members of the Las Bartas Cartel were murdered. A photographer hired by a firm in Savannah has suddenly disappeared. If that weren’t enough, your sister is completelydisgusted at being held prisoner in her own city. While I was able to locate her this time, I assure you that if she slips away, she won’t be so easy to find. She needs some time to decompress, to realize how much she adores her family. Can you try and pull Alexander down from the rafters?”
