“About his intentions toward my daughter.”
“He has no bad intentions. He’s a lovely gentleman.” The words come too fast.
He nods. “His profile says he’s from Florida and works as a researcher for Texan. Just moved to DC. Before that, he worked in Miami for a decade. But nothing comes up from the investigation in Florida, maybe his appearance has changed over the years, so it’ll take some time—”
I cut him off. “You’re investigating him? He isn’t a criminal, Dad. This is wrong.” My voice is sharp with accusation, even though I knew this was inevitable. But maybe my outrage can stop him from digging deeper.
“This isn’t wrong. I need to know what kind of man he is. And he needs to understand that you’re not someone he can casually hook up with and walk away.”
I groan. “That’s not how things work.”
“This is exactly how things work in my world.”
I chuckle. “You’re misusing your power.”
He strokes my head. “Bring him to dinner tomorrow. I won’t be here during the day, but I’ll be back by evening.”
I smile with pursed lips. “Okay.”
I kiss his cheek. “Good night.”
He kisses my temple. “Good night.”
I get up, do the same with Mom, take Rosie from her arms, and leave.
I walk away from their room, remove my shoes, set Rosie on the carpet, tiptoe back, and press my ear to the corner of their still-open door.
“I doubt it too,” Mom says. “Her feelings for that kidnapper weren’t light. It’s not possible she got over them overnight and became this close to another man so suddenly.”
I drag a hand down my face.
That speech was useless. All that acting—completely wasted. My mother knows me to the core; she’s too good at catching my lies. And my dad... if he were easy to deceive, he wouldn’t be the king of the underworld. He wouldn’t run an entire country.
I have to tell Salvario to go away. But how? I don’t have his number. And even if I did, I couldn’t just call him, it would be like throwing ourselves into burning lava.
I’ll tell him tomorrow.
Rosie pads over, her tiny paws silent, but that little mouth will surely give me away to my parents. I scoop her up quickly and slip away.
???
I know before I even enter the park that they’re not here. If they were, Bruno would have reached me before I made it through the gate.
I walk inside and scan the area. Unlike yesterday and the day before, they’re not near the benches by the entrance.
I set Rosie down, and we circle the entire park. Finally, we settle onto a bench facing the entrance. I pull Rosie onto my lap to keep her warm.
I check the time. 4:30 PM.
I watch people walk past for another hour. The hope doesn’t fade, despite the knot tightening in my gut.
The sun sets. The cold deepens.
I call Travis over. When he arrives, I extend Rosie to him.
“Take her home.”
I shove my hands deeper into my coat pockets and keep my gaze fixed on the gate.
