Where the fuck is he going with this story?
He pauses to grab something from the inside of his suit jacket and places it in front of me. My gaze falls onto the old photograph, and for a split second, I think it’s Dove looking back at me, but I quickly realize that the woman in the picture is a little bit older than Dove, her hair just a little bit lighter and her lips just a tad bit less full.
“Who is that?”
“My mother,” Xander says, and I almost drop my fork. “My first thought was that Dove had to be my mother’s daughter, but when Dove told me her age, it became an impossible scenario. Dove is twenty-one, and my mother died twenty-two years ago… or so we thought.”
“What do you mean?” I almost don’t want to ask. If Dove is not only related to Castro but also to Rossi, she’ll be forever caught between the two families.
“Like I said, I couldn’t let it go. So, after Dove left, I took her toothbrush and had her DNA tested, matched against mine. The test results confirmed that Dove is my sister.”
“Wow…” I don’t really know what else to say to that. “So… what does that mean for Dove?” From the frying pan into the fryer? Fuck, she will never be able to live a normal life.
“It means that I’m going to help you get her away from Castro. We’re going to take him down and protect her at all costs. She is my family, and I protect what’s mine.
At least one thing we can agree one.
43
I can’t believe that worked. I’m free at last, and I did it all on my own. Matteo’s men never caught up to me. I had too much of a head start. It takes forever for my heart to return to a steady beat and even longer for me to stop peering over my shoulder.
For the last couple hours or so, I’ve been driving around without a destination in mind, too focused on simply getting away. Now that I’m certain I’ve lost them, I need to find a place to go, and I need to find Zane. But how?
He doesn’t have a phone. I have no idea where he is staying or how I could get a hold of him. I could go back to the bunker if only I had a clue as to where it is. Shit. I hit the steering wheel with my hand. I should have thought of this before, but I was so busy playing the role of an obedient daughter that I didn’t think my plan through to the end.
The only place I can think to go is my apartment. Maybe he still checks the surveillance there? It’s a small chance, but that’s all I’ve got right now. At the very least, I can go and leave a note for him and hope that maybe that’s where he goes, once news breaks out that I escaped.
Taking the next turn, I drive deeper into the city, taking the long way to my apartment. I’m still on high alert, looking into the rearview mirror constantly, and scanning my surroundings for threats the entire time.
When my apartment building finally comes into view, a mixture of relief and fear washes over me. What if he had the same idea? Maybe he left me a note, or maybe, just maybe he is there waiting for me? I can only hope. I park two blocks down, not wanting to leave the car in front of my building. It’ll draw attention, and that’s the last thing I need right.
Getting out of the car, I walk down the sidewalk with my hand on my waistband, where the knife is hidden underneath. When I get to the front door, I raise my hand to ring my neighbor’s doorbell, hoping that someone is still awake and will let me in. But before I can push the small round button, the door flies open.
I reach for my knife, ready to protect myself, but quickly realize that it’s only the couple from the floor above me.
“Oh, hi,” Susan greets me in surprise. “We were worried about you.”
“Nothing to worry about.” I force a smile. “I’m fine just staying with a friend.”
“I’m sorry about the break-in,” James, her husband, says, “we called the cops when we heard the commotion downstairs, but when they got here, the burglars were already gone.”
“I’m just glad I wasn’t home,” I say, my tone honest.
“Well, let us know if you need anything. We’re heading out for a late-night pizza run.”
“Thank you, I will.” We say our goodbyes, and I move past them and into the hallway. Walking up to the apartment, my hands shake. When I reach the door, I find that it’s slightly ajar. It’s probably been that way since Christian’s men came and kicked it in. Assholes. I wonder if they found my stash of cash, or if they were too concerned about finding me to care? Probably the latter. Guess we’re about to find out.
The door creaks as I push it open, and my mouth pops open as I take in the chaos that is my apartment. Every single item is flipped over, all my belongings tossed around the room like an f-5 tornado went through it.
It’s just belongings… I tell myself as I step over pieces of broken furniture. I killed someone today. I can handle seeing my apartment ransacked.
Closing the door behind me, I ignore the destruction beneath my feet and walk into the bathroom. I have to focus on the now. What I need to survive, to find Zane. Which leads me to the entire reason I came back here. Money.
Opening the medicine cabinet, I scan the bottles, which, surprisingly, haven’t been touched. Finding the bottle I’m looking for, I pop the cap, and smile when I see the cash rolled together inside. I used to laugh whenever I’d hide money in here, thinking how ludicrous this was, but look who’s laughing now. Sliding my fingers inside, I tug the money out and squeeze it in my clammy hand. I drop the bottle into the sink and close the cabinet.
I don’t want to stay anywhere too long right now, not with just having escaped Matteo. Leaving the bathroom, I walk to the bedroom, my shoes crunching against the floor. The room is destroyed just like the rest of the house, but I make do, finding some clothes and a backpack to shove them in. Tossing everything inside, I sling the pack over my shoulder and walk out. In the kitchen, I find an envelope from a bill on the floor and a pen sitting on the counter.
Part of me had hoped like hell that Zane would be here when I walked through the door, but he wasn’t, and that’s okay. I’ll find him, and we will be reunited again. On the off chance, he does happen to stop by here, I write a note, letting him know I’ve escaped and that I’ll come back here in a few days. Leaving the note on the counter, I walk to the door.
I should probably get rid of the car. Now that I have some cash, I can take the bus or a cab. I start walking down the sidewalk with every intention of passing Alberto’s car, but when I spot two black SUVs coming around the corner, I freeze. Yes, it’s just an SUV, but it’s the speed that it’s coming around the corner. Danger zings through the air, and my gut tells me to run.
The first SUV speeds up, and now I’m certain whoever is driving is coming from me. Springing into action, I rush around the car while unlocking it with the key fob. As fast as I can, I slide into the driver’s seat and start the car. The engine roars to life, and I’m barely able to pull out of the parking spot before they’re catching up with me.
The street is filled with the sounds of tires squealing and cars speeding away. Driving like a Nascar driver, I punch the gas, zooming away from them. Every fiber in my body tenses when I look in the rearview mirror and see that they’re right on my tail.