It couldn’t have been this man’s distorted voice on the line. Somebody else must have his phone because this man is dead.
Giulio doesn’t stiffen behind me, but the slower rubs on my shoulders are a stark indication that the same thing is going through his mind. Now is not the time to prolong the thought. We need to act normal.
Sergeant Flynn scratches his jaw as his eyes narrow down on the photograph. “We have the sketch on file and we’ll have to identify him with Al tech, but this seems like the same man who attacked you. Isn’t that so, Mr. Giannotti?”
“Yes, I’m certain that’s the man. Please do your best to find him.”
We both know there won’t be any finding him. This man, Nick Conrad, is dead…because of us.
“Of course, Mr. Giannotti. And to confirm, you haven’t seen or heard from this man since the attack, correct?”
Incorrect, we have.
“That’s right, I haven’t.”
“Neither have I,” I lie.
“Ok.” Sergeant Flynn turns back to his team. “We’ll have some officers escort Valencia to the location. Lin, ensure a top of the line hidden tracker is placed on Mrs. Giannotti prior to action. Joan and Brigs, search Conrad’s house. Detail anything that relates to the case in the slightest. Valencia, how do you feel about this?”
“I can do it, I just don’t have that type of money lying around.”
“We need to move fast. The location is already a ten-minute drive from here. In this instance, I can see what we can do about the money. Given it’s—”
“I have the money.” Giulio’s voice comes out as barely a whisper. His distraught face twists the moment he drops back into his seat. “I have safe money. All cash. I will cover it.”
“Where exactly is this money, Mr. Giannotti?”
“Work.” He recoils, pushing a desperate hand through his black hair and pulls at the tips. I wish the opposite would have come out of this mouth, but in this moment of truth, everything is on the line. Every single thing. “I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.”
We’re speeding to Notti Designs. As we cut through city street, my gaze averts from the car window to the time to the hidden tracker in the hair tie on my wrist, and then to the anxious Giulio sitting beside me in the backseat.
24 minutes.
My heart pounds to the rhythm of the countdown. It has me unable to feel my legs as Giulio and I sprint through his company building. We’re vigorously punching security codes, switching off alarms, unlocking doors, and flicking on lights as we make our way to his private bathroom at lightning speed. Giulio stands on top of the vanity and reaches up towards the wood ceiling, presses on it, and a section of the plank wood lowers down.
“Here.” Giulio hands me a single black duffel bag and jumps down.
“How much is in here?”
“A quarter of a million exactly, but we should recount it. There’s another three other bags up there. Remember I did this last year? It’s safe money in case anything happens with us or the company.”
The memory comes back to me and I nod without any further questions. Giulio sorts out the money, working at a vigorous speed to count it twice over. I simply watch him, noting how his chiseled jaw remains clenched, activating the muscles in his cheeks, all while he divides his hard earned money for some lunatic who has taken our twins.
This isn’t fair.
My love for him is burning bright. It has been ever since I shot that man dead tonight and saved Giulio. I need him in my life and recognize that sometimes we need to endure pain to continue living. I’m so in love with him. We can battle anything because he is my everything. My soulmate. My reason to simply be.
Giulio earns this money from being the successful businessman he is. I only hope this all goes to plan and the distorted voice on the other line stays true to their word.
We’re running out of time but we’ll still make it.
In the time frame of a few hours, everybody’s life has been placed in my hands. This could all go horribly wrong or…right. Yes, it will be alright.
I’m mesmerized by Giulio’s every feature. A flawed man stands in front of me…I love him even more for it. Bryce is right about those thorns. I’ve accepted the thorns and why they need to be there because I have them too. I know Giulio accepts mine too.
His tired eyes meet mine in the mirror. “Darling, why are you looking at me like that?”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like this is the last time.”
I swallow thickly and soundlessly take the hefty duffel from him. Because it could be.
We rush outside to Sergeant Flynn who leads me to a car that isn’t a police vehicle and hands me the keys. Giulio stays by my lowered window, his forearms resting by the rim as his head pokes through.
The duffel sinks into the passenger seat.
17 minutes.
A male detective rushes beside Giulio. “You must ride with us, Mr. Giannotti. We will be following at a distance. The less conspicuous we can make this, the better. Valencia, we will stand down for twenty minutes. If the operation is successful, we will meet back here or at the hospital if needed. However, if we suspect the operation is a bust we will storm the premises. Okay?”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
“We have just under seventeen minutes. Let’s go, Mr. Giannotti.”
The look in Giulio’s eyes is terrifying. This whole situation is, but we have to meet this deadline and stay strong for our twins. Whoever is doing this want us to crumble; instead we must rise.
“May I talk with her
