Page 24 of Seen By Larabe
Aurora sent us here to find out who he is working for and although my mind should be on this assignment, it couldn’t be farther.
Three hours ago the alert came to my watch letting me know my wife snuck out of the house without telling me. At first, I figured she was just going up to the big house which is fine. Then, twenty minutes later when I looked at the tracking device it showed her not at the big house, but somewhere downtown. Immediately my body and mind was on alert. I tried to call her, demand she take her about to be reddened ass home, but her phone has been off all fucking day and to be honest, it is messing with my mind and concentration.
At first I was freaked out, any number of scenarios going through my head from her being kidnapped to being murdered on the street, crying for me, and calling my name. Then when more time passed and I heard nothing about a ransom or a dead body, I became pissed. Incensed really. I fucking gave her the rules of the house. Rules I put in place so I don’t lose my fucking mind and so she stays safe and here she is deliberately defying the most important one.
My fist clenches at my side thinking of her being out there without my protection and without knowing where she is.
“LB.” The voice of Ermano breaks through the red haze in my head. I turn and look at me, but his eyes are on the alligator food I forgot was in my hand. His head is turned and hanging at an abnormal angle.
“Fuck,” I grumble realizing I snapped his neck when I was in a psychosis of sorts.
“Well, looks like we won’t be getting any more information out of him.” Wiping my hand down my face, I try to find words to explain what happened but before I do, Ermano’s phone rings. “Boss.” His face goes from amused to serious which puts me further on edge. “We’ll be right there.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, grabbing my car keys.
“Seems the guys picked up some intel we all need to know about.” Nodding, we get into the car and make the gruesomely quiet drive to the compound. Normally I welcome quiet, but right now, pulling into the gate, my palms and legs twitching with the need to go back to my house and see if she is there, gaze upon her standing in our kitchen safe and sound is overwhelming, especially since I can’t.
We walk into the house and right into the meeting room, but not before little Bella grabs my attention.
“Hi Uncle, E.E,” the tiny princess says, twirling. I can tell by the twinkle in her eye she must have a new dress on and is itching for a compliment. Down on my hunches, I open my arms and she walks into them between my legs.
“Hello to you pretty girl. Is this a new dress?” She smiles like I just gave her the secret to toyland.
“Yep. I look like a fairy.” Poking her nose with my finger which always makes her giggle, I nod in agreement.
“You look like a beautiful fairy, Bella. Are you being good for Carmen?” Her nanny is often found exasperated by her antics.
“Yes.” She says slowly like she is thinking if she would be lying or not. I chuckle and kiss her little cheek.
“Dolce bugiarda.” I call her a sweet liar before standing with her in my arms. “I have to go and see Ro, okay?”
“Okay. They are all in the no-no room,” she whispers in my ear. This girl is going to be a handful when she gets older. The meeting room is called the ‘no-no’ room to her and her brother because they are not allowed in it.
“Do you know what is going on?” I ask her to carry her with me. I know he doesn’t, but we sometimes act like she does.
“No, but everyone was upset.” The hair on my neck begins to stand up. We make it to the door, and I open it before turning and putting her down.
“Be good, princess.” She nods and hugs my neck before walking away.
“I should have known Bella would be what held you up. You have never been able to walk away from her.” Ro says smirking and shaking her head.
“It's not my fault I am her favorite.” I hear a grumble from Quan and Rocco because they know it is true. “So what’s up?” I take my seat and put my hands on the table.
“An hour ago, we were sent surveillance footage of this.” She slides the photos across the table. Reaching for them, I am not sure what I am looking at other than a few overweight men walking out of a 747. It’s not until I get a close up of one of them that it clicks.
“When?” I growl, balling the photo up in my hand. My mind is racing, the blood in my body rushing to my brain and chest all at once. My legs begin to shake under the table, and I feel an electric shock running through my veins. “I said when?” My teeth are gnashing together, and my vision is becoming sharper.
“Last night.”
“Last night!” I shout, jumping out of the chair sending it flying backwards across the room. “What the fuck. We should have been notified the minute he left Cuba.” The photo is of my angel’s father and the man she was sold too, getting off a plane in Miami.
“I agree and that has been dealt with. But we have a bigger problem.” Yeah, we don’t know where he is, and I don’t know where my wife is and right now I can’t sit and have a conversation about bullshit we can do fuck all about now.
“I have to find Satine,” I say, panicking and walking out.
“She’s home, Cain. She got there about a half hour ago.” Some of the tension leaves but it won’t all, until I see her for myself. “Go. See for yourself then come back here. We need a plan. We both know this won't end in peace.”
I must go on autopilot because I don’t remember getting in the car, or riding through the gates to the back toward my house. I don’t even remember getting out of the car and running through the front door. But, all of that must have happened because I am holding her in my arms right now, eyes squeezed shut so fucking thankful.