Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 72969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“But why?” Daniela whispers, her voice barely audible. “What did I ever do to deserve this?”
“We’ll figure that out,” Detective Mills says, his expression grave. “We’ve seen an increase in such acts of violence recently, and they seem random at first glance, but there’s usually a motive hidden somewhere.”
Daniela nods. “Let me look at the people who work here.”
Mills nods and then gestures to a security guard.
The security guard pulls up a database on his computer.
“Here you go,” Mills says.
Daniela scrolls through the photos. “He’s not here,” she says.
“Good news for us,” the guard says. “Our people are clean. Bad news for you, Detective.”
“Yeah.” Mills nods. “But we’ll get to the bottom of this, Ms. Agudelo.”
“Can I go now?” Daniela asks.
“Yes. We’ll be in touch if we have any other questions or have any new information for you. Do you have a safe place to sleep tonight?”
“She does,” I say. “She’ll stay with me.”
36
DANIELA
I should be ecstatic, driving to Hawk’s place. This is where I was heading anyway. I’m free of my marriage to Vinnie. Free to be with Hawk.
Instead? All I can think of are the cryptic gifts and messages I’ve been receiving.
And this last one?
It could have killed me.
It could have killed the people around me.
Whoever is doing this means business.
But I have no idea who it could be. Those men who worked for my father are in Colombia. My father is dead. Diego Vega is dead.
And here in the States, no one even knows who I am.
“Did you call Vinnie?” Hawk asks out of the blue.
“What?”
“To let him know you won’t be home tonight.”
“Oh, God…” I shake my head. “You’d better take me home, Hawk. I can’t tell Vinnie I’m staying with you.”
He narrows his eyes. “You’re a grown woman, Daniela.”
“I know. But I haven’t told him about the other gifts.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You haven’t?”
“No. I didn’t want to worry him. I didn’t want to be more trouble for him, you know?”
Hawks nods. “I understand. I’ll call him.”
“Hawk, no.”
“I’ll just say I was in Austin, and I saw you at the courthouse, and… Fuck it all, Daniela. I’m a grown man too. I’m not going to lie to my sister’s fiancé.”
I nod. He’s right. I can’t put him in that position. “I’ll call him.”
I dread it as I dial Vinnie’s cell.
I get voicemail.
Crap.
“This is Vincent Gallo, Jr. I’m unavailable at the moment. Please leave a detailed message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. If you need immediate assistance, please contact my executive assistant, Bertie Levine.”
I gulp. “Hey, Vinnie, it’s me. Daniela. I’m on my way to Summer Creek. Hawk and I… Well, we… Oh, just call me. I’m fine.”
Then I end the call.
“Voicemail?” he says.
“Yeah. I guess I should call Raven.” I squeeze my eyes shut, rub at my temples. “Someone ought to know what’s going on, and I didn’t want to say it in a message. That’s the kind of information you need to hear in person.”
Hawk simply nods.
I dial Raven.
“Hello,” she says.
“Raven, it’s Daniela.”
“Oh! I didn’t even look.” She pauses. “Where are you? I thought you’d be home by now.”
“I told Vinnie I’d stay in Austin and do some shopping.”
“Did you find anything good?”
“What?”
“Shopping. Did you find anything good?”
“Oh. No, I didn’t. I’m on my way to…” Fuck, Daniela. Just say it. “I’m on my way to Summer Creek with Hawk.”
Another pause. “Hawk? What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I mean…”
“Can I talk to Hawk?”
“Uh…yeah. Sure.” I hand him my phone. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Hey, sis,” he says into the phone.
Pause.
“She called me.”
Pause.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just a little overwhelmed. She’s going to spend the night at my place.”
Pause.
“So what if we are?”
Pause.
“Why would I do that? I happen to like her.”
Pause.
“I’m well aware of how old she is and how old I am. Listen, Ray—”
Pause.
“Of course.” He hands the phone back to me. “She wants to talk to you.”
“Hi, Raven.”
“What’s going on, Daniela?”
“Like your brother told you. I’m going to his place.”
“Are you and he…?”
I look over at Hawk, lower my voice. “I…don’t know yet.”
“Are you sure you’re ready for this? I mean, Hawk is a great guy. He’s my brother. I should know. But you…”
“I know, Raven. I’ll be careful. I just… I feel safe with him.”
“You’re safe with us.”
“I know that. But this is…different. Will you kiss Belinda goodnight for me?”
“Of course. Just be careful, Dani. Vinnie and I, and Belinda, we all love you so much.”
“I love you guys too. Trust me. I do. And I’ll never forget everything you’ve done for me.”
“Goodness, Dani, you’re not going off to war. We know you appreciate everything.”
“Look on the bright side,” I say. “Your fiancé is no longer married.”
She laughs at that. “True enough. You call me if you need anything. I mean anything.”
“I will. Bye, Ray.”
I end the call.