“Adriano...”
“Don’t.” I grip the counter harder. “GO!”
She slinks away with a sad look.
After a long time, I crush out the cig and go after her.
She’s lying on top of the covers, staring solemnly at the ceiling in the dark room.
Unclasping my watch, I leave it on the nightstand and lie down in the same position, not touching her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers softly.
“For what?”
“I’m not sure.” Her fingers inch closer to mine on the mattress, and she strokes them.
My eyes fall closed, and my body instantly reacts.
Our breathing grows heavy, and then her kissing Damian flashes across my vision, so I move my hand away.
“Go to sleep, Cam,” I say with bite.
I’m aware of her the entire the night, and sleep is unattainable.
*
That was our last night together. I took her home in the morning and told her to lock her doors and that I’d be back later. Syndicate complications ate up all of my time for three days, and I’d texted and called her – she was secretive, but so was I. I was going to talk to her about where we’d go from there, but when I got to her apartment, no one was there. Her neighbor told me she’d gone. I broke open the door and was appalled by the poor state of her apartment. Immediately, concern set in, and I called Luca to check to see if the Syndicate had seized her. He said they hadn’t, and I’ve been looking for her ever since.
I’ve been trying to juggle so many balls lately. My job as Capo comes first. Then I have responsibilities at Security Simplicity. I have parents whom I can’t neglect.
I learned the hard way how difficult it is to retrieve information from people when you can’t throw your authority around. I was looking for Cam in secret for months; James didn’t know, only Luca, so I couldn’t use my rank as Capo to enforce power.
At times, I gave up and sought comfort in other nameless women, but they were always similar to Cam somehow, and I never felt fulfilled.
Then James revealed she’s his daughter a couple of weeks ago, and told me that I could search with Syndicate approval and use all the influence we have. Still, she’s untraceable. Now, this is our last resort; interrogating a first soldier that works for Fat Sal – if Damian apprehends one.
I fall back onto the bed, filled with remorse. If only James had told me she’s his daughter sooner, then I wouldn’t have had to worry this much the last couple of months. It was a shock to learn she’s his blood, but it was a relief to finally have some help with finding Cam.
No one knew the depth of our feelings. Not even Luca. I’d kept so much between Cam and me private. She’d worked her way inside my life, and I didn’t, yet I did, want it. If we don’t find her alive and well, then I’m sure I’ll be doomed to live with this hollow feeling.
I sit back up, take out my phone, and decide it’s time to inform Luca that he needs to return to the Loop.
“Amico,” he answers more cheerily than I’ve ever heard him. “What’s—Hey!” Fallon’s voice comes booming through the phone.
“Hey, dolcezza . How’s Venice?” I call her dolcezza as well, just to bug Luca.
“Amazing!” she practically sings.
“Don’t call her dolcezza !” Luca warns, and I laugh. He then talks to her. “I’ll be right back.” And a door closes on his end.
“What’s up, Adriano?”
“We’ve got problems.”
“Syndicate?”
“Yes and Security Simplicity. Money has been stolen. Jeffrey’s getting numbers now. And James just gave me the go-ahead to use the extent of our power to find a lead on Cam. Damian is finding a first soldier of Fat Sal’s now. I need you to come back to handle SS.”
“Okay...” His voice trails off as he mulls over his options. “I have a wife to consider now.”
Knowing Fallon, I ask, “What’s she doing?”
He’s silent before answering, “Reading.”
Just as I thought.
“Yeah, she won’t mind coming back. I’ll tell her
“Don’t.” I grip the counter harder. “GO!”
She slinks away with a sad look.
After a long time, I crush out the cig and go after her.
She’s lying on top of the covers, staring solemnly at the ceiling in the dark room.
Unclasping my watch, I leave it on the nightstand and lie down in the same position, not touching her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers softly.
“For what?”
“I’m not sure.” Her fingers inch closer to mine on the mattress, and she strokes them.
My eyes fall closed, and my body instantly reacts.
Our breathing grows heavy, and then her kissing Damian flashes across my vision, so I move my hand away.
“Go to sleep, Cam,” I say with bite.
I’m aware of her the entire the night, and sleep is unattainable.
*
That was our last night together. I took her home in the morning and told her to lock her doors and that I’d be back later. Syndicate complications ate up all of my time for three days, and I’d texted and called her – she was secretive, but so was I. I was going to talk to her about where we’d go from there, but when I got to her apartment, no one was there. Her neighbor told me she’d gone. I broke open the door and was appalled by the poor state of her apartment. Immediately, concern set in, and I called Luca to check to see if the Syndicate had seized her. He said they hadn’t, and I’ve been looking for her ever since.
I’ve been trying to juggle so many balls lately. My job as Capo comes first. Then I have responsibilities at Security Simplicity. I have parents whom I can’t neglect.
I learned the hard way how difficult it is to retrieve information from people when you can’t throw your authority around. I was looking for Cam in secret for months; James didn’t know, only Luca, so I couldn’t use my rank as Capo to enforce power.
At times, I gave up and sought comfort in other nameless women, but they were always similar to Cam somehow, and I never felt fulfilled.
Then James revealed she’s his daughter a couple of weeks ago, and told me that I could search with Syndicate approval and use all the influence we have. Still, she’s untraceable. Now, this is our last resort; interrogating a first soldier that works for Fat Sal – if Damian apprehends one.
I fall back onto the bed, filled with remorse. If only James had told me she’s his daughter sooner, then I wouldn’t have had to worry this much the last couple of months. It was a shock to learn she’s his blood, but it was a relief to finally have some help with finding Cam.
No one knew the depth of our feelings. Not even Luca. I’d kept so much between Cam and me private. She’d worked her way inside my life, and I didn’t, yet I did, want it. If we don’t find her alive and well, then I’m sure I’ll be doomed to live with this hollow feeling.
I sit back up, take out my phone, and decide it’s time to inform Luca that he needs to return to the Loop.
“Amico,” he answers more cheerily than I’ve ever heard him. “What’s—Hey!” Fallon’s voice comes booming through the phone.
“Hey, dolcezza . How’s Venice?” I call her dolcezza as well, just to bug Luca.
“Amazing!” she practically sings.
“Don’t call her dolcezza !” Luca warns, and I laugh. He then talks to her. “I’ll be right back.” And a door closes on his end.
“What’s up, Adriano?”
“We’ve got problems.”
“Syndicate?”
“Yes and Security Simplicity. Money has been stolen. Jeffrey’s getting numbers now. And James just gave me the go-ahead to use the extent of our power to find a lead on Cam. Damian is finding a first soldier of Fat Sal’s now. I need you to come back to handle SS.”
“Okay...” His voice trails off as he mulls over his options. “I have a wife to consider now.”
Knowing Fallon, I ask, “What’s she doing?”
He’s silent before answering, “Reading.”
Just as I thought.
“Yeah, she won’t mind coming back. I’ll tell her
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