Page 31 of De Luca: The Saint

I fight down the urge to throw him through a fucking wall when I spot an envelope on the entryway table. Walking over to it, I notice her pretty writing and pick it up. When I open it, I can’t believe my eyes.

Damian,

I ran into Angelica, and she told me your happy news. Congratulations on the baby. I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful father. If I’m honest, I’m not happy for you even though I should be. How could you do this to me? You made me fall in love with you, and then you wrecked me. Was that the goal? Perhaps this is some sick game you two like to play. You win, Sir. Don’t look for me. I’ll be far away, you’ll never see me again.

~ Katherina

Baby? What the fuck is she going on about? Angelica? Fucking Angelica. I haven’t seen that bitch in over a year. If she’s having a baby, it sure as shit isn’t mine.

Chapter Twenty

Damian

Fuck. Fuck. FUCKKKK!

Chapter Twenty-One

Damian

In the span of fifteen minutes, I have called Domenic, Benji, and my personal security advisor, Stefan. I need her found. Kat has little money to fund this little, unneeded escape. Jesus Christ, Kitty Kat, couldn’t you fucking ask me about this? I have been a complete open book with her. Had she asked me I would’ve told her the truth.

Angelica is a fucking cunt. She has tried to sink her claws into me many times over the years. She has caused problems for me previously, but not like this. I’ve wanted to eliminate her for years but haven’t because she’s the daughter of a rival boss.

Domenic didn’t want to start a war over petty bullshit. It’s no longer petty. If she costs me Kat, she’s fucking dead, woman or not.

Benji is scouring flights, but he won’t find her there. Even a one-way flight would cost more than she’d have. I’m fairly certain she wouldn’t have more than a couple hundred dollars, and that would leave nothing for somewhere to stay or food.

Fuck baby, where are you? I pace back and forth, waiting for information, nearly wearing a hole in the floor. My emotions are all over the place over this girl. I’m pissed that she didn’t even ask me about Angelica. Did I not matter enough for a simple fucking conversation? Or was she looking for the perfect excuse to get away from me? But it’s the fear that grips my chest like a goddamn vice. If I don’t know where she is I can’t keep her safe. She has no money. No residence. Anything could happen to her. Think, Damian, think. Where would she go? Vegas? I text Benji to have him check there, although I’m not sure how she’d possibly go that far.

Her parents are in Vegas. Check there.

On it.

I call Stefan into my office. Pouring myself a drink, I gulp down the first one before he enters. When he finally does, I growl, “What the fuck took so long?”

He bristles at my words but doesn’t snap back because he knows better, “I’m sorry, Boss.”

“What kind of state was she in? What was she wearing? I want every fucking detail.”

He nods, “Blue jeans and a powder blue tank top. Her hair was in a high ponytail, she was carrying a black backpack. She looked upset, Boss. I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t have it. Ms. Katherina was insistent she leave before you returned. You said she was free to come and go as she pleased, so I didn’t stop her.”

I didn’t want her to feel like a prisoner in my home. While she didn’t say she loved me I thought we had something strong enough that she’d stick around to have a conversation before walking out of my life. My phone vibrates, and I see Benji’s name on my screen, so I glance at Stefan, “You’re dismissed.”

He turns and leaves while I check the message from Benji.

Would she take a job to save some quick

cash before she leaves? There’s no trace

of her anywhere.

Maybe, but I doubt it. Where would she stay?

Motor Inn? It’s cheap.

He’s not wrong, but if she’s there, I’ll spank her ass. It’s in the worst area she could possibly pick. The motel pretty much only gets drug dealers and whores that stay there. Nobody else would ever be desperate enough to sleep there except perhaps my Kitty Kat. I run my hand through my beard, feeling my chest tighten. If anything happens to her, I’ll never get through it. My phone starts ringing, and I answer it on the first ring when I see it’s Domenic, hoping he has news of her whereabouts.

“Hey,” I answer.

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