I can't stop myself. Even though I need to be focused on the problem right in front of me, I can't stop myself. I pull open my laptop and type in that man's name.
Bernard Lux.
The search reveals several things about him. He lives in New York. That much I was aware of. He runs oil businesses across the globe, owning several ships that drill in the ocean. He has money - old money - and a lot of it. Political connections, and high-society friends. There are pictures of him with someone who looks like his twin, only younger than him. Nathan Lux. It doesn't state their relationship, maybe his son.
I research his companies, and the very praise filled media articles about him - no doubt fluffed by an expensive PR team. Hatred builds.
"I am coming for you, Bernard Lux. I am coming to tear your life apart." I want my sister back.
Lorenzo walks into my office and I jump, only now realizing how long I have been researching this man.
"Can we use what he found? Is it what we need?" He asks.
"It's more than we hoped for," I say, finding it too difficult to talk about the fact that my sister's name was on that list. At least now I know - I know more about where she was sent - that Antonio took her. I have the evidence I have been searching for.
"What do you want to do with it? How do you want to handle this?"
"Is Frankie safe at the new hotel? Did you set up the guards around her room and in the lobby?" I need to be sure he can't get to them.
"Yes, and the two rooms adjacent to hers are reserved as well and we have security guys 'on vacation' there."
"Then I think we need to move fast -- the sooner the better. I want to confront Antonio Musetti tomorrow." What I really want to do is kill him. "Tonight, I will decide the best way to handle this -- our way, or if I should unleash the law on him just for fun, but we are going ahead."
"I agree. The sooner the better."
Even though it is late I don't go home. I don't want to be alone tonight. I need to be with Frankie, to feel her touch. I need a distraction and to be close to her.
When I get to her hotel, I recognize my men in the foyer. They do not let on that they work for me; there is no acknowledgment, but I know they are there.
I take the elevator to the top floor that was booked out for Frankie and Damion.
She jumps when I open the door with the spare keycard I arranged.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I wanted to have a key just in case you needed me."
She wraps her arms around my waist.
"Is everything ok?" I ask, stroking my hand down her back.
"My father has been messaging me non-stop. He knows we are not at the apartment, and he is furious, demanding to know where we are - and that we are to come home." She has poked the bear, but she's not going home — not to his home. When she goes home, it will be with me.
I pull her away from me so that I can look into her eyes. "Frankie, we have the evidence we need to take him down. The guy I told you about - he got what we needed then I got him out; he's somewhere safe."
"Have you done anything to my father yet? What are you going to do? Does he know?" She asks.
"Not yet, but I plan to handle it tomorrow. I just needed a little time to process the information he gave me - and decide the best way to use it."
FRANKIE
When Dante arrived at the hotel, I felt such intense relief I wanted to cry. I want to curl up in his arms and have him hold me forever.
I don't know what to do. My father's messages are so dark that every moment that goes by I'm more fearful for my life and the life of my baby boy.
Dante follows me through to the open living room with views that overlook the city of Las Vegas. The hotel room is beautiful, but I am not in the right frame of mind to enjoy it.
"Read what he sent me," I say, holding my phone out towards Dante.
He takes it from me and reads out loud the message that my father wrote to me a few hours ago.