Page 63 of Unspoken Obsession

"Did you find anything out about the girl? The card counter?" I flip the conversation because the image of Dani chained to a pole in some rich man's living room makes me sick.

"Man, you can just admit that you have a thing for her? I can see straight through you."

I glare at him. "I don't—" I stammer. Then give up. "Whatever. Just tell me what you found out about her."

He smirks.

"I have a thing for her, a massive fucking thing. It's called a hard-on. What do you know?" Fuck him.

"It's not that great either. I don't know who her family is yet, but I can tell you that the thugs were 'bodyguarding' her - they work for people high up in the mafia. Whoever her family is, there are criminal ties there. She isn't just a rich kid with an overprotective dad, she is untouchable."

"How is it so difficult to find out who someone is?" I mutter in annoyance.

"The richer people are - the easier they can hide. Or she is hiding or running from something or someone so bad - that she has learned to be fantastic at not giving things away. Witness protection, maybe?"

"Maybe a bit of both. I get the sense that she is afraid of her family. Her father. Whoever he is, she doesn't seem to like him at all." Maybe she pays for the goons to keep him away. I hadn'tconsidered that option. Witsec is just dumb. They would never put someone in Vegas with a bodyguard; it's too obvious.

"Alright then—the last thing on the agenda is the tunnels. What happened last night?"

Lorenzo nods. "Yeah, saving the best for last — we caught a sewer rat. Early hours of this morning."

"Alive?" I say in shock. "Why didn't you call me straight away?" I want to deal with this infestation down there. To send a message.

"Not to worry. We have him chained up and waiting for you to have a few words with him. He's not going anywhere. I was letting him piss his pants for a bit. But when you are ready, he is waiting in the cold storage room."

"This is great news. Leave him for now. No water. Make it cold in there. I'll be down there as soon as I can."

My meeting with Lorenzo ends, and I leave with more questions than answers. At least we have a lead on the trespassing in the tunnels—but Frankie remains a mystery.

I thought that by now he would know Frankie's full name - or her father's name. I thought he would have something for me.

And then finding out that shit about my sister's disappearance, having something to do with that asshole Musetti being involved in human trafficking - that makes me sick to my stomach.

And why, still, after all this time - do I think Frankie is connected to whatever happened to my sister? It's not like she did anything or said anything about my sister. As far as I know, they never met or crossed paths. It's an odd intuitive whisper that won't shut up.

I can't ignore it. It's been bothering me for too long.

Frankie needs safety. I don't know what she has been through - but I want to be a safe space for her. One day, she will see that I am on her side. I have to be patient with her, wait itout, and in the meantime, I need to keep her close to me - to uncover the truth and keep her out of harm's way.

I don't think I will ever see my sister again. I don't know where she is or if she is even alive - but Frankie is right here in front of me, and I have a chance to save her from whatever she's so scared of.

I will do my best.

I go to my penthouse, needing some private space and silence to think about what has come to light. Trafficking is not a business any of my associates would dabble in, and across the globe, the law is cracking down. They are sniffing out offenders everywhere -- celebrities, and politicians. They made an example out of a movie producer. It is not an honorable trade; I sell things - not people.

I sit out on my balcony sipping a whiskey trying to piece together all the information and connect the dots.

Now that I've confirmed Frankie is the woman from the gala - and she knows I am that man - I wonder if she will be more open with me? Less secretive. Will she be as interested now that the mystery is gone?

I pick up my phone to text her. I want to see her again.

I want to see where this connection with her leads, to build on the physical attraction and see beneath the surface.

The more time I can spend with her, the more I will learn about her.

Me: Hello, little fox. I've been thinking about you all day. Wondering where you go when you leave my side and want you back with me the moment you do. Can I see you tonight? Will you come to the penthouse for dinner?

Frankie: Hello The Shadow from my past. I would love to see you tonight. Can I be there at six? I wanted to talk to you - there are some things that maybe you should know about me before we take things any further.

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