Page 21 of Under His Embrace

I raised my brows at Liam. “No ID? No cards?”

He shook his head. “Nope.”

“That’s it?” I asked. That didn’t sound right. “What’d you find on the phone?”

“Nothing.”

I deadpanned at him, then glanced at Romeo and Dante. They didn’t react, clearly having heard this odd detail already before I entered. “Nothing?”

“No call log. No contact lists. It’s a very limited model of a smart phone, and there is no browser history, apps, pictures, anything. There is nothing on that device.”

I shook my head. “How?” Frowning, I followed up with, “Why?”

“Seems like it’s a burner, or she’s using it as one.” Romeo shrugged. “Maybe she’s on the run?”

“What, from her parents?” I scoffed. Judge and Mrs. Dawson were pompous pricks. They’d see to her staying on the right side of law and never having to hide a criminal history. That rightthere was why they were so against my dating her, against us loving each other in our youths. I was that “bad Mafia boy” who could never be good enough for her.

“I can see why you two didn’t hook up. Or stay together.” Liam whistled.

I huffed a dry laugh before I sipped my coffee. “You look her up?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I figured it was fair game, seeing as she’s the witness in this case of the shooting.” Furrowing his brow, he got more serious as he watched me. “And after I saw how numb you went yesterday when you saw her, I thought it would be wise to be as informed as possible. In case you are too close to her and all of this to remain impartial to what’s happening.”

“Franco can and will stay diligent,” Dante answered, speaking for me. He was right, but I felt a tug of guilt too. I’d never had to choose between Chloe and serving the family. I found a way to have the best of both worlds by asking her to stay with me as I began my career for the Constella name.Shewas the one who ultimately chose not to be with me.

I couldn’t help but glower at Liam. I wasn’t mad that he looked into her. I expected that sort of due diligence from him, the same as Dante knew he could count on it from me. I didn’t care for his implication, though, that a large enough obstacle stood in the way between Chloe having a future with me.

“We loved each other, though,” I told him, not shy about speaking the truth. “Or so I thought.” She couldn’t have cared that much when she opted to run from me. “And that love should’ve been stronger than her parents trying to control her life.”

No one argued me there, and I was grateful when Romeo changed the subject, sort of. “We gave her the purse at breakfast, but perhaps we can trace her calls if she uses it.”

And hides using it.Why else would she go so far as to cover her calls and have damn near what amounted to a burner?

I was due more answers, and I resolved to ask her again for the total truth after I finished my coffee. I nodded at him. “If she’s hiding something, we’ll figure out what it is.”

“Agreed,” Liam said. “I’m hoping to ride along with you to the warehouse, though.”

I furrowed my brow. “Why? What did I miss?”

“A few more Giovannis were fucking with another business,” Dante said. “Stefan’s getting really desperate, thinking he can mess with us all over the goddamn city like this.”

“But you still don’t think Stefan’s behind that shooting at the A&J?” Liam asked.

I shook my head. “I think something else is up.” But I chugged the rest of my coffee and set the cup down near the other empty ones near where Dante’s kitchen staff would come by and pick them up. “Come on. Let’s go check out whoever’s at the warehouse.”

Because after, I had a date to get answers out of Chloe. It wasn’t until hours later that I had a chance to do so. Liam ended up sticking with another soldier while I returned to the house where Chloe was being guarded.

I couldn’t shake the suspicion that she might have an idea who shot up the deli she’d just started working at. Without any way to track much of her recent history, it seemed more and more likely that she could know what happened. Our hackers had no info. She was lying low, it seemed. Working jobs under the table. Not using credit cards.

Who are you hiding from?

I had yet to dismiss how she'd clammed up earlier. As I walked down the hall toward her room, I slowed in my steps, catching the sound of her voice through the door.

“I miss you too.”

I stopped. Going still, I held my breath and wondered if I heard her correctly.

You miss who?The affection was clear in her voice, and I hated the instant flare of jealousy that streaked through me.Who the fuck is she talking to?

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