Page 22 of This Thing of Ours

“Listen, I… I… don’t know.”

The guy was lying. He was scared shitless and still lying. Why was he trying to protect the kid? On the Monday after Gabriella’s disappearance, Nico had sent a couple of men to her school, but Derek Miller hadn’t been in the classroom, and none of the other students had his phone number or knew where to find him.

He could ask Gabriella, he just wanted to give her a little time, but he would if he didn’t get the answers he needed.

“I think you do know. Where can I find him?”

The guy was shaking his head before Marco even finished speaking. “I… I… don’t know.”

The gun blast was loud, but the guy’s screams were louder. Marco waited until he was down to his last few whimpers before he repeated, “Where can I find him?”

The guy remained silent, so Marco moved the gun over, aiming at his other foot.

“Wait! Pl… please. I don’t know where Dmitri is.”

What? Who the fuck was Dmitri?

The guy kept stuttering. “V… vol… Volkov has him hidden.”

“Ivan Volkov?”

At the guy's vigorous nod, Marco took another step back, thinking. It was all starting to make sense. Ivan Volkov was the head of the Russian mob, and they’d been trying—unsuccessfully—to take over their territory. Guess they’ve upped their game.

Marco holstered his gun. He was done with the guy for the time being. Volkov shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Walking from the dim interior of the warehouse into the bright sunlight, Marco paused when he spied Johnny standing to the side of the door. Pulling his sunglasses from his pocket, he slipped them on then said, “Give the guy some water.” He didn’t wait for a response before heading for his car.

Chapter Nine

The knock atthe front door was startling. Not expecting anyone, Gabby eyed it nervously. It was late-ish, a little after ten, and she was finally alone for the first time that day.

Her mom had been there when she’d gotten up late that morning after a restless, dream-filled sleep, but Marco had been gone. One glance at her mom’s devastated face when she’d seen the damage done to her only daughter for the first time, had Gabby losing the tenuous hold on her emotions. Tears had filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks before she’d had a chance to blink them away. But it had been the hug that had broken her. Being engulfed by her mother’s arms, she’d buried her face in her neck, breathing in the familiar scent of Chanel, and cried. Huge, powerful, racking sobs that had jarred both her and her mom until Gabby wasn’t sure who was keeping whom standing.

“I’m so sorry.” Keeping her face firmly planted in her mom’s neck, Gabby whispered her confession. “I should’ve never gone off without security.”

“Oh, honey, we all make mistakes. I’m just sorry the consequences of yours were so high.”

“I thought Derek was a good guy. I thought everyone was making too big a deal out of it.” Her mom stroked her back, saying nothing, letting her talk. “It was so stupid to trust him.”

“It wasn’t stupid to trust him, you couldn’t have known, but you also have to trust in the people who love you, that we do things a certain way for a reason.”

Gabby nodded, agreeing. Boy, had she learned her lesson. She sniffed and took a step back out of her mom’s arms. “Is Dad very angry?”

“Your father is… concerned. He’s worried because you wouldn’t let Dr. Greene examine you.”

Gabby went over and plopped down on the couch and tucked her legs to her chest, hugging them. “I promise, there’s no need. I’m not ready to talk about what happened, but I will say, it’s not as bad as you’re all thinking.”

Her mom sat beside her, prying one of Gabby’s hands loose to hold it sandwiched between her own. “Fair enough, but know, if you ever do want to talk, I’m here for you.”

Patting her hand, her mom had gotten up and gone to the kitchen.

Gabby had been given some soup, that she’d barely sipped at and in a flavor she didn’t recall. She faked a nap while listening to the sounds of her mother cleaning and the softer sounds of music in the background. Then had endured yet another meal—that time choking down chicken and rice, to stop her mom from nagging about how little she was eating.

She loved her mom, even appreciated what she’d been trying to do, but she was exhausted in mind, body, and spirit and all Gabby had wanted was to lick her wounds in peace. So, after some gentle coaxing and the promise she was going straight to bed, she’d convinced her mom to leave.

The knock sounded again, louder this time, yet still, she sat frozen on the sofa. She doubted someone with nefarious intentions would go through the motions of polite etiquette, but that didn’t mean she could get her brain to recognize that fact, and in turn, get her limbs working in the proper order to get up and answer the door.

It wasn’t until she heard her name called in a voice she was beginning to associate with safety that her body jerked into action. Standing, her legs took a few hesitant steps before picking up speed, carrying her to the door.

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