Page 116 of Hidden Memories

Gabriel reads my anxiety expertly. “See? Now you’re more worried than you were a minute ago.”

Santi cuts in. “G… cool it…”

Gabriel nods as if conceding he needs to tread more lightly.

But I don’t want him to.

“I can handle whatever you guys have to say.”

“In that case,” Gabriel glances at Santi before pulling out another clear plastic bag. “There’s something else.”

Sealed inside is a cell phone with scuffed edges and a faint fingerprint smudge on the screen.

“We found it in a trash bin near an abandoned house on the outskirts of Echo Valley,” Anton says. “The place looks like it’s been lived in recently. Nic’s signature was all over some papers we found inside.”

Gabriel places a clear folder on the island with papers inside.

Sure enough, it’s Nic’s signature on sale documents for some commercial buildings in San Francisco.

“Do you think these are evidence of fraud with the ’Ndrangheta?” I ask. “I can’t see any reason a sales contract would be anywhere but in the Pacific Dreams offices.” I lift the document. “Does this mean the Mafia broke into those offices, too? If they have this kind of paperwork, it has to. Right?”

My God. These people are after all the evidence. Flash drives. Now paperwork… why the hell would Nic have risked being involved with this? As if Pacific Dreams wasn’t profitable enough on its own? Greed truly is a bottomless pit.

That Theo and I were under the watch of some Mafia, the perfect collateral for years without knowing, sends a shiver through my spine.

Gabriel nods, his jaw tight. “It’s unmistakable. Whoever was there left in a hurry, too. Coffee mug still warm, half-finished sudoku on the table. But this?” He lifts the evidence bag with a burner phone. “This is the real find. It’s been wiped clean of most data, but GhostEye managed to extract a partial call log. Two saved contacts: ‘M’ and ‘D.’”

Santi’s brows knit together. “M and D? Is that who we’re thinking is working Echo Valley right now?”

“Likely,” Anton says.

Gabriel continues. “It’s possible…” His eyes lock on mine, and this time, they’re full of more compassion. “We have two theories now. One would be that there were other people at Pacific Dreams involved in the fraud. Maybe it’s M and D and they’re working with the Mafia to sift through Echo Valley until they get those drives. The other could be that Nic worked with another close contact. Maybe a family member. Perhaps the woman from these photos. One thing is clear, getting past security at Monarch Hills is not a one-man job. We’re searching for at least two suspects.”

The room falls silent, this revelation hanging heavy inthe air. I stumble to the dining table beside me and sink into the nearest chair, my legs no longer strong enough to hold me.

Santi crouches beside me, his hands resting on my knees, thumbs brushing gently across my jeans.

“Hey,” he says gently, his dark eyes searching mine. “We’ll figure this out. One step at a time.”

I nod, but my heart pounds relentlessly.

Gabriel cuts through the haze. “We’re going to investigate the house further. And if you notice anything unusual, call us immediately.”

“We’ll keep an eye on the not-so-abandoned property tonight,” Anton adds with heavy instruction, clamping a hand down on Santi’s shoulder. “Don’t take your eyes off Kat and Theo.”

My boyfriend clenches his jaw, still staring at me. “Goes without saying.”

We stand to see them out.

When Anton and Gabriel step out into the night, the air left behind is suffocating, filled to the brim with deadly theories.

The crackle of the fire, the occasional muffled laugh from Theo in the other room—it should be grounding. It should mean I can exhale.

Instead, my pulse thrums beneath my skin… I’m light-headed…

Santi doesn’t hesitate. Two steps and he’s got me, his body warm, solid, steady. His arms wrap around my waist, tugging me in tight like he can hold me together if I start to break.

I close my eyes, letting his presence settle over me.

---