Page 128 of A New Dawn

Sleep is forgotten now, adrenaline pulsing through my veins. For the first time in weeks, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

I’ll get her back soon. And I will make her see how good we are together. That, from now on, I will treat her more as an equal… at least when it comes to our relationship. I’ll involve her in my decisions, even though she will still have to abide by my rules, but I’ll explain them to her better, make her understand why they are important… that they are for her safety and that of our children.

We will be happy together.

The jaguar—I wonder… Just like before, I search the internet for clues.

The jungle animal represents power, ferocity, and wisdom, as well as protection from evil. For the ancient Mayans, it was a symbol of light and darkness associated with the King of the Underworld.

How is this helpful? I read on but quickly lose interest. It waffles on and on about yin and yang and God knows what else. I’m almost at the bottom of the page when a paragraph catches my attention.

Jaguars are mainly found in South and Central America.

Is this where Ella is hiding?

Fuck me! That region is way too dangerous for someone like her. But also perfect to disappear in.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

I need more clues. I Google South American countries. As I go through the list, I stop short at one entry.

Oh, hello there.

The jaguar is the national animal of… Brazil.

Brazil… could Ella be there?

Then another thought. I frantically type and scan the search results. It’s a long shot, but anything at this stage is worth a try.

My eyes light up when I see the date. It’s two weeks away. If I don’t have her back by then, this might very well be worth a try.

There’s a knock on the door, and Mateo enters, holding an envelope in his hands. He studies at me, concern in his eyes. I know he’s worried about me.

The light, jovial banter between us died the day Ella ran. I’m just not in the mood.

He’s also seen me more than a little volatile lately. Even he treads lightly around me, which isn’t like us at all.

He hands me the envelope, and I open it. Pictures of Ella’s best friend Rhia slide onto my desk. In each one she’s on the phone. I look at my brother questioningly.

He rubs his neck. “I think Rhia is in touch with Ella.”

“How?” I bark, cringing at how harsh I sound.Don’t fucking shoot the messenger, Gualtiero.

I tone it down slightly. “How is that possible? We have her private and work phones bugged, as well as her office and apartment. We’re listening to everything she says. She’s not spoken once to her.”“Take a closer look at the phones in the pictures.” I pick up the photos again. There are a few where she leaves her office, phone pressed against her ear, in a restaurant, phone in hand, and then there are a few where she sits in a park talking on her mobile. Nothing unusual.

“The phones are all black, but if you look closely, the phone in the last pictures is smaller. Almost every lunch break she goes to the park and chats on that phone for at least half an hour… there are no listening devices there.”

Realization dawns. “She’s using a burner phone?”

Mateo nods. “That’s my guess.”

Hope blossoms in my chest like the birth of the universe. Rhia knows where my angel is.

“I had our guy there, trying to get closer to her while she was on the phone to see if he could overhear anything, but she’s extremely careful and aware of who is around her. She always sits in an open space where no one can hide anywhere near her.

“While she was on the phone yesterday, I had Uberto check if her mobile was in use.” He pauses for dramatic effect, and I raise my brow at him as my heart speeds up in my chest.

Mateo shakes his head with a smile. “It wasn’t. In fact, none of the numbers we monitor showed any signs of activity. We’ve got her, Tiero,” he exclaims triumphantly.

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