Page 153 of My Mafia Queen

“Fucking piece of shit,” I burst out.

“What happened?”

“She’s there somewhere. And he’s left her alone. I’m gonna kill that motherfucker. The man he sent away was supposed to move her away or bring her back. I can’t believe no one’s guarding her. Look everywhere. If there’s a basement, she’s in the basement. If there’s a secret room, she’s in that secret room. Blow the door open and get her out of there. I’m waiting,” I say impatiently.

He moves around the house, this time calling her name.

Eventually, I hear noises like he’s forcing his way through a door.

“There’s an attached house,” he says.

“That’s what I thought.”

“Stairs.”

I wait.

Seconds later, he puts his shoulder through a door.

“Oh, fuck.”

“What?” I ask evenly, although a bad feeling rolls through me.

“It’s damp and dark.”

“Was the door locked?”

“Yes… Wait. There’s a light. And a sweet smell.”

“Food?”

“Maybe.”

I’m gonna kill Joe Lizard. I swear, I will. There’s no doubt about it. The only question is… How quickly can I do that?

Footsteps echo at the other end of the phone line before I hear his voice.

“Tina?”

He calls her again.

“What do you see?” I ask.

“An empty bed. Zip ties. She was here.”

“Was?”

“If she’s in the basement, she must be unconscious. Somehow, she’s managed to remove her restraints and get out of bed.”

“She could be dead.”

“I doubt it. One shoe is here. Why would they remove her shoe and carry her away? They probably drugged her. I mean like a––”

“I know what you mean.” I interrupt him.

It’s possible that they sedated her and left her alone.

She must’ve woken up and dragged herself out of bed.

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