Page 53 of Unbroken (Russo Mafia)

Rett shrugs. Nico rolls his eyes. Figures, dead end.

It wasn’t until the fourth day in a row looking for Vincent that Father finally stepped in. He stormed into his house demanding answers from his staff. They told him it’s been over a month since they’ve seen him. A month and they didn’t think it was strange. Even when his daughter died, he didn’t disappear for a month. It’s like he vanished without a trace, his cellphone dead. All his vehicles are still at this house. So, tracking him is out of the question.

I recovered the severed finger from Charlie’s place, so now I’m staring at two fingers, a dick, an ear, and the last gift that was delivered a fucking foot. If I don’t stop this, I’ll have a full human body soon. There’s no way this person is alive anymore.

“Why not run a DNA on the blood?” Charlie asked. She’s been spending time with me at the office recently.

We all freeze. We’ve been staring at these body parts for so long looking for clues to who it would be.

“What?” Rett asked her.

“You know, the DNA. I’m sure the doc can figure it out. I’ve watched enough true crime. They can get DNA off anything these days.”

“Is she serious?” Nico whispered with astonishment.

Antonio’s lips parting and closing like a fish, trying to find words.

I stare at her with amazement. Why we never thought of this is beyond me. I guess a fresh set of eyes is all it takes. I reach for her pulling her onto my lap.

“You amaze me.”

“I didn’t do anything special. I only remembered something I watched last night. Figured it would help.” She gave a half shrug.

“Either way, Charlie, I think it’s genius,” Nico admitted. “I’ll call the doc and get him over right away.”

“I hope this idea of yours works. Then we’ll figure out who keeps sending them,” Antonio added.

Charlie bites her lip, a host of emotions crisscrossing her face. I gently run my thumb along her creased forehead. She loosens her face coming out of her thoughts.

“It’ll be okay. Thank you for your help baby.” I lean down kissing her soft lips.

She kisses me back, pulling away. “I hope so. I only want to be helpful. I feel useless ever since that news article came out. Most of all my clients fired me. Oscar could only keep a couple on board telling them it was all a misunderstanding. Scarlett has served the newspaper for defamation. We’re hoping to settle out of court. But my life has just been a giant rollercoaster lately and I don’t know what to do anymore,” she sniffed, heartbroken.

The guys look at me also looking heartbroken for her. This wasn’t my plan for her. I wanted her to have a stress-free life if she isn’t worrying about her dad now. It’s about some stalking asshole after us. I can tell she wants to visit her dad. Every day she talks to him she’ll find an excuse because she hasn’t seen him. With him being a good detective probably has figured something out by now. He had to. She hasn’t been to her apartment. I’m thinking of ways to ask her to move in with Ada and me.

“The doc will be here in an hour to take a couple of swabs. I’m gonna head out and get ready for that thing tonight,” Nico says nonchalantly. While winking.

The thing he’s talking about is a drop off. I rub my forehead, while Charlie looks at him like he’s a complete moron. Yep, she figured it out. Wasn’t that hard when he fucking winks.

“Take Tony with you. He’ll keep you in line.”

Antonio smacks Nico on the back on the head. “Let’s go idiot before you tell Charlie everything.”

“Hey, I didn’t tell her nothing.” He walks out of the office rubbing his head. Antonio follows mumbling about how he can’t stand him sometimes. Which I know is a bunch of bullshit.

By the time doc shows up, we’re all a nervous wreck. I pray to God this idea works out. The only way it’ll work is if the DNA is in the database, doc says don’t be counting our chicks yet. After he swabs each body part, Charlie almost gagging when he touches the dick. He told us it could take up to three weeks, but he’ll do his best to get the results back quicker. Considering we don’t have three weeks a week seems like a lifetime away.

It’s late by the time we get back to the townhouse. Ada is already in bed. I need to spend a day with her when some of this shit storm passes. I can’t risk taking her out with me right now.

“Do you really think something will show up, or are we wasting time?” Charlie questions, as we climb the stairs to our room.Ourroom. I like how that sounds.

“God, I hope it comes back with something. Even a blood type will be something to go on at this point. I’m grasping at straws and I’m losing a battle that I didn’t know I was in.”

“I just don’t understand why someone would be targeting everyone you know, yet the guys and Scarlett are all fine.”

“I’ve been wondering the same thing. It’s only Father, you, and me so far. It got to mean something. I haven’t even received a fucking letter or message. Your break-in wasn’t a goddamn message. How the hell am I supposed to know who it is by that?” I said, feeling ready to explode.

Charlie halts her movements on the stairs, turns to look at me. Her face went ashen.

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