Page 61 of Twisted Throne

“I am. And I apologize for my mistake with Alec.”

“You two have always been at each other’s throats.” Angelo studied me carefully. “But I also know that you would not lie to me.” From some people, that might have been a threat. From Angelo, it was an accolade.

I bowed my head slightly. “I released him from the basement. He’s at the front with Carlos now.”

Angelo nodded shortly, then whipped around to peer out the window at the sound of more shots from outside.

“I’m going to send some men up to the second floor. They can pick off some of Sabitino’s men when they start to approach the house.”

“Do you know where Gia is?” I asked, trying to sound unconcerned.

“Check upstairs. Elena was up there too, and she knows to get to one of the safe rooms. If they aren’t, get them in one.”

“Understood.”

I left the room and headed toward the staircase as Angelo went to instruct Carlos to move some men upstairs and to the roof. I took the steps two at a time, and went to Gia’s room first. Her suite was empty, and I knew there was no access to the tunnels or saferooms through there. I strode out the door and across the hall to Alec and Elena’s room. I found the door locked, and pounded on it. I realized after a moment that if they were in the safe room, they wouldn’t be able to hear me.

I stepped away from the door, then moved forward and delivered a hard kick to the door jamb. The wood started to splinter and it took only one more kick to bust into the suite. Seeing no one, I moved to the large walk-in closet that gave access to one of the saferooms. This was the only one that was accessible from the second floor. That’s where they should be. Where she had to be.

When I opened the closet door, I was met by a tearful Elena pointing a gun at me. Her hands were shaking so bad, I was afraid that she’d shoot me by accident.

“Hey, it’s me, put down the gun.” I tried to sound as calm as possible. She seemed on the verge of panic and I didn’t want to spook her.

Elena stared at me, hand trembling, then lowered the gun.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know who was…” She peered over my shoulder as if she expected an army of Sabitino’s soldiers to come and pile in behind me.

“Is Gia with you?” It came out harsher than I’d wanted, but at this point, I didn’t really give a damn.

“She was.” Elena looked away, her bottom lip trembling.

“What the hell do you mean,was?” My heart hammered hard.

Elena refused to look at me. I grabbed her arm and yanked her in front of me so she would be forced to look at me.

“Answer me.”

“S-she left. Lucy went first then Gia went to find her… and you.” Her eyes darted around wildly.

“What else?” There was definitely something else going on, and I was out of patience. “Why would she be trying to find me?”

“She… wanted to… to find Lucy.” She sounded evasive and wouldn’t meet my eye. She was definitely holding something back.

“What else?” I shook her slightly. I’d been in this game long enough to know when someone was holding something back.

“Nothing! It wasn’t supposed to…I didn’t think that…” Her face crumpled. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like this, Paul. I swear.”

Jesus Christ, it was her.

“Where did she go?” I still had a hold of her arm and shook her, perhaps harder than I should have.

“I don’t know! Lucy took off, and then Gia went after her.” Elena’s eyes were wide and frightened. “You haven’t seen her?”

Theficahad the nerve to look concerned.

“I’ll find her. You stay out of my way. You’ll be dealt with later.” I shoved her away from me and left the bedroom, seeing only red.

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