7. Romeo
Chapter 7
Romeo
S team billows around me as I walk out of the bathroom. Using the towel around my neck, I dry my hair. The grime of traveling is gone, and after a nap, I feel marginally more awake than I did when I came upstairs. My cell phone vibrates across the bedside table on the other side of the room.
The room I’m staying in is like any of the other guest rooms in this house. There are two large windows, one of which has a window seat. The furniture comprises a bed, two bedside tables, a mirror leaning against the wall, an armchair, and a small table. It’s more than enough for what I need.
Swiping up my phone, I frown when a name I’m not expecting to see for a while flashes on the screen. I connect the call and bring it to my ear. “Callum?”
“I have some news for you.”
My brows reach for my hairline, and I take a seat on the edge of the bed. “That was quick.”
Callum chuckles, the sound mingling with the clattering of his keyboard. I can picture him, somewhere in a basement, surrounded by screens, his fingers flying across the keys as he hacks into something he shouldn’t. “Leo expressed how important this one was, so I moved it to the top of my list.”
Rubbing my eye, I ask, “What have you got for me?”
“Whoever set up the camera doesn’t know much about IP addresses or tracking, for that matter. The computer has a record of every time they logged onto the live stream and I can give you an approximate location for where they are. Or were.”
Cristo , that sounds almost too good to be true. “What’s the catch?”
Callum sighs heavily. “Whoever has been watching her hasn’t been online for the last few weeks. It could be that they’ve lost interest or they’ve moved away, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you’ll find anything when you get there.”
Great . It’s effectively a dead end unless there’s something at that address. Would he be stupid enough to still be there and not have eyes on her? Is he the kind of man that would leave her for the wolves?
There’s too much that we don’t yet know, but starting at that address is as good a place as any. Right after the show I need to put on with Aurora. He might not be accessing that feed, but it’ll be a little hard not to notice her face splashed across the internet.
Pushing a hand through my damp hair, I reply, “Send over the details you have, and we’ll reach out if we need anything more.”
“Got it.”
The call disconnects and I throw the phone on the bed. Leaning forward, I hold my head in my hands, the beginnings of a headache throbbing behind my eyes. In the solitude of my room, I can let my guard down, even if it’s only to show myself how exhausted I am.
Running my hands down my face, I exhale heavily before standing. The last thing I want to do is go out tonight. Not when there are so many more important things to be doing, like going to that address and finding out what’s there. There has to be something.
I stand, heading in the direction of the closet as I replay the conversation with Callum. What he’s found might not be the lead we were looking for, but it’s more than what we had before I took Aurora. Maybe she was telling the truth when she said she hadn’t heard from her father in years. Right, and people always tell the truth when their lives are on the line.
I go through the motions of getting dressed, and as I’m buttoning up my black dress shirt, there’s a knock at the bedroom door.
Massimo walks in as I stride out of the closet. He inclines his head before moving over to the armchair by the window. He sets two glasses and a bottle of scotch on the small table.
Fastening my cuffs, I come to a stop next to him. “Have you slept?”
He finishes pouring the amber liquid into each glass before he turns, holding one of them out. I take it from him and he collapses into the chair, tipping his head back and exhaling a long, tired breath.
His eyes are small slits, giving me my answer before he even speaks. “Not yet, but I will later. You have a reservation for two at eight. As requested, the paparazzi will be there to welcome you. And two girls will be here at six to do her hair and make-up.” He takes a sip of his drink before he asks, “Do you own any clothes that aren’t black?”
Cocking a brow, I tease, “Are you trying to give me fashion advice?”
“I mean…” He looks me up and down. “Someone should.”
“Right, because you’re one to talk. We’re practically wearing the same thing.”
Massimo shrugs, smothering another yawn. “Right, but mine goes with the name.”
I can’t help but chuckle at that. Massimo has the nickname ‘The Crow’. He picked it up when he was younger and would take shiny things that caught his eye. It’s a badge of honor for him now, even if he doesn’t steal things anymore.
“So I should try out some pointy horns and wear all red?”
“Some color wouldn't hurt,” he quips back.
I’ve missed this. Having someone to be myself with and not constantly on guard. Every interaction I have is shrouded in darkness. And even though I can accept that it comes with the territory, sometimes there needs to be a hint of light.
Brushing off the melancholy thoughts that have no place in my world, I step in front of the mirror. I tuck my shirt into my pants and fasten my belt before meeting Massimo’s gaze in the reflection and replying, “Maybe another day.”
With my suit jacket on and my phone in my pocket, I walk to the bedroom door with Massimo trailing behind. I hold it open and when he’s on the threshold, I say, “Callum called. He’s got a lead, but it might come to nothing. I’ve asked him to email it over.”
Massimo’s eyes widen and he stares at me with accusations in his gaze. “You could have led with that, Rome. I’ll get started on it tonight.”
I clap him on the shoulder, applying a light pressure that gets him moving. Closing the door, I fall into step with him as we walk down the corridor and toward the stairs.
My tone is authoritative, brokering no argument when I say, “You won’t. I didn’t tell you this so you can do something with it. I told you so we have the same information. Get some sleep. We can pick this up again in the morning.”
Massimo stops at the top of the stairs, turning to face me. A look of determination fills his face and he takes a step forward, his jaw set. “Rome, I appreciate you looking out for me, but I won’t rest until we find out who did this. It’s the least I can do for the men we lost.”
I blow out a breath, smoothing a hand over my jaw. “All that will lead to is your death, and that’s the last thing we need. You can’t protect your men when you're dead. I say this as your don, Massimo, and I won’t tell you again. Get. Some. Sleep.”
Disappointment rounds his shoulders, a stony expression coating his features. I get it, but he’s only likely to make mistakes if he’s not rested. Huffing out a breath, he inclines his head before stalking off in the direction of his room.
The banging of a door in the distance concludes Massimo’s exit, and I flick my wrist, checking the time. With one problem person solved, it’s on to the next. We have an hour until her clothes arrive and if I’ve read Aurora right, she won’t have showered like I asked her to.
It’s about time I show her exactly who she’s dealing with .