6. Rafael #2
But I would never hurt Portia. Under no circumstance could I ever bring her harm. I’m missing a key part of whatever happened last night and it’s enough to drive me crazy.
Assuming Portia doesn’t reach out first, I’ll have to put this together like some puzzle if I’m going to find out.
I leave the hotel suite and head downstairs to the lobby.
The receptionist behind the counter casts a friendly smile in my direction as I approach and begins to ask me about my morning and if there’s anything he can do for me. I interrupt him before he can even finish his question.
“I need access to your hotel footage.”
His brows knit in confusion. “Our hotel footage?”
“Your security cameras. You must have them throughout the premises.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible, sir?—”
“I’m afraid I’m not asking,” I say, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a wad of cash.
I slide it across the counter and read the name engraved on his name tag.
“Take that as compensation and show me what you’ve got, Ricky.
That’s called the easy way. Or we can do things the hard way.
Trust me when I say you don’t want to do things the hard way.
So make up your mind right now. What are you picking? ”
Ricky glances uncertainly at the hundred dollar bills and then back up at me, his expression best described as uncomfortable politeness. He’s still got a half-smile frozen on his face, but a bead of sweat has broken onto his brow and fear flashes in his eyes.
A guy like this, he’s no doubt tempted by the cash. But he’s also fucking wearing a clip-on tie and needs this job.
“Take the cash,” I urge. “Show me the security footage. Nobody has to know.”
He nods stiffly, then says, “Follow me.”
I’m led to a room in the back where there’s a dozen plus monitors mounted to the wall and a control panel that operates the screens. Ricky gestures to the monitors and explains the hotel only has cameras situated around specific locations on the premises.
“All entry and exit points,” he explains. “Both pools and jacuzzis. The restaurant and bar. The lobby and out on the terrace. And, of course, the parking lot and valet up front.”
“I need to see footage from last night and this morning. I need to see if someone left the property.”
“If they did, it would likely be on camera.”
“Guess what we’re going to be doing, Ricky?” I ask. “You might want to call another associate to man the reception desk, because it looks like you’re about to help me comb through this footage.”
Noon arrives with no sign of Portia. Adagio has had Jayla call her numerous times.
Jayla has even reached out to their parents and nothing.
I’ve had my men spend the rest of the morning scouring DC for any hint of her, turning up at all locations she’s known to frequent.
Me and Ricky review hours of hotel footage to find only one damning clue from last night.
At around nine o’ clock, Portia and I walked through the revolving front doors of the Echelon Hotel. She’s clutching my arm as we stroll side by side like any other affectionate couple. We step into the elevator together and then disappear upstairs.
My heart almost stops in my chest watching the footage, an eerie shiver working its way down my spine.
It’s the fact I don’t remember any of it. I don’t remember bringing Portia back to my hotel suite. I don’t know what happened next…
Once I’ve confirmed there’s no more useful footage, I turn up at her apartment. Some of my men are already there, including Maurizio. The rest are still sweeping the city in search of her.
“Anything new?” I ask.
Maurizio shakes his head to the side. “Nobody’s seen anything. I’ve asked her neighbors. Her landlord. The lady she buddies with at the gym. It’s been radio silence.”
“People don’t disappear into thin air.”
“Unless they’re made to.”
I cast him a dark look. “What are you implying, Ice Pick? Be careful with your words.”
“If nobody’s seen her, there must be a reason why,” he answers simply in his usual monotone. “Who else is good at making people disappear but someone like us?”
“The Tucos,” I say slowly. “You think they could’ve had something to do with this?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time they’ve targeted her.”
I stroke my jaw, slowly nodding along as I try to think.
It’s hard after the day I’ve had. Rather than feel composed and strategic and on my A game, I’ve been the exact opposite every step of the way.
Blacking out and losing some of your memory will do that to you.
But the more I mull over what Maurizio has said, the more I’m wondering if that could be the case. If somehow the Tucos could be involved.
I sent Portia away to protect her. It broke her heart when I encouraged her to take the job in DC, but it was for her own good.
She was getting too close to discovering the truth, which would open Pandora’s Box and cause a host of issues for everyone involved.
It would complicate things not only for me, but it would put her in irrevocable danger like never before.
She would become the biggest target of both the Belluccis and the Tucos, and I’m not sure I could even protect her anymore. That I could prevent Don Vito from interfering.
Could the Tucos have caught wind of my trip to DC and interfered somehow? Did they pull something last night?
It’s a version of events that’s easier for me to accept than the other possibility. Than the version that’s had me disturbed with myself all morning long…
“Find out,” I say at last. “If the Tucos are involved—if they’ve taken Portia—the gloves are off. There are no more rules. I will make them suffer in ways they can’t even imagine.”