Chapter 4
SIMEON
Iam immeasurably angry. After trailing the nuns around town, it soon became apparent that our one is no longer among them.
As we watch eight nuns climb back on board their bus, my fury knows no bounds.
“Fuck!”
Jack is pissed, rightfully so because we failed. Something that doesn’t happen very often and always comes with serious consequences.
My head is spinning as I attempt to work out how she escaped, and as my men drift back to their relevant cars, I slam my fist on the headrest of the seat in front of me several times in an attempt to let my anger out.
“What did we miss?”
My tone is threatening and full of rage, and Jack hisses, “That we were dealing with a woman who had a plan all along.”
“State the fucking obvious.”
My mind races.
“Head to the airport. She has a flight leaving in two hours. I’ll check in as normal and search for her there.”
Jack informs the drivers of the cars, and as we head out of town, I sense failure, and it’s not a taste I particularly enjoy.
I am the master of my particular game and one woman, one innocent woman in the ways of the world, has played me good and proper. If I weren’t so angry, I would be impressed, but now I am raging and liable to handcuff her to my side as soon as I set eyes on her.
We head to the airport in silence, and as soon as we reach the drop-off zone, I’m out and cutting through the crowds like a man on a mission.
Alice has been given a first-class ticket, more for my benefit than hers. I rarely travel commercially and when I do I demand the best. This is no exception and, if anything, I thought she would be grateful for that.
Once I have checked in, I head to the lounge, fully expecting to find her there, and yet when it’s apparent she is not, my anger consumes me.
I take a seat at the bar and bark at the bartender, “Whiskey, neat.” As my phone buzzes, I stare at the screen in disbelief at the message from Jack.
She never checked in.
Fuck. I run my fingers through my hair, feeling like a complete fool, and the next one that comes through compounds my misery.
I left Harry and Tommy in the town to check the cameras in the stores. The only one of interest was in the local coffee shop where a nun entered the restroom, and a young woman came out.
I study the grainy photograph that appears on my screen, noting the pretty summer dress and the face of an angel hiding behind huge dark sunglasses.
Why wear them inside a dark coffee shop? I immediately realize we’ve been played because I would stake my life on the fact that woman is Alice Zaferelli.
The photograph I was sent was taken years ago, and it appears that time has been extremely kind to her. She has filled out in all the right places, and her naturally wavy chestnut hair flows to her shoulders.
She is striking in many ways, and I experience a moment’s irritation that she is now out of my sight because that wasn’t the plan.
I make the plans, not her, and she has seriously pissed me off before we’ve even met. I knew there was a reason why I didn’t want a wife, and it appears that mine is already a problem before she is even wearing my ring.
If she ever wears your ring.
My inner voice taunts me at my lack of control over her, and as my fist curls around the glass of bourbon, I drain the glass and push away from the bar. Fuck and double fuck, this will be like searching for a diamond in a trash can.
It takes me a further twenty minutes to check out of the flight and as I step into the car waiting outside, Jack wastes no time in filling me in.
“There is footage of a yellow truck in the road behind the coffee shop. Take a look.”
He sends me the recording, and I watch with growing anger as the woman emerges from the exit and glances both ways before putting her head down and running to the truck. As she slides inside, she disappears from view and I suck in my breath.
We’ve been well and truly played and I don’t like it one fucking bit.
“The truck?”
My voice is calm, controlled even, but inside I am on fire and Jack answers in his usual efficient tone.
“Registered to a local business. Mulligan’s Landscaping for all your outdoor needs.”
I don’t appreciate the lighter tone to his voice and snap, “And?”
“We are following the lead. Harry and Tommy are checking it out now.”
I say nothing, but an angry pulse ticks in my jaw because I’m not stupid and it will be almost impossible to track that vehicle. The roads in Switzerland have very few cameras, and we don’t speak the freaking language.
However, I will not face the fact that she has got away. That doesn’t even cross my mind. All that does is the promise that when I find Alice Zaferelli, she will wish she had never left The Order of the Holy Mother of God, and that’s a promise.