76. Rose
ROSE
“Ireally thought we’d find something. Some kind of clue or worst case,” I can barely speak the words out loud, not wanting them to be true, “a body.”
“I’m sorry, Belladonna. Let’s head back to the city and see what Angelo’s team might have found. They came up here last night to monitor the situation. I know he’s had his best intelligence team digging into everything as well. I’m sure they will have found something by now.”
“Okay. Will you take me back to the diner for my rental car?” Surely he isn’t just going to have me leave it there.
“It’s already been taken care of.”
“Oh. That was fast. Okay.” Wow, I really don’t know Dante at all if he can just “take care of it” like that.
“Why do you sound sad?”
“I just wanted to tell Shirley goodbye. Since there isn’t a reason to be staying up here anymore, I’m not sure when I’ll see her again.
I don’t even have her phone number.” I’m shocked at how emotional the thought of not seeing her again is making me.
But seeing her worry for me today changed things.
I’m tired of being alone and not having people around me to lean on for support, and over the last several weeks, Shirley has become that for me. She has become my friend.
“It’s getting late, Rose. I promise to come back up here with you after we can ensure your safety. But for now, it’s better if we don’t put anyone else in danger.”
He doesn’t actually say it, but I know who he’s talking about. Luc. Luc was put in danger because of me. Luc is likely dead because of me. I definitely don’t want that to happen to Shirley.
“Okay.” That’s all I can muster. I’m exhausted from the physical and emotional drain that my body has gone through in the past thirty-six hours.
“Why don’t you rest on the drive home? I’ll wake you when we get to Angelo’s.” I can tell Dante is just as exhausted as I am, maybe even more so, but my eyes are closed before I have a chance to respond as sleep pulls me under.