Page 4 of Frankie and the Fed

So why did she go?

I check her phone, looking for clues, and open her recent calls. There are very few calls, and almost all of them are from me. Ryan and Nicky’s numbers are also listed here. The last calls are from a confidential number.

I check the time. She must have left after that conversation. The time fits. I sent the message just a little later.

Who is this, and why did she leave?

I promise to be strong for you.

An ominous feeling crawls down my spine. Why do you have to be strong for me, Bambi?

I pick up the phone and call Jess.

“Yes, Wolf,” Jess answers in a sleepy voice. It doesn’t matter that I’ve woken him up. When I need him, he always answers at any hour of the day.

“Jess,” I shout into the receiver, “I think Summers has taken Ayala.”

“Took her from where? Isn’t she in your apartment?”

“She was. She’s not here now, and she left her phone. I think it’s him. There’s no other option.”

“He broke into the penthouse?”

The building is quite secure. There’s a guard, and it’s not possible to get to the penthouse without my key. I also hired two undercover security guards and placed them in front of the building to ensure no one entered uninvited.

“No. She must have left the building on her own. There’s no sign of a break-in. I don’t know what he said to her, but it must have been a serious threat. It’s the only logical thing.”

“Why do you think so?”

“She wouldn’t leave me. And she left a strange letter.”

“What does it say?”

I read him the letter.

“She didn’t mention Michael Summers in the letter. Are you sure she didn’t leave voluntarily?”

“I’m positive.”

“Okay. When was that?”

“She has an unidentified call coming in around three o’clock,” I report. “I think she left because of that call.”

“Okay. I’ll try to trace it. But that was nearly ten hours ago. If he indeed took her, she could be anywhere in the world by now, Wolf.”

“I know,” I say before hanging up.

Why did she leave without talking to me first? I check my phone again to make sure I didn’t miss any calls or messages. Nope.

What the hell did he say to her that would make her leave me like this? Without calling me, at least?

I open her device again and go through the latest messages. Fuck. Photos. He sent photos.

I gasp, and my heart skips a beat as I realize what he must have said to her. Fucking hell.

How did he get so close to me? The son of a bitch pointed a gun at my back, and I didn’t even notice. I hired security for the building to protect Ayala. I didn’t think anyone would come after me. I didn’t think I had to defend myself. Shit. I feel the need to hit someone or something.

She went back to the monster because of me.