Page 101 of Mine

I hadn’t protected her.

She’d called me; and I hadn’t got here in time. I ripped my phone from my pocket and began dialing every contact I had.

Someone has to know something.

Eleven hours later…

“You have an appalling track record with caring for the girls you love, Leonardo,” Michael said as he lifted his brows at me.

I swallowed down my fury, refusing to lose control.

“Michael. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need your help.”

He studied me, his dark eyes verging on black as he glanced around his study. “I’ll consider your request. Now leave.”

I stood swiftly, fire burning through my veins. “Michael, with all due respect, you know as well as I do the chances of her surviving the first twenty-four hours are—”

“Leonardo. Cal. Whoever you are. Donotstand in front of me repeating pointless statistics from the law,” he interrupted sharply, his dark eyes meeting my green ones.

I clenched my fists at my sides as he waved his hand away dismissively. “I said I would consider your request.”

Frustrated, I turned and left, slamming the door behind me, knowing he would see it as a lack of respect.

Where is fucking Verno?

Why do I have to deal with this egotistical prick?

Climbing into my car I slammed my hands on the wheel in irritation.

Gretchen had been missing for eleven hours now, and I was beyond rationality.

I’d contacted everyone I knew in New York, sending them photos of her with a warning to call me if anything came up, and I knew that most of them would have their ears to the ground.

Unfortunately, The Salvatore Family ruled the criminal underground, so I had finally brought myself to ask for their help. Michael had all but laughed in my face, knowing he would rather let her die than help me.

The cops were fuckinguseless, telling me she had probably just left me, and to come back to them after twenty-four hours.

I didn’t have twenty-fourfuckinghours.

I hadnothing.

My phone rang, and I answered it at once, my voice gruff with hope.

“I’m sorry man, I’m getting fuck all,” the voice apologized as I breathed out. I couldn’t let my fear consume me. “Have you spoken with the po-po?”

“Of course, I have,” I snapped, aware I was being a prick, and not caring anyway. The voice hesitated as it spoke again.

“Are you fucking sure it’s not Michael?”

Itwasthe obvious choice, wasn’t it?

My first thought had been that that cunt had taken her. He’d shown such interest in wanting to meet her the other night; I remembered the disappointment on his face at not seeing her by my side. He fucking detested me for what happened to Lucia too, so I know if he wasn’t responsible for this, he would be damn wishing he was.

“No. I don’t know that. But I’m sat outside his house right now and I am going to watch his everyfuckingmove,” I growled as I stared up at the large windows, the interior of the house hidden by thick drapes.

If she was in there, I would kill him with my bare hands, and fuck the consequences.

“Ring Drake,” he advised, before hanging up.