Page 41 of Kept

“Are you sure?” asks Alessandro.

The younger man nods. “As much as is possible.”

“Fuck,” I mutter. All heads turn to me. “Monitor the situation and try to figure out how the fuck we didn’t see this coming and who their supporters are.”

The captains nod before swiftly exiting the room.

I toss back the espresso that was waiting for me on my desk.

“Late night?” chuckles Marco.

“Shut up.”

Alessandro interrupts our youngest brother’s laughter. “How is Sarah doing?”

“Remarkably well. Provided we don’t leave her alone with our mother too long.”

We all laugh at that. My brothers file out as well, leaving me alone in my father’s office. I stare longingly at the wet bar for several seconds before sighing and pulling out Sarah’s phone and mine.

The high-pitched squeal on the other end of the line makes me pull the handset away from my head with a grimace.

“Oh my god, are you okay, doll? Aside from the whole kidnapping thing?”

“Hello, Robert.”

The pause that follows stretches out for a long time. Finally, in a shaking voice, he squeaks, “Um, who is this?”

“My name is Vincent De Luca. I believe we have a mutual friend.”

Then the fire seems to come back to him. “You better not have hurt her, you fucking psycho!”

“Language, Robert. She’s fine. She’s with me.”

“That’s the opposite of fine.”

Now I chuckle. “Perhaps. Regardless, she has concerns about her career, and I’d like to put her at ease. Who is the best instructor in the city?”

“Umm, Antoinette LeReoux, but her time is booked for years in advance.”

“I see. Call the person that is going to cover Sarah’s parts. I’m sending a car to get you both.”

“Excuse me?”

“Sarah needs her lessons, and the company. You need to see that she isn’t tied up in a dungeon. This other girl needs to be able to fill in for her. You’ll impart upon this girl the importance we place on silence, I trust.”

“Umm…” he starts. Because I’m an ass, and because I don’t feel like arguing, I hang up. Then I turn the phone off. I start to call Aldo, but think better of it and send the address to Alessandro.

I need you to pick up Sarah’s dance partner and another ballerina. Take Marco. He seems like a handful.

When did I become an errand boy?

When you made me do this fucking job instead of you.

Language, my child.

Can I confess to your murder in advance?

No advance orders. Also no layaways, and the sacrificial wine is inventoried daily. I’ll message you when we’re inbound.

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