Page 99 of Redemption

“I really think we should let Bastian know. He could help. His brother could help.”

“What if Kilian is next? What if my uncle kills him?”

“Bella,” she sighs. “This is a really bad idea. You could get killed.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“What about Aria? What if something happens to you?”

I walk backward. “I can’t think about that. I just… I know if I go to my uncle, he won’t harm her. I… I have to go.”

Cam reaches her arm out for me but I dash out of the room and down the hall, out the front door where the taxi I called is waiting for me.

I don’t even say goodbye to Aria. I can’t.

* * *

By the time I get to my home in Cefalù, I feel drained. I have ten missed calls. Some from coworkers and moms of Aria’s schoolmates. One call from a detective asking me to call him immediately.

I go to unlock my front door but find it already unlocked. I know Kilian would have locked it. Not to mention I made sure the alarm was set from my phone and I never got any notice about it being deactivated.

I take a deep breath as I open the door. I flew commercial so I have no weapons on me. Not even a knife. I creep through the entrance but find nothing out of place, no signs that anyone broke in. The only sign so far that someone was here is that the alarm system screen is black, completely turned off.

An eerie feeling transcends me as I walk through the house. I go to the kitchen and grab the serrated knife I keep hidden under the island counter. I make my way to the stairs and slowly climb them. Although, at this point, I don’t think anyone is here. If they were looking for me, they would have already left. I think.

The guest bedroom is empty, so I cross the hall into Aria’s room. The pictures of us she had on her shelves are broken and smashed on the ground. Homework is shuffled all over her desk and drawers are left open.

My heart skips a beat knowing things could have been much worse if we were here. I find a ripped picture of me and Aria on the ground and put it in my back pocket.

I climb the way to the top floor of my house worried about what I might find but as I push open the door to my bedroom, I see that nothing has been touched.

I fly down the stairs and grab my phone out of my bag. Fear creeping over me as I think about the clear threat that was made on Aria’s life.

I dial Kilian but he still doesn’t answer. I need him right now. I need him to help me figure this out. I try him again and again but he still doesn’t answer. Every call going to a voice mail box that isn’t set up.

I then try my uncle because this is his calling card. Murdering innocent people to get my attention. But his call goes unanswered too.

My doorbell rings and I peer outside to see the cops at my house. I don’t want to deal with them but I know I have to.

Just as I am about to open the door, my phone starts vibrating in my hand. I walk to the other end of the house to take the call. Cam’s name on the screen. I can only guess Aria is mad I left.

“Hello?”

It’s not Cam that answers. “Thank fuck you answered. Where are you?”

“Bastian?” I ask even though I know it’s him. “I’m back home. There was an emergency.”

“Did you take Aria with you?”

My heart drops to my stomach at those words. “What’s going on?”

“I got home from my meeting and found Cam and Lucia knocked unconscious. Nothing was missing. But I couldn’t find you or her.”

“Aria isn’t—” I can’t even finish the sentence because everything clicks into place at once.

“She’s missing, Bella. She was taken.”

I fall to the floor, my heart breaking as I realize I fell into a trap just like Cam said. I was lured out of that house and whoever took her knew I would leave alone. They used that chance to take her. To take my baby away.

---