Page 61 of Deadly Vows

“What are you doing here? Are you okay?” I ask, but he ignores me. He brushes past me as he mumbles to himself, and I note he is moving toward Luca’s office.

“Hey, Hey! You can’t go in there!” I shout.

Enzo’s footsteps falter when he sees that the door to Luca’s office is slightly open.

“Where is he?” he asks.

“He left early this morning,” I say in confusion.

Enzo looks away, his dark hair sticking to him as he drips on the floor.

“Did you walk here?” I ask.

He finally notices his state and realizes his situation, his eyes widening.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know where else to go. Or who to call. My mom’s been different ever since…and it’s not like her to just disappear…and I know I wasn’t supposed to contact her anymore, but…”

I gently place my hands on Enzo’s shoulders, rubbing lightly to warm him up and hopefully calm him down. He’s speaking in riddles, obviously in shock.

“Enzo, calm down. How did you get here?” I ask.

His eyes continue to dart around the room.

“Come on,” I say, pulling him with me.

I take him to the kitchen, leaving him alone for a few minutes while I grab a towel. I wrap it around his shoulders, and luckily, I have boiling water waiting as I pour him a cup of tea, pushing the steaming mug in front of him.

He takes it quietly, staring at the liquid as he contemplates telling me what’s happening. It’s cruel, really, that we are both siblings and both more than likely aware of it. But because of our shared fear of the man I married, we both pretend to be strangers, tiptoeing around what we say to each other.

“Enzo, try to start from the beginning,” I say gently.

I watch him carefully as he opens his mouth, tears brimming in his eyes.

“My mom is missing,” he says in a shaky voice.

“How do you know?” I ask.

“My mom is a unique woman. I know she goes on benders, and I know she has friends who sponsor her life. But she recently got mixed in with people who she happily let use her in exchange for money. I know she’s difficult, but she would never disappear without a note,” he sobs.

“I can’t call the cops, and I’m not supposed to know where she’s staying. But this has never happened before. I didn’t know who else to come to. Mr. Pasquino has all kinds of connections,” he says.

I swallow the growing fear in my throat as my mind shifts to last night. Luca returned home bloodied and out of his mind. It can’t be a coincidence that Enzo’s mother, the woman who sold her own son to her late lover’s enemy, is now missing.

“How did you get here?” I ask.

“I took the bus and walked the rest of the way,” he says softly.

That means he’s been walking for hours. We live nowhere near a bus station. And the nearest city is at least thirty minutes away, further showing his desperation. He’s really worried about his mother.

“Luca left early this morning. I don’t know what time he will be back,” I say, standing.

“In the meantime, I can have my driver take you home,” I say.

Enzo doesn’t respond. The look on his face is devastating. I don’t think even he knows just how fucked up his situation is. He only knows the desperation of feeling loved by a parent who doesn’t love you back. And I feel that deep inside, making me push past my fears of Luca to protect my brother.

“How about I go with you? We can search the place. Maybe you missed something,” I say gently, placing my hand on his back for comfort.

He looks at me with hope in his gaze, making me crumble even further. If I take my driver, he will definitely notify Luca of my location and who is with me. So, I head into the garage, grabbing a set of keys. I press the button on the fob, and the sleek black Audi lights up.

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