Page 52 of Taking Adalisa

“Let’s get you to your apartment.” I kiss her forehead once again as I buckle her in.

I leanagainst the chair as I look at Rolo.

“He’s still in prison?” I ask.

Before I took Adalisa home, I texted Rolo to look into who was responsible for her at the time.

“It was her brother, Gerard, who was taking care of her. Her parents weren’t in the picture, and he got mixed in with the wrong crowd,” Rolo says, not answering my question.

I take a deep breath and grip the armrests.

“And he is still in prison?” I ask again, my voice held slight annoyance.

“I’m getting to that,” Rollo quips, glaring at me. “It’s not hard to get into their system, but each institution has a different way of organizing things. It takes a little bit of time.”

I hold my hands up and try to patiently wait for him to find out whether he is still in prison or not.

“No, he is not,” Rolo finally answers my question.

I stand and walk over to him. “What do you mean he isn’t? I thought you said his sentence was life.”

“It was, but apparently he got out for good behavior. Said his sister was grown and he wouldn’t go after her.”

And for some reason, I don’t believe him. There are some things that you never do. Killing off a sibling is one of them.

“Find him. Now,” I instruct. “I want him found now so we can keep eyes on him. I don’t trust him.”

“I’ll find him and then track his location. When I get that done, I’ll let you know,” Rolo informs me. “Otherwise, go home and relax. It might take a little while, and I don’t want you over my shoulder asking me when I am going to get it.”

I raise my hand. “Okay, message received. I’ll just bug you every couple of minutes.”

Rolo glares at me again. “Don’t you dare. I will shut down your phone without a second thought. Do not test me.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” I honestly reply. “I need my sleep. I’ll be waiting for you to text me.”

“Now you sound like a woman waiting to hear back from me after a date,” Rolo mutters.

“We could play that out if you want. Though you would be the her and I would be the guy,” I chuckle.

Rolo glares at me once again before turning to his computer. Message received.

CHAPTER 20

ADALISA

Idid not sleep well last night, and it is evident all over my face. Baggy, dark circles under my eyes, and my skin is pale.

Great.

This is not what I want, but I couldn’t help but toss and turn last night. I wore the bracelet again for Matthias, wanting to feel the pleasure, but it never came. I didn’t fall asleep for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

This is not what I needed.

I need to think of a plan to leave, but I don’t know what else to do. I’ve never done this before. I feel like I am missing some important things. I don’t have enough money to get a new identity or move across the States. But I do have enough money to get a new apartment in a different part of town where the landlord won’t ask questions about me paying in cash every month.

It isn’t ideal since it is in a part of town that isn’t safe, but I won’t be leaving much. Once I can secure it, I’ll be telling my boss I’m going on vacation and won’t be able to work for at least two weeks. That will give me enough time to get some new clothes, change my hairstyle, and learn how to change the way I look.

Then he won’t be able to recognize me. I’ve been practicing in front of a mirror, trying new accents and changing the pitch of my voice, so if he does come into work, then I won’t sound like myself. It’s not ideal for me to come back to work so soon, but it’s hard to find an online job—to find a job in general. Two weeks is all I can manage without losing my job.

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