Page 124 of The Diávolos: Part Two
Just like how I let my sister die. How I couldn’t protect her or my parents.
My fault. My fault. My fault.
Dr. Joseph says something to me, but I can’t hear him.
Instead, a frenzied storm threatens to consume my every rationality.
The entire office around me becomes distorted, and I pull at my hair harder, bringing my face to my knees.
I’m teetering on the edge of blacking out.
The last time this happened, Angelica was with me, and she brought me back.
Angelica.My angel.
Grant kneels next to me, still speaking indistinctly, but this time, he puts his hand on my shoulder, and it grounds me a little. I imagine it’s my wife’s touch, my wife’s reassuring words. That I’ll find her beautiful, concerned face greeting me.
Slowly, the chaotic tempest in my mind subsides and the shadows recede.
Whenever I deal with these episodes, albeit not often anymore, touch seems to help.
I breathe deeply as the room regains focus and the weight that had pressed on my chest lifts.
“Steady. One through the nose, three through the mouth,” Dr. Joseph instructs, and I follow his command.
Seconds ago, my mind was in utter chaos. It feels like I’ve just escaped a massive storm, a weary relief now hitting me in the aftermath.
Because I know what to do, and I’m going to do it now.
I stand in one swift movement, grabbing my rifle on the way up and slinging it across my shoulder.
“Thank you, doctor. I wouldn’t stay here for long. Go to my safehouse. They’ll protect you there,” I say, giving him directions before walking out the door.
When I get downstairs, I see Dion and the others have arrived.
“Philip is behind this, so we have to find him. And I know exactly where he’s hiding.”
As I was going through my manic episode, one thing kept replaying in my mind.
When Philip bolted after learning that we’d taken Peter, I hadn’t really cared about his whereabouts at the time as I didn’t fully know his implication in the entire situation. But when I found out that Peter was attempting to flee the country, we tracked him heading in the direction of the airport, though noplane ever left. It would’ve been too risky for him, after all. The only other option would’ve been to use one of the two airfields that are at each extremity of Cebrene, the most common one being at the border of Antium. But still, my men didn’t see any aircrafts flying off.
I never thought of it before, but Peter must’ve been on his way to meet Philip at the border of the city, which is where the entrance to the underground tunnel must be. And that is where they took Angelica.
Dion smiles wickedly. “Where are we going, boss?”
“To The Big A. Call Hendrick and tell him we’re on our way.”
I dial Xander’s number and tell him the plan.
Elias will lead the men to the border by road. Whereas Xander, Dion and I will fly to Antium in my helicopter. If I want to get to Angelica, I have to move fast.
Gianis will stay here and keep an eye on the city while we’re gone.
As much as I hate that fucker’s guts, he’s been keeping his promise and our shipments have gone back to normal.
We fly out of Cebrene from Saintville and, less than an hour later, the helicopter lands on top of Hendrick’s building in Antium.
The three of us step off the aircraft and are greeted by the Ortiz brothers. “Hola hermanos!” Hen says, full of mischief. “Let’s get this show on the road,mis amigos.”
