Page 30 of Keeping My Girl

Aldo promised to keep searching until we find it, so hopefully he can come up with something soon. The odds are stacked against us, though; because if the most powerful men in the world go there, I’m sure it’s well hidden and kept secret to only those who attend the auctions.

The sick fucks.

I shake out my arms, trying to relieve some of the tension in my body before I knock on Selina’s bedroom door. As I wait, I try to think of a reason to tell her as to why I’m here. Maybe I’ll offer to work out with her again or ask what she wants for dinner. Any excuse to talk to her is fine with me. The door is open a few inches; and when she doesn’t answer after a minute, I peek my head inside. The room is empty, and I frown.

Where could she be?

I didn’t see her outside or downstairs on the way here. Worry starts to gnaw at my gut. What if she tried to leave again? She wouldn’t do that, though, would she?

Pushing the door open, I walk in. There’s a notebook in the middle of her bed that grabs my attention, and my heart squeezes inside my chest. Did she leave me a note? A fucking goodbye letter?

The first page is open with the pen still resting against it and there are words scrawled neatly down the page. I know I should respect her privacy and not look, but I need to make sure she didn’t run off. If she did, I might still have a chance to find her and bring her back before anything happens.

I only plan on taking a glance, but then I realize it’s a list. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I move closer, reading the list and memorizing it.

Get my GED.

Drive a car.

Go surfing.

Cut my hair.

The last one gives me pause. Kill Constantine Carbone. I can’t help the grin forming on my lips when I read over the last item over and over again. Carbone didn’t break my Lina. No, he only made her stronger, reinforced her will, spirit and determination. She just needs to be reminded of that now and then. And I want to be the person who helps her realize her strength.

Relieved that it’s not a goodbye note, I leave her room after that and go to seek her out. If she wants to accomplish those things on her list, I want to be the one helping her through each and every one. I want to be by her side and watch her accomplish all of her goals. I want to be there for her through everything she has to deal with, the ups and downs and everything in between.

The sun doesn’t rise or set unless she’s with me. She’s my whole world now.

I run into Renato in the main room of the compound. “The girls went shopping,” he informs me, as if reading my mind.

“Ah, okay,” I say with a grin. I’m glad Selina could get out of the house. I know she’s been anxious to go shopping too, but I haven’t taken her because I’m terrible with that sort of thing. I’m glad my sister is making an effort. I know both of them could really use a friend, so it’s kind of perfect.

“Want to train with me today while they’re gone?” Renato suggests.

“Sure,” I tell him. I’ve been meaning to take my frustrations out on something one way or another.

“Fists or knives?” he asks.

“Knives,” I tell him with a salacious grin. “Definitely knives.”

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