I dive right in and tell him everything. I tell him about the office. The bracelet. I leave nothing out, except the nightmare. I cannot relive that again. I even tell him I would bet money on the fact that Mitch has finally turned off his phone, so he can properly fuck his wife like he said he would. That comment earns me my Leo back with his small dick joke about Mitch.

“Well, fuck. I’m on my way. I’m here for you, Luca. You know that.”

“I know, and we will get through this. Just stay at home, everything else can wait.”

He snorts. “Fuck that shit. If Mitch can get some ass while were off, then so am I.”

I roll my eyes.

“Seriously, Luca, listen. I’m glad you have Camden and Lola there, but if I find out anything else has happened and you don’t call me right away, I’m going to personally kick your ass.”

I know he’s teasing, but I promise him none the less.

“Is Annie there with you? I really need to speak with her too, please.”

“Huh?” He pulls in a sharp breath which makes me pull in one as well.

“What is it? Did she stay and try to finish up with the contracts?” I’m hoping she did and he’s just being his asshole self. If she stepped in to help, that would be a huge weight off of all of our shoulders. Hell, that woman can give a speech just as good as the rest of us.

“Annie’s not here, Luca.” I jump off the bed, the adrenaline already running. “What do you mean she’s not with you? Like she’s not at the airport with you?” I can feel the heat creeping up my skin. Something is wrong. Very, very wrong. “Leo?”

“Annie didn’t fly down here with me, Luca.”

“Excuse me? She’s not there?” This entire situation whirls through my head. What if Heath kidnapped her? What if she’s hurt? Or worse, dead.

“Luca, her phone rang the minute we stepped into O’Hare. She told me it was you and that you’d changed your mind. What the hell is going on?”

I drop the phone. It crashes against the soft carpet. Leo is screaming my name. It can’t be. No, I don’t believe it. I never called Annie. This entire time I thought she was down south with Leo and she’s not. Does Heath have her? Did he force her to tell Leo I called? Is she not hurt and involved?

Annie, what have you done? I think, crumbing to the floor. My knees yield to the hopelessness, the heartbreak, and the fact that I’ve underestimated her. My friend. One of my most valued employees. She knows everything. How could this happen? And why? Why would someone I’ve treated and grown to love like a sister set out to destroy me? My eyes are painfully dry, stinging from holding back the tears I refuse to let loose. I’m so damned angry. The signs were all there. Her bitter words. The way she would look at me like she wanted to spit in my face, slap me, strangle me. It was all there and I was lost in my own little world, feeling like a bitch because I treated her poorly, when all this time she’s the one who had been plotting behind my back. Oh fuck no.

I pick up the phone and run down the hallway toward the den where Camden has been all day still searching for Heath. I holler into the phone to tell Leo to go to Mitch’s house the moment he lands and get to the hotel. Disconnecting before he says anything else, I gasp for air as I run right into Camden just as he is exiting the room.

“What the fuck, sweetheart? What happened?” He stills me by grabbing my arms. I’m shaking. Another piece of me is dying on the inside.

“It’s Annie,” I say painfully. “It’s not Heath. It’s Annie”

“Luca, calm down. What are you talking about?”

My head shakes, drooping between my shuddering shoulders. My ability to speak has left the building. My heart is bleeding, scabbed over and bruised so badly. I’m terrified if I spit out the words my confused heart, which is already so damaged, will bleed out. God, how could this be?

“Luca. God damn it. Talk to me.” I’m shaking again, only this time it’s Camden shaking me by my shoulders, snapping me out of this diluted trance.

“It’s Annie,” I say with bitterness, choking out her name. It leaves a foul taste in my mouth.

“I don’t understand?” Sorrow routes across his expression.

“Do you trust me?” My foolish mind travels to my mouth, expelling words I pray are true.

“Of course.”

I bury my face in his masculine chest. He grips my waist, sliding his comforting hands around to firmly embrace me. With my ability to speak subdued against his body, my heart tears right down the middle.

“Call the police, Camden. Annie never left Chicago. It’s her. Heath isn’t out to hurt us. She is.”

NINETEEN

We sit on the couch, waiting patiently for the police to arrive. The howl of the fierce wind rasps for our attention. Another storm is brewing outside. The same viscous cold storm that’s become apparent in between Camden and me.

For the first time in all the years I’ve known Lola, she remains tenderly quiet, sitting in the chair across from us. I’ve explained to both of them this sixth sense I have that it’s her.

“Don’t you both find it ironic as hell that both Annie and Heath are missing?” Lola speaks, bringing her knees up to her chest. I smirk, even though not one damn thing about this is funny.

“I’ve thought of that. They have to be working together. I’m just trying to wrap my brain around how they could move so quickly. It was only a few weeks ago when I first met Heath. For the two of them to work so fast like this is nearly impossible.”

I blanch when Camden removes his arm from around me and stands. He’s trying to hold himself together, but his temper is soaring. Carefully, I look up to him, praying I don’t see regret or any sign of a mistake for being with me on his handsome face. If the two of them are out to destroy us, then Camden and I need each other more than ever. I refuse to lose him over two selfish, crazed individuals for their fucked up reasons on trying to do away with me.

“This is going to be a long night. I’m jumping in the shower to wash off the oil from my massage. While I’m in there, think about where Annie could be. I just may kill the psycho bitch.” Lola positions herself into standing, moving past Camden. A tender smile on her lips.

Blue eyes fasten onto mine, hazed over, glistening with moisture. I jump up, wrap my arms around him, and hold on for dear life. Silence seals around us like an envelope. He feels so right, so comforting in my arms. “I love you.” Three words spoken so rarely over the years from my mouth, but I mean them. My love for him seeps out of every pour. Every vein. Every cell of my entire body.

“I love you, Luca. I always have.”

The doorbell rings. Camden release me with a tender kiss to my forehead.

“You ready?” he asks.

“As long as you’re by my side when I tell them who Lucia is, then yes, I’m ready.”

He nods. I watch him advance toward the door, out of my sight. I cringe knowing I have to tell the police all about my life. My reputation of being a savvy business woman will be ruined. Plain and simple, I really don’t care anymore. I’m in love with a man who loves me back. Who wants me regardless of my past, my impulsive decisions and my reckless behavior. Me, he wants me.

Loud, angry voices have me running in the direction of the door. My feet cease. My bravery comes to an end when my eyes set sight on the situation before me.

“Well it’s about fucking time, you selfish whore.” He chuckles. His arm is around Camden’s neck. A gun shoved into my loves temple.

“Baby, go get my gun. It’s in the top drawer of the dresser.” Camden struggles to talk, his face turning red. I didn’t even know he had a gun here.