28. Henry

28

HENRY

I lean back in my chair, rubbing my tired eyes as I stare at my notes. The implications of what I've uncovered so far are staggering, and potentially career-ending if I'm not careful.

My gut tells me Peter is behind the anonymous calls, using his father's old number. It's a rookie mistake, one I wouldn't expect from him. But grief and anger can make people sloppy. The question is, how deep does this go? Are other cops involved in Lazaro's disappearance? And if so, how many?

I pick up a file, flipping through the pages I've read a hundred times already. I need more. Suspicions aren't enough. I need hard evidence before I can even think about taking this to my superior or the DA. Making accusations against fellow officers without ironclad proof is a surefire way to tank my career.

I glance at my watch, realizing how late it's gotten. The precinct is nearly empty, most of the day shift having gone home hours ago. I'd promised to see Lana tonight, but this case has me in its grip. I can't walk away, not when I'm so close to unraveling the truth.

With a heavy sigh, I reach for my phone. She deserves an explanation, and I need to warn her about staying safe. The phone rings once, twice, three times. No answer. My first instinct is that something is wrong. I push it away. Her family is surrounded by armed men. Then again, she's often moving around without a guard.

I frown, trying her phone again. Still nothing. "Come on, Lana. Pick up."

After the third attempt goes straight to voicemail, an uneasy feeling settles in my gut. She could be mad at me for something I'm not aware of, but she'd more likely tell me off than ignore me. Maybe she's busy or her phone died. Or she's in a place with bad reception. I run through a dozen harmless scenarios, but none of them sit right.

The foreboding grows stronger with each passing minute. Something's wrong. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul.

I grab my jacket, keys already in hand. I need to find her, make sure she's safe. I grip the steering wheel tightly as I speed toward the D'Amato estate. I'm hoping against hope that I'm being paranoid, but the gnawing fear in my gut tells me I'm not.

As I drive, I'm acutely aware of how reckless it is for me to show up at a crime family's doorstep, especially as a cop. But the thought of Lana hurt or worse overrides any sense of self-preservation. I'll risk everything, my career, my reputation to save her. And then there's Elio. If he's there, how the hell am I going to explain my presence? "Sorry to barge in, but I'm in love with your sister and I'm worried about her." Yeah, that'll go over well.

But as I pull up to the gates of the estate, none of that matters. All I can think about is making sure Lana's safe. I'll deal with the fallout later.

I make it through the first hurdle, being allowed through the gates. I park in front, taking in the large estate. I wonder if Lana would be happy in a little apartment with me after living here?

No. I can't start thinking like that, and yet, how can I stop? She's changed me. A few months ago, I never would have dreamed of doing something this foolish. But now? Now, I'd walk through fire for her.

As I approach the front door, it swings open before I can even knock.

"What's wrong? Where's my husband?"

I stop short, not knowing what she's asking about while at the same time getting confirmation that something is wrong.

"I don't know about Mr. D'Amato. I'm looking for Lana—ah, Ms. D'Amato," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "Is she here?"

She shakes her head and looks even more worried than when she opened the door a second ago. "No, she… she left a while ago. There was an accident. Matteo…"

My stomach drops. "What accident?"

"Lana got a call from the police. They said Matteo was in an accident and Elio was missing. Lana went to pick up Matteo, but…"

I lean in closer, my cop instincts on high alert. "But what, Mrs. D'Amato?"

"I tried to call her because I couldn't stand waiting anymore. She doesn't answer. Matteo and Elio don't either." She lets out a sob.

I guide her back into the house, needing to get all the information I can as quickly as possible.

"When did this call come in?" I ask.

"I–I… just over an hour, maybe a bit more." She's frazzled, and I need to be gentle even as my nerves have me wanting to shake the panic out of her.

"Did she say where the accident was?"

Her head bobs up and down as she gives me the location. Thank fuck. Chicago and its environs are too big for me to simply drive around searching for Lana.

"Did Lana say anything else?" I prod.

"Just to call Dr. Evans in case Matteo needs medical attention. He's inside."

I try to keep my professional demeanor, but inside, I'm terrified. This is bad. Really bad. If anything's happened to Lana…

"I need you to stay here in case Lana or Elio or Matteo return, okay?"

She nods.

"And if they call, you call me right away." I hand her my card.

"You're going to find them, right?" Her eyes are pleading.

"I'm going to try." I start to turn to my car.

"It's not a trick, right? You love Lana too, right?"

I stop short. "What?"

"Lana told me about you two. About wanting to be with you. I hope she's not wrong in thinking you feel something real for her and this isn't a trick to hurt my family."

I swallow, the information ricocheting around my brain. "She's not wrong."

I hurry to my car, noting the pain and fear in Mrs. D'Amato's expression. In my line of work, we see the D'Amatos as monsters. Inhuman. But I've seen the human in Lana, and now, Mrs. D'Amato.

I tear down the drive and out into the road. I force my mind into cop mode. This isn't just a random incident. I don't know what went down, but with three D'Amato family members now unaccounted for, I can only believe one thing. Peter has made his move.

I speed to the location Piper gave me. It's outside of town, not an area known to be used by the D'Amatos. But it's dark, and this time of night, not well-traveled. It's perfect for an ambush. Fuck. I'd thought I'd lost her before, but the panic of that is nothing like right now. It's one thing if she sends me packing. It's another if she ends up dead.

Hold on, Lana. I'm coming.

I press hard on the brakes as I come across an abandoned sedan on the side of the road. Immediately, I enter the license plate into my computer. The vehicle is owned by the D'Amatos. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I jump out of the car and hurry to it. "Lana!" I call out, my voice echoing in the empty night. The interior is empty, but I notice her phone on the passenger seat. I won't be able to track her with it. I yank the door open and pick up the phone, hoping I can get the number that called her to this location. But I don't know her password.

"Damn it!" I run my hand through my hair as panic turns to terror.

I force myself to think like a cop, not a lover. Evidence. I need to gather evidence. But every second I spend here is another second Lana's in danger.

Where did they take her? And how the hell am I going to find her before it's too late?

I go back to my car, forcing myself to think. I should call this in, get backup. But if corrupt cops are involved, that could be a death sentence for Lana. I'm on my own.

Focus, Henry.

I close my eyes and breathe. I need to stop my mind from spiraling in order to know my next step.

Peter.

If he has her, I need to find him. I pull out my phone and dial Peter's number. My heart pounds as it rings once, twice…

"Hey, partner," Peter's voice comes through, not sounding anywhere near as sick as he had this morning.

I force a casual tone. "Hey, partner. How you feeling?"

"Pretty good." His tone is nearly gleeful.

"Good to hear. Maybe you're up to some information I've come across on the D'Amato case. We could get a beer and go over it." If I'm wrong about him, this will turn out to be a terrible idea.

There's a pause on the other end. "It's pretty late, Henry."

"I know, but this could be big. Come on, one drink. I'll buy."

"Actually, Henry, I have a big lead on the case as well."

I close my eyes, hoping against hope he hasn't done to Lana whatever the fuck he did to Lazaro. "Oh. Well, then you have to meet with me."

"We're partners, right? I have your back and you have mine, right?"

"Absolutely." My fingers clutch the phone. My breath holds. I may never breathe again.

"I've got the D'Amato girl."

"Really." I hope I sound normal. "Is she in lock up?"

"No. You were right, that search should have been more by the book. Definitely not done in the light of day. This way, we get those fuckers off the street and save the taxpayers the money of a trial."

I think I'm going to throw up. He's quiet, and I'm sure he's waiting to see if I'm going to go along or not. If I'm going to save her, I have to play along.

"That's efficient."

"Come join the fun. Come see what true justice is like."

"Absolutely." I jot down the address he gives me. "Is she dead yet? Because it won't be any fun if it's all over with."

"Nah. She's here."

Thank fuck.

"She's not quite as mouthy as usual, but if looks could kill, we'd all be a pile of ash."

I love Lana's brazen, outspoken ways, but God, I hope she doesn't mouth off to them.

"I'll be there in twenty."

"We'll be here. You and me, partner. Ending the D'Amato reign of terror."

I hang up and make a U-turn toward the address Peter gave me and hope against all hope that I'll come up with a plan to save her.