Chapter Twenty-seven: Cold Blooded Love

Emiliano

COLD BLOODED LOVE

Performed by The Trishas

I traced my finger over theNL on the black backpack. Nostalgia I didn’t want and despised welled through me before I shoved it away. I flicked open my father’s knife and slashed through the letters. Slashed through the bag repeatedly until there was nothing left but long threads of black canvas and plastic zippers. I told myself I wasn’t angry. That I wasn’t reacting in the heat of the moment but because I wanted to see if she was hiding something.

When all that was left were pieces, and the only thing I’d found was a ring, I shoved the remnants aside. I twirled the jewelry between my fingers. Art Deco style from the 1930s with a box-cut diamond and sidesteps off to each side, creating an elongated geometric shape the period had favored. Nothing I would have expected Natalia to choose. Maybe she’d stolen it, planning to sell it for money. Except, I’d given her plenty of money, and she had access to even more.

I palmed the ring and turned slowly to face Julio.

“Ruiz missed something,” I growled.

“He said everything else in the little girl’s bedroom was new. No way it came from Natalia.”

“Then perhaps the child herself has the key in here,” I said tapping my forehead. “Bring her to me.”

Julio shifted his feet ever so slightly, the merest of movements, but I still caught it.

“Do you have a problem with that?” I demanded.

“She’s covered with family, the sheriff’s department, and the task force. Maybe we should wait until things cool off a little. You’ve gone this long without exposing yourself. This is too big of a risk. None of them are going to just let the child disappear.”

Anger roared through me. Impatience. The pieces of my father I couldn’t shake that were embedded in my DNA. The pieces I’d sworn I’d overcome. I’d sworn whenever I struck out, it would not be in anger like him. I’d always be in control. I’d strike with a purpose. For retribution and revenge. To take what was mine.

“You’re positive the woman is with the task force?”

“Yes. She was in the hotel room in Colorado. She was the one who found the girl.”

Gia Kent was beautiful, and Hatley had claimed her. I’d seen it in the way he’d reacted to my flirting. The way he’d entered her space to mark it, like a dog peeing on a tree. Coarse and unrefined.

It would give me great pleasure to take her from him as he’d taken Natalia from me.

I’d take her and the child.

They’d come to the gala because she’d see it as a way into my lair. To snoop and sneak and try to undo me.

She believed she had the upper hand. That she was the hunter.

That excited me, stirred me, and made me hunger for more than just revenge.

I’d let her come. I’d let her stalk.

And then I’d show them all the true meaning of predator and prey.