<b>99 </b>


    Unconscious and half dead, the blood from her hair and scalp stains my cks. She came so close to her bright, brilliant light being snuffed out. Thinking about the future I can’t say she’ll be the same. After everything she’s been through and endured. How far can a rubber band stretch before it snaps? A different kind of fear grips me, then. Physical wounds can heal, but emotional wounds…the brain can be your worst enemy if you allow it. I can’t help but ask myself if she witnessed her mother dying After everything, this might be the final nail in her coffin. The prospect of her never recovering makes me sick


    “Do you know call to let them know we’reing?”


    e at the hospital? Can we


    He lifts a hand, pointing. “We’re basically her


    Now that he’s said it, I notice the red and white emergency sign a


    few lights beyond where we have to stop for cross traffic. He leans on the horn, but it’s no use. He can’t stop the cars moving in both directions in front of us.


    “As soon as she’s taken care of, we need to start making calls.” We’ve lost precious minutes that could have taken Caterina further from me. Who would be dumb enough to do this? It doesn’t matter who it is. All that matters is finding her and ensuring she’s okay.


    “If Amalia had her phone on her, one of our guys will grab it<b>,</b>” Roger grunts in frustration before leaning over the wheel in his eagerness to move. “It could also have the answers to our questions.”


    “Give me your phone.” He has everyone’s number programmed into his contacts, and once he hands me the device, I scroll through the list and stop at the first of the men we left at the warehouse. I press the call button for Bobby. I bark into the phone as soon as he answers, “Amalia’s cell. Have you found it?”


    “It wasn’t in her purse–which they left under the body,” <b>he </b>exins. “It also wasn’t inside, and it’s not in her pockets.”


    “Her car, it has to be there. Search the vehicles, too. Get me an update as soon as possible.”


    “Of course, boss,” he replies and I end the call.


    Roger swings the car into the emergency room lot, pounding the horn with his palm as he races for the doors. By the time the car squeals to a stop, a pair of paramedics are jogging out of the ambnce bay.


    “She needs to be seen immediately!” I sh


    head wound.”


    once they open the door closest to me. “All we know is that she has a


    my still-


    “Let us take it from here.” One of the men practically pries her body from my arms. I don’t know if I’m going to live through the pain that’s cutting into the muscles of my chest. It burns, the skin fileting back, lear beating heart vulnerable. I’m vaguely aware of Roger pulling away to park the car while I jog behind Le paramedics rushing Tatiana to an empty bay in the emergency room.


    A middle–aged nurse ces herself between my daughter and me, pushing aptop on a wheeled stand and blocking my path. “I’m going to need her information to enter into the system,” she informs me while a team of doctors assesses Tatiana.


    “Look, can’t this wait?”


    “I need a name and a date of birth for her ID bracelet, along with insurance information and any known allergies.”


    There’s a crazed animal in me, fighting to break loose and paint the tiled floor with blood. Think of Tatiana. Tearing into this hospital won’t get her help any faster. “Jane Doe,” I growl.


    She looks up from the screen,


    “” me?”


    “You heard correctly. Her name is Jane Doe.”


    <b>1/3 </b>


    99


    Straightening slowly, she murmurs, “Sir, do I need to call the authorities?<b>” </b>


    <b>“</b>I don’t think so and, honestly, I would rather you didn’t.”


    “You’re telling me you don’t know this girl’s name? Exactly how did shee to be injured? Or are you unaware of that, as well?” The snippety attitude she’s giving me is thest thing I need, and it needs to end now.


    “Listen to me very carefully.” My voice drops to a whisper as I lean over the top of theputer screen until she has no choice but to lean back. “I don’t care what it takes for you to do it, but this girl’s name will not be recorded. It could be dangerous for her if someone were to call and ask if she’s been brought here.<i>” </i>Not that I see that happening, but I can’t afford to take any more chances. “Suffice it to say she is my daughter. I found her this way, and I don’t care how many tests you need to run–or what anybody around here requires in order to keep their mouths shut. Is that clear?”


    “How do I know you aren’t bringing her here after losing your temper?”


    “If I was, do you think I’de in with her and risk being med?”


    “Sir, you have no idea exactly how often that very thing happens.” She nces over her shoulder to where Tatiana is. I should be in there with her, damn it. <b>“</b><b>I </b>could have security escort you out and acquire her side of the story once she’s conscious and doesn’t have you standing over her.”


    This isn’t working. Would they really throw us out if I don’t tell her? Can I risk it?


    The idea takes my voice down to a murderous hiss. “Listen to me. The people who did this to her, they’re dangerous and don’t give a fuck about anyone else except themselves. There’s no saying that they might not decide to show up here to finish the job. I will not risk leaving her vulnerable. Now stop questioning me and enter whatever the hell you need to in thatputer, or I’ll find someone you love, then make sure you had wished you’d stopped asking questions and done your goddamn job.”


    Her lips draw into a thin line, but her skin grows pale, giving way to a slight trickle of fear. “I’ve been threatened before,” she whispers.


    “Never by somebody so prepared to follow through.” I make a point of checking out her name tag. “Cecilia Miller. What a nice name. Nice wedding ring, too,” I add with a nce at her left hand. “Mr. Miller has good taste. Let me guess<b>, </b>2.5 kids, a big house with a picket fence. It would be a real shame if something happened, now, wouldn’t it? Do your kids have any close family? Do you think they could live without their mother or father?”


    Her chin quivers before she makes a strangled choking sound while questioning whether I mean what I’m saying. Whatever she sees on my face convinces her. She gives me a short nod before clearing her throat. “Jane Doe it is,” she whispers while a bead of sweat rolls down her temple.


    Roger finds me when I’m finished, barking orders into his phone before jamming his finger at the screen to end the call. “We’re gonna find them,” he whispers, watching as Tatiana is treated through an opening in the curtain. “We’re going to find them, and when we do, they’re all fucking dead.”


    “Way ahead of you,” I murmur, already imagining the pain I’ll inflict. “After we get Caterina back.”


    “It might be a good idea to call him.”


    I know whohimis, and it’s thest thing I want to do. Fuck me. It’s a good idea since I need as many people as possible to search for her. Charles has years of experience tracking people, but he’s her father. He’s going to kill me, or worse, lose his mind. Caterina is all he has left, and if he thinks she might be dead… Well, I can only imagine the fury that he’ll unleash. There will be no stopping us, and the hell we will rain down on these people if anything happens to her,


    <b>“</b>I’ll call Charles,” I tell Roger.


    “I know you don’t want to deal with him, but maybe he can help.”


    I sigh, “Yeah, maybe, or he’ll kill me. At this point, it doesn’t matter<b>.</b><b>” </b>If anything happens to Caterina, I won’t be able to forgive myself.


    Caterina’s home number is already stored in my contacts. I never imagined her father being the person I’d be calling if I ever had to call that number. My hand trembles as I bring the cell to my ear after hitting the green <b>call </b>


    button.


    “Hello,” Charles’s deep voice fills my ear.


    “Charles, it’s Gianni.” Closing my eyes, I whisper, “I need you to meet me at the hospital. We have a problem.”


    **