Page 45 of Untamed
My attention is piqued. “Six years? Why six years?”
Miko taps on his tablet. Nothing has changed in our family dynamic, and while that should make me happy, I’m actually sad I’ve missed so much.
Maybe next time I’m offered a role within the family, I should consider staying closer to home, especially with Thea in my life,and possibly a baby too. I’d miss them far too much to be away from them. No, I won’t be able to stand it. They might need me; hell, who am I kidding, I need them.
“I don’t know yet. It’s from an offshore account. I need to break into the accounts and make some connection to whatever fake name it’s going to be under to the real name.”
“Who would want to hurt her?” I mumble.
“Was she promised to someone?” Zane asks, and I realize I spoke my words louder than I intended.
“I don’t know,” I admit, hating myself for not pushing for more details from her father when I had the opportunity. The bastard couldn’t wait to dump her on me.
“Did you ask her father for a full breakdown?” Miko asks, and I shake my head, hating how I allowed my quest for vengeance to tarnish the job I was given.
I let her down before I even started.
“Don’t worry. The security we have in place for her now is the best. No harm will come to her.”
“Anything else?” I ask, and Miko clears his throat, but not before averting his eyes.
I’m not going to like whatever he says next, I know it.
“I broke into his apartment. It was empty, all but one room.”
I nod for him to continue on.
“He had a shrine to her, Massio.”
Fury erupts from me. “What?!”
“Photos of her taped to a wall. Small items scattered around the wall.”
I grimace. “What kind of fucking items?” What kind of sicko was he?
Miko’s nose scrunches. “It looked like trash. But there was some of Thea’s hair there surrounding a candle.”
My eyes widen to saucers. I was expecting panties or something, but her hair? “Seriously?”
“I know. Odd. The entire thing was odd.”
“Why was he in an empty apartment if he had money being sent to him?” Zane asks.
Miko shrugs. “I’m guessing he’s too much of a weirdo to care about the money.”
Zane’s eyebrows pinch together. “That doesn’t make sense.”
It does to me. “He was only interested in Thea, not the money.” Sickness rolls in my stomach.
“Exactly,” Miko confirms, and while I’m pleased he’s been dealt with, something in my gut tells me it’s far from over.
There’s a knock on the door.
“Yes?” Zane barks, and the door opens.
One of the maids opens the door. “Sir, dinner is ready.” Zane gives her a swift nod, and she closes the door behind her.
“Go and fetch Sal and the girls. I’ll round up the twins,” Zane tells me. “Miko, work double time on getting some answers. Thea clearly means something to Massio, I don’t want her being put at risk.” My brother’s words soften something inside of me, and when he squeezes my shoulder, the guilt of my absence rears its ugly head.
