Page 169 of When She Falls (The Fallen)
“A phone booth. Vale, I need your help.”
“What happened?”
“I need to talk to Ras. Can you give me his number? I only had his US number, and actually, they took my cellphone away, so I don’t have it anymore, and neither does Cleo. I don’t know how to reach him. Something happened, Vale. Something I need to tell him about.”
“Whoa, slow down. Where are you?”
“In Chelsea. Vale, please, I need to talk to him. Is he with Damiano? Is he—”
“Gem, Ras isn’t here. Damiano hasn’t heard from him since he told him to come back to Italy.”
I frown. “Where is he then?”
“He’s still in New York.”
My stomach drops. “What?”
“Giorgio has been tracking him. He still has the same phone, and he’s in New York. He came back the day after you.”
My fingers squeeze the rubber cord. “He did?”
“Yes. I told Dem to get in touch with him, but he’s being stubborn about their little tiff. Gem, what did you do?”
“I called off the engagement.”
“You did?”
My throat tightens. “Yes. Vale, I’m in love with Ras.” For a moment, I consider telling her I’m pregnant, but there’s no time to explain everything, and I want Ras to know before anyone else hears, so I hold my tongue. “Look, I have to fix what happened between us. I have to see him.”
There’s a rustling sound. “Okay, hold on. Do you want me to give you his US number?”
“Please.”
She takes a few seconds to find it, each one feeling like eternity, and I dig inside my pocket for a pen.
“Okay, here it is.”
I write the damn thing on my arm right under Vale’s number. “Thank you. I have to go.”
“Wait, are you safe? Are you on your own?”
“I’ll call you.”
I hang up, my hands shaking as I dial the other number.
It rings and rings and rings.
I call ten times.
He doesn’t pick up.
“Damn it!”
He’s in New York. Where would he be? Who would know where he is?
My eyes widen.
Orrin.
