9
Olivia
My God, Aiden was looking at me.
Looking right at me almost like he was when we were inside the club.
It was like he could have been right here next to me.
The intensity of his stare was so strong and potent I’m struggling to breathe.
Desperation put me on the roof top. I couldn’t go back to the hotel. Not yet. I wanted to see if I could test things from a different angle where I could feel a little more at ease if I couldn’t get to him inside the club.
Right now, I’m screwed, and not thinking straight at all because I don’t know what to do. Earlier my mind was all over the place and hanging out in a sex club getting aroused while I watch people have sex wasn’t exactly helping.
My mind is still all over the place and I need to come up with something fast.
I move from behind the pillar I hid behind as the sound of a motorcycle rips through the night.
I stride over to the balcony with the hood of my coat still up and watch him riding away on his motorcycle that looks like it belongs on the set of some futuristic film. Aiden rides as hard and dangerous as I assume him to be.
I release the breath I am holding and pull my coat closer as the chill from the cold night teases over my skin with a warning that gives me goosebumps.
I’m in over my head and not knowing what to do, or having anyone to turn to, is exactly what might make this plan fail. I feel worse when I imagine returning home to Mom in a few days with nothing.
No information and no way forward.
Pulling in a staggered breath I walk away from the balcony and make my way down the stairs leading from the rooftop.
I head back to the hotel and sneak back in, the guards none the wiser.
When I slip off my coat and clean my face of the makeup, I open the door just to check and there Yev is in the living room watching a football game sipping on what must be coffee. I can smell the strong brew.
It’s amazing how I’m kept under such stringent controls and nobody knew I was gone for hours.
It’s late but I don’t feel tired. Sleep feels like a waste of time, so I sit on my bed and pull out the documents Amy gave me. Maybe if I go over them again I might come up with something else I might be able to do.
My heart makes me reach for the copy of the letter Eric gave me before he disappeared. It’s a copy of the letter I delivered to D’Agostinos Inc. five years ago. That was when I was last here in L.A. It was the last time I was free and didn’t know what awaited.
Why did I make a copy of this letter?
Because Eric was acting weird.
Now I know why.
I take it out of the envelope and read it. This is perhaps the millionth time I’ve read it.
It says:
Dear Massimo,
You do not know me. But I know you, and I feel compelled to contact you in light of the information I’ve recently discovered.
There was so much more to what happened seven months ago when the Syndicate was obliterated.
There were more people involved than who you think.So many more who were responsible for the deaths of our loved ones.So many got their hands dirty to end our fathers.
Riccardo Balesteri was just a pawn in a bigger game to eradicate enemies.I urge you not to stand alone but to reform the Syndicate and lead.Be a leader.