Detonate: Chapter 46

Two weeks later …

Darkness surrounds me I knock back the scotch, letting it burn its way down my insides. The gym is finally empty and now it’s time for my brain to run wild.

Two fucking weeks.

I slam the glass on the wooden desk of my office.

Sunshine, where are you?

Every single minute that passes by that I can’t find her, the further I plunge into the darkness.

Nothing.

Not one single trace of her.

It’s like she vanished into thin air.

Tears well in my eyes as I stare up at the white ceiling.

Never in my life have I felt so hopeless. So lost. I don’t think I’ve left this boxing gym, since Luca not so subtly forced the doctors to discharge me. I might not be back to my physical strength, but that doesn’t stop me molding my fighters into blood-thirsty warriors. Keller’s been here every day without fail. Between us, we’re building Luca a force to be reckoned with. We have Enzo tapping into every security system he can. There’s no records of her passport being used, no medical records popping up. Her cards haven’t been used.

Frankie has been busy hunting down the Falcones for me. He swings by the gym every day to give me an update and check I’m healing properly, as per Luca’s orders. I’m itching to get back into the chaos, to burn this fucking city into the ground. But Frankie and Luca are right; I can’t go out there and risk myself yet. I need to be at full strength to take them all down. I can’t find Maddie if I’m dead. I can’t protect her.

The CCTV from the hospital has been completely wiped. Even with Enzo and his team, we have nothing to work with.

Losing her has been like losing the ability to breathe. I’m suffocating. Right now, I would give anything, even my own life, to make sure she’s safe.

I can’t even think about our baby. If I do, I might truly lose my head and do something stupid. I’ve kept myself busy, trailing through the footage from Enzo and plotting attacks with Frankie. Something in my gut just doesn’t sit right.

People don’t just vanish; the Falcones aren’t clever enough for that. I just can’t quite put my finger on what isn’t adding up. Running a hand through my hair, I pick the crystal up and hurl it against the wall.

My phone pings on the desk. Swiping it up, I scan the latest text from Luca.

I get the same warnings most days. Hence, Frankie the babysitter. Capris are well-known. The largest mafia organization in Europe, they’re a slick unit, almost indestructible. Having them on our side is essential. I wonder the price Luca’s paid for this though.

The door flies open, revealing a disheveled Frankie. His white shirt’s unbuttoned, splattered in crimson. He glances down at the glass crunching under his feet.

“Fuck taking your anger out on the crystal. Let’s go kill some Falcone fuckers.” He cocks his brow at me, unholstering a Glock, flipping it around so the grip faces me.

Hell fucking yes.

“Where are we off to first?”

“Marco’s got a new pizzeria opening up next week. It would be a shame if a fire started in the kitchen.”

“As long as we get some of his men in there cooking too, count me in.”

I wrap my hand around the gun.

“It’s good to have you back.” He slaps me on the shoulder, and I shoot him a glare. Fuck, why does my body still feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.

“Good to be back. Now slap me like that again and I’ll knock you out. We clear?”

“Sorry, Boss, forgot you’re an injured soldier.”

Fucker.

Adrenaline buzzes through my veins as we storm toward the glass doors of the gym.

It’s time to get my life back.

My sunshine back.