“It wasn’t like that. I brought the note because I was planning to give it to you—but then you started to see the light.” He moved towards me, placing his hands on either side of my arms. “I’m only looking out for you Han. Matteo keeps hurting you, and I… I want you to be—”
“Yours. You want me to be yours. You knew how confused I was, you knew how much I needed to hear from him. And if I’d read that letter, I’d never have done what we just did.”
He turned away with his head down. “This isn’t me. You know that. I’m not that guy, I just… I’m so tired of him hurting you. He plays games, Hannah, can’t you see that?”
“Aren’t you playing games by hiding letters from me?”
He looked up; his eyes were swelling with tears. “So, where are you going? Security is still downstairs. They will follow you.”
“I’m going out the back. I sent for an Uber. Security parked near the water feature last I saw them. They seem less than amused with this detail anyway.”
“So that’s it? You’re just going to leave? You feel nothing and we’re through again because of Matteo?”
“Not because of Matteo, because you lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie to you. I gave you my heart.” A tear streaked down the side of his face and he turned away to wipe it.
I looked at my phone, the search I’d pulled of flights still on the main screen. The next flight to Ireland left in three hours and getting to San Francisco from Monterey this time of day would be difficult.
Kevin slid the key into the door, pushed it open, then looked back at me. “You can’t leave Hannah. Where will you go? It’s still not safe. Just come in, let’s talk about this rationally.”
I pulled my hair to the side of one shoulder. “There is nothing left to say. You made the decision for both of us. Now I am going to make one for me. That’s what you said right? I should be making decisions for myself.”
Being impulsive had been a specialty of mine for as long as I could remember, but I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to Matteo. I turned away from Kevin and walked down the long bright hallway towards the elevator.
“Hannah, wait! You can’t go. It’s not safe.” The hotel room door slammed closed, and I heard his feet pattering behind me. “I love you. I know you love me.”
I pushed the down arrow on the elevator. The silver doors opened right away. I stepped inside, Kevin followed, turning me towards him as the doors closed. “Did you hear me? I love you!” He was more forceful with the words than he had been in the past. “This isn’t a game. None of it is. I have Sophie to think about. I never invited you into my life frivolously. I didn’t give up on you because I know we both feel something. I made a mistake… but that doesn’t change what we just shared.”
I looked up at him, his eyes telling a story of desperation. I know how much he cared, it showed in how willing he’d been to hack the security cameras, how willing he’d been to watch over me.
“Kev, I know you meant well—but I’m upset and I need time to process everything. Can you give me an hour? I’ll come back up when I’m ready to talk.”
The elevator door opened. I stepped out, and looked back at Kevin standing tall, with one hand on the elevator door, the other in his pocket. “We both know you’re not coming back up to that room.”
I pursed my lips inward and turned. “I know.”
Chapter Nineteen
Matteo
A heavy fog laid over the late evening hills of the Emerald Isle further distorting my view as I drove through the cobblestone streets to every bar within a sixty-mile radius of Kings Ranch. In Ireland, there are two types of pubs: one for tourists with traditional live music, bartenders with long beards, skinny jeans, and ironic tattoos; another for locals with the same rowdy drinkers night after night, all rooting for either a horse or dog race. I checked them all, and no one had seen Jake.
At this point, I was looking for the small silver rental car, hoping if something had happened, I’d be able to find him based on where he’d left the vehicle. But I was nearing the end of my search perimeter and going any further out didn’t make sense if I was going to make it to the ranch in the early morning. Jake and I were supposed to meet beforehand—though now my best option was hoping he’d passed out somewhere and would come to before it was too late. I could handle the exchange with this mystery letter writer on my own, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to cause the least amount of attention, get back to Hannah, and disappear before Kings Ranch had time to plan my demise. I pulled out my phone and checked for hotels in the area. I needed to rest so I was ready for whatever crazy shit was about to happen. As I searched for something not too infested—a call came in—though not the one I was hoping for. It was the burner calling my main line.
I answered, hoping it was Hannah. “Hey!”
Kevin responded, sounding out of breath. “I’ve been trying to call the burner all night. Why isn’t it in service?”
“I’m international, not the same towers here for that kind of phone. I figured you’d call my cell if anything—”
“Well, something. Hannah left. She didn’t say where she was going, but I assume she’s off to find you.”
“What? Why did you let her—”
“I didn’t let her! If it were up to me, she’d never leave, but I don’t control her like you do.”
“Is she answering her phone?”
“No, goes right to voicemail. Are you in Ireland? I assume that’s where she’s going.”
“I’m an hour from Kings Ranch. When did she leave?”
“Early yesterday afternoon. I didn’t know where you were, or where she went. I didn’t want to call your phone in case—”
“Oh my fucking god. Are you serious? You didn’t want to call my phone? Why Kevin? That’s why I have a phone. Hannah could be in serious danger. Did she say anything before she left?”
“She was upset. She read that letter you wrote. She wanted to be there with you. Something happened between us, she felt guilty. I’m sure she went to Ireland. And you told me not to call your phone. If they had a tap on it already, they’d have known she was alone and target her.” He spit the words out with more defiance than I’d ever heard from him, as though his rationality made sense.
“What happened?” I paused. “Never mind, I don’t want to fucking know. You’re worse than I thought. You know how vulnerable she is in stressful situations. You know she—”
“Are you on your way? I’ll do anything. What do you need? I want to know she’s okay.”
“I’m on my way to Kings Ranch now,” I said, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder as I put the SUV in drive. “Get into all the security cameras at the ranch again and let me know the moment you see any sign of her.”
Chapter Twenty
Hannah
Ten hours after I’d left San Francisco, I landed in Dublin. The time difference should have exhausted me more than it did, but adrenaline helped to forget fatigue. I tried Matteo’s phone again but failed to account for my cell not working internationally. There were corded phones at the airport, but despite many attempts in the small ancient booth, he still didn’t answer. Panic rushed over me, quickening my heart, flooding my senses until I began to shake—I’d waited too long—they had him—they were torturing him—or worse—he’d already been killed.
Around me, flashing boards with flight updates began to blur. Stepping away from the phone, I made my way to the adjacent car rental station.
“I need something—now!” I barked the words at the middle-aged woman at the counter, who before I’d arrived, had been enjoying a chocolate croissant.
She finished her bite, letting the crumbs fall onto the counter. “Oh…kay…” She drawled out the words as though she were trying not to say more. “I just need your license and a major credit card.”
I handed the woman my state of Nevada license and the Mastercard I’d booked the tickets
with. Then stood fidgeting at a pen hooked to a chain on the counter.
“Aye. Yer from the states. I have a brother that moved to New York a year ago. My mother doesn’t know what the feck he was thinkin’ bein so far away from family. But, he’s gotta sow his—”
“I’m in a huge hurry. Can we just do the car thing?” I snapped.
The woman glared up at me above black-rimmed glasses. “Ya got a deadly buzz about ya.” She looked back down at the computer, typing seemingly slower than she had before. “How long is ya blowin’ in for?”
Frustration was getting me nowhere, so I softened in an attempt to get her moving. “I’m sorry. I’ve been rude. My friend is visiting Ireland, and he’s gotten himself hurt. He’s in the hospital now near Belfast and I have to get to him as quickly as possible.” I smiled, hoping the now ornery woman would take mercy on me.
“Well dear, sorry to hear that.” She sped up again, slid my credit card and license back across the counter, then reached behind her for a set of keys. “You’ll find yer Nissan Micra at B14, through that door there. Take care!”
I’d barely taken the keys from her hand before I was running out the door, my purse crossways across my body, flapping against my hip.
From there, the two-hour drive into the northern side of Ireland tortured me as I had nothing but time to think of what was happening to Matteo. I’d tried to distract myself with plans of attack or focus for a moment on the stars as they whispered their way into the valleys, but nothing could stop the nausea. Rolling down the car window, I sucked in the cool, night air. The freshness was meant to be a distraction, but instead, a whiff of mold crossed my senses and my brain flashed to the damp basement I’d once been chained in. I thought of Jake’s daughter, she was only 18. Who knows what the hell she’d been through? If Kings Ranch was capable of kidnapping kids—they wouldn’t think twice about killing Matteo.
The GPS startled me out of my thoughts. “Turn left in 0.5 kilometers.”
I glanced down at the screen—10:30 PM, and I was less than 4 minutes away.
“Turn left”
My heart sped up as I followed directions, then pulled the small black car into the brush half a mile from the ranch. I’d have to walk the rest of the way. Here, the sky was dark black, and held no moon. The only sounds, a chorus of bullfrogs, crickets, and my heart beating out of my chest. The wind blew from across the adjacent field propelling my hair onto my face. I pushed it away and stepped towards the shadows of the nearby tree line.
The stables were just beyond the brush. I peeked my head, then moved a limb at a time over the stockade fence and towards the cedar barn. The horses seemed to be the only ones aware of my commotion, as I heard their whines and frustration grow in the stalls. Quickly, I continued to move towards the barn, keeping my eyes peeled for any cameras or onlookers.
The doorway was open, letting fresh air into the stables. Inside, each horse stood behind a wrought iron gate of its own, peeking its head in curiosity over the top of the jointed double doors. Using the flashlight on my phone, I noted each horse's name written clearly in gold lettering to the side of the pen. These horses were worth millions of dollars, surely there was some security measure I was missing. I looked through each of the stables, mentally noting where they’d housed each of Matteo’s horses—there was no sign that he’d been there. Sliding my hand over the soft black nose of the last horse in line, I took a deep breath then turned back towards the exit. I needed to find the basement window.
In the dark, most every shadow looks like a person. And something as simple as walking through grass feels like a minefield, as you become aware of each blade and the unique way it suddenly scratches at your ankle. You think of snakes and rats, and you find dips in the ground that nearly suck you in. As I made my way across the field towards the unassuming house, I noted each window—always thankful when the lights were out. Staying in the shadows, I made my way to the back of the house, then scurried up to its perimeter. Without much effort, I stumbled into a dip in the earth, a cracked egress next to the house. Elation and panic took over, all I wanted was Matteo in my arms. I wouldn’t let Kings Ranch take that from me again. I reached for my phone, shining light into the basement window.
“Matteo…”
“Yes, I’m here.” A voice cracked from the darkness. “I’m here. Please… I need help, but they’re watching.”
I snapped my hand back, hiding the light from my phone beneath my stomach. The voice wasn’t Matteo’s. It was a woman, a young woman, and I could hear the fear in her voice. Darkness surrounded me again, and suddenly I felt eyes all around me as though I’d walked into a wolf’s den. Staying still, I waited for them to devour me, hoping they’d do it fast. But nothing happened, except the cry for help got closer to the window.
“Please, I can see you. I need help. I’ve been down here for a few weeks. I’ve heard them, they’re going to sell me. These people… they took me from the states. Ohio.” The girl was panting as she spoke, one word barely able to fly off her lips before the next was behind it. “I’m Coraline Black. My dad is Jake Black, he lives at 37 Trobelt Lane, Lakeside, Ohio.” A quiver, now evident in her speech. “Please! If nothing else, just let him know I’m alive. Please!”
I laid in the grass and listened, then shone the light from my phone back into her hell. The young girl stood chained against the wall, looking up at me with large brown eyes and shadows that nearly covered her tears. I’d been down there; I’d smelled the musk until it permeated my skin. I’d been touched and fondled by those monsters. I had to do something. “I want to help, but I don’t know what to do. Have you seen or heard them talking about Matteo De Luca?”
“No. I don’t know. I… please, please just help. They watch me on a camera, but if you can slide something to cut off the chains, we may be able to break the window so I can climb through before they wake up.”
I scanned back to the stables. There were tools, but I wasn’t sure which would be helpful. “I’ll be right back.” Standing, I hurried back to the stables like a mouse darting from prey. The night was cold, my breath puffing out in front of me as I ran. If Matteo wasn’t in the basement, and this girl hadn’t even heard of him, then maybe he had never come. Maybe, Kings Ranch got him before he even got here. Maybe, I was alone in this godforsaken ranch and I’d made a terrible mistake. I couldn’t leave now, I had to at least help Coraline out of the basement.
Back inside the stables, the horses had calmed, now seemingly used to my disruption. Near the back wall, a line of tools: rakes, shovels, brooms, shoes, brushes, tacks, hoof nippers, and whips. I scanned back to the hoof nippers, it was the only thing on the wall that looked to have the promise of working. Grabbing the nippers off the pegboard wall, I ran back through the stables towards the basement window. Though, on my way out I tripped on the cord of the heater and flew face-first into a bale of hay, knocking them out of formation along the path. Ignoring the momentary setback, I stood back up and ran back towards the basement—still aware of the phantoms in the grass.
“Try these,” I said, lowering the nippers through the small crack. “I’m going to figure out how to pry this window open more.
Cora took the tool and began working at the chain straight away. “I don’t think anyone watches the videos until morning, but I know the one ranch hand wakes early, before the light. What time is it?”
I looked down at my phone, “It’s only 11 PM. Just hurry. I’m going back to the barn to get something to pry this window a bi—” I paused, glancing back towards the stables—the slight gleam of orange and red peaking above the windows. It looked like a fire, though I wasn’t sure how it could be. I watched a moment longer, rubbing my eyes in disbelief, then stood from the cold, damp grass and ran back towards the barn. Inside, the warm rage of fire had begun against the back wall, spawning from the space heater I’d tripped over on my way back to the basement. Of course I’d set the fucking barn on fire.
Suddenly,
I felt outside of my body as though I were watching some idiot make mistake after mistake. If the house caught on fire, Cora was dead. If the alarms started going off somewhere detecting a fire— someone would be out for me in moments, and I’d be down there with her. I looked up, hoping for automatic sprinklers—nothing. The horses had begun to revolt, banging up against the sides of their stalls, coughing with the inhalation of smoke. I had to do something. Starting at the front, I opened each stall and made way for the animals to get past me into the field. But by the time I’d reached the last stall and turned to leave, the fire had encompassed the barn. Smoke filled the stable and my lungs began to seize with desperation for clean air.
I looked towards the side window, now buckling under the pressure of heat. The flames had escaped and were moving towards the house. I thought of Cora, hoping she would use the commotion in the barn to escape. Lifting my shirt to cover my nose, I tried making my way into the flames, but nature forced me back into the corner. I glanced towards the open window, my eyes burning from the smoke. Closing them, I tried to take a breath but instead began choking. If alarms were going off, I couldn’t hear them. All I could hear was the erratic beating of my own heart as darkness took over and the weight of my body slid to the ground.
Chapter Twenty-One
Matteo
“Kevin, I could see her a second ago, now the feed is black. Where is she?”
His voice was quick and stressed. “She’s in the stables, on the right-hand side. I don’t see her now.”
“You’re not helping Kevin! Can we see any other parts of the house?” I growled the words as though anger would help.
“The fire spread. The main house is in flames. I see one person from the perimeter cameras, but I can’t tell who it is. But that feed is going down too, I can tell by the grain in the footage. Are you any closer?”
As I pulled into the stone driveway, my breathing became jagged as shock settled in. “All I see are flames. There’s nothing…” I dropped my phone onto the seat of the truck and stepped out, moving quickly towards the edge of the barn. Orange and red sprayed everywhere as thick black smoke billowed like clouds around the house and stables.
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