I feel ice trickle down my spine.
“Who are they?” I ask coldly, though something is telling me I already know.
“We think Bellandi,” Roberto confirms mysuspicions.
“And what the fuck is Bellandi doing outside of Chicago, standing outside Elsa’s building?”
No one bothers to answer.
We all know. Elsa is the make-it-or-break-it on the deal. They’re there to make sure she sides with them. By any means necessary.
My pulse spikes hot and violent.
“How long have they been watching her?” I ask, gritting my teeth.
“This is the first footage we’ve found of it, but we’ll be combing through more,” Caterina says.
Footage. That’s usually my job.
But I’ve got more important things to do.
I meet Roberto’s eyes, and he nods.
“Luca gave the okay,” he says. “Go.”
I’m moving before he finishes.
“But not alone,” he says.
“Fine,” I snap. “Have men ready. I’m not waiting. I want discreet. I don’t want her or them”—I point to the two men now paused on the screen—“to clock them. Check footage for other members of the Northstar group. Likely they’re watching them as well.”
“What will you tell her?” Caterina asks.
I stop at the door, hand on the handle, and for a second, my brain is nothing but anger and knives.
“I’m going to tell her the truth,” I say.
“The truth?” Caterina pushes up from her chair, incredulous.
“Yeah, the truth,” I repeat and look back at her. “It’s what I owe her after all this.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Roberto asks. “You think she’ll handle it?”
“I think she can handle anything,” I say, yanking the door open.
“Even you showing up at her door?” Caterina calls after me.
“Even that,” I say and walk out.
Chapter Twenty Two
Elsa
I’m halfway through my front door when my brain finally registers how good it feels to be done for the day.
Done with work. Done with the gym.
Done with the polite nods to neighbors I don’t know well enough to speak to on the elevator ride down from the building’s gym. Done with the day’s last obligation.