AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As I near Elio’s office, he and Matteo step out. Both stare at me with an arched brow and arms crossed. Their faces are etched with frustration and concern that immediately puts me on edge.
"Where the hell have you been?" Elio demands, his voice sharp with anger.
I make a face. “You’re not my father.”
Matteo doesn’t look pissed, but he is concerned, which is unusual for him. “We’ve been trying to reach you all night, Lana. What gives?"
A flush of embarrassment creeps up my neck, but I force it down, summoning every ounce of my ice princess persona. "I was out.”
"Out?" Elio scoffs. "That's all you have to say? Your phone was off, and you didn't come home. We thought something might have happened to you."
"I'm a big girl, Elio. I can take care of myself.” I try to sidestep them.
Matteo blocks my path, his blue eyes searching mine. "That's not the point, and you know it. We're family. We look out for each other."
As they press me for answers, I feel the weight of my double life crushing down on me. How can I tell them I spent the night with Henry Lutz, the very detective who's been hounding our family? The shame and guilt threaten to overwhelm me, but I bury them beneath layers of practiced indifference.
"I needed some time alone. I turned off my phone and went for a drive. Lost track of time."
“All of a sudden, you need to drive and stay out all night?” Elio’s tone tells me he doesn’t believe me. “What are you hiding?”
"I'm a grown woman, Elio. I'm capable of making my own decisions and taking care of myself. I don't need you or anyoneelse breathing down my neck every time I decide to take a night off."
Matteo steps back, hands raised in surrender. "We're just worried about you."
"Well, don't be. I’ve been working hard, and I think I’ve earned a night out without you breathing down my neck.”
“I’m the head of this family,” Elio snaps.
“But you’re not my keeper.”
Elio blows out a breath and looks away for a moment. When he looks at me again, his expression is softer. "We were worried. It’s not like you to drop off the radar… to disappear.”
The word disappear is synonymous with Lazaro, and now I understand where this is coming from. A wave of guilt washes through me that I’d make them worry I’d fallen victim to something nefarious. And the truth is, they have a right to be worried, considering what I’ve been doing.
"I'm sorry," I say softly, my anger deflating. "I didn't mean to make you worry. It's just… I thought I had a lead on Lazaro."
Matteo's eyes widen. "What? Why didn't you tell us?"
I shake my head, fabricating a story on the spot. "It was probably nothing. I got a tip about someone who matched his description hanging around the docks. I went to check it out, but it was a dead end."
Elio's expression softens further. "You should have told us. We could have helped."
"I know," I lie, hating myself for the deception. "I just… I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. Especially not after all this time."
Elio's eyes narrow, his suspicion clearly not satisfied by my vague explanation. He takes a step closer, his voice low and intense. “Why do I feel like you’re not telling us everything?”
The scrutiny of his gaze makes me want to squirm. But I hold my ground, meeting his gaze with as much steadiness as I can muster. "I told you, it was just a lead that didn't pan out.”
Matteo chimes in, his tone gentler but no less probing. "And it took all night? What aren't you telling us?"
My carefully constructed lie is crumbling under their combined pressure. I take a deep breath, knowing I need to give them something more substantial or risk losing their trust completely.
"Okay, fine," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've been… working with someone. Someone who might have a real lead on Lazaro."
Elio's expression darkens. "Working with who?"
I close my eyes for a moment, steeling myself for their reaction. "Detective Lutz."
