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But as I pull up to the gates of the estate, none of that matters. All I can think about is making sure Lana's safe. I'll deal with the fallout later.
I make it through the first hurdle, being allowed through the gates. I park in front, taking in the large estate. I wonder if Lana would be happy in a little apartment with me after living here?
No. I can’t start thinking like that, and yet, how can I stop? She's changed me. A few months ago, I never would have dreamed of doing something this foolish. But now? Now, I'd walk through fire for her.
As I approach the front door, it swings open before I can even knock.
“What’s wrong? Where’s my husband?”
I stop short, not knowing what she’s asking about while at the same time getting confirmation that something is wrong.
“I don’t know about Mr. D’Amato. I'm looking for Lana—ah, Ms. D’Amato," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "Is she here?"
She shakes her head and looks even more worried than when she opened the door a second ago. "No, she… she left a while ago. There was an accident. Matteo…"
My stomach drops. "What accident?"
"Lana got a call from the police. They said Matteo was in an accident and Elio was missing. Lana went to pick up Matteo, but…"
I lean in closer, my cop instincts on high alert. "But what, Mrs. D’Amato?"
“I tried to call her because I couldn’t stand waiting anymore. She doesn’t answer. Matteo and Elio don’t either.” She lets out a sob.
I guide her back into the house, needing to get all the information I can as quickly as possible.
“When did this call come in?” I ask.
“I–I… just over an hour, maybe a bit more.” She’s frazzled, and I need to be gentle even as my nerves have me wanting to shake the panic out of her.
“Did she say where the accident was?"
Her head bobs up and down as she gives me the location. Thank fuck. Chicago and its environs are too big for me to simply drive around searching for Lana.
“Did Lana say anything else?” I prod.
“Just to call Dr. Evans in case Matteo needs medical attention. He’s inside.”
I try to keep my professional demeanor, but inside, I'm terrified. This is bad. Really bad. If anything's happened to Lana…
“I need you to stay here in case Lana or Elio or Matteo return, okay?”
She nods.
“And if they call, you call me right away.” I hand her my card.
“You’re going to find them, right?” Her eyes are pleading.
“I’m going to try.” I start to turn to my car.
“It’s not a trick, right? You love Lana too, right?”
I stop short. “What?”
“Lana told me about you two. About wanting to be with you. I hope she’s not wrong in thinking you feel something real for her and this isn’t a trick to hurt my family.”
I swallow, the information ricocheting around my brain. “She’s not wrong.”
I hurry to my car, noting the pain and fear in Mrs. D’Amato’s expression. In my line of work, we see the D’Amatos as monsters. Inhuman. But I’ve seen the human in Lana, and now, Mrs. D’Amato.
