Stolen by Truths (Truth or Lies 4)

“Milo attacked Surrender. He thinks he wiped out most of our men. But only one man was hurt, because Kai was able to warn us. Something you should have considered doing before you let Milo take you,” Liesel scolds.

I frown. “And how exactly can she communicate with us?”

Liesel whistles.

The door opens, and a woman I vaguely recognize walks in carrying a laptop.

“Hello Mr. Enzo, I mean Mr. Black, Mr. Rinaldi? I don’t know what to call you,” the woman says. She’s wearing high heels, a black skirt, and a white blouse. But the shoes are too small, and the blouse is too big. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun. She looks a like little girl playing dress up.

“Enzo is fine.”

“Enzo, I’m Yolie. I’ve worked for you for three years since I graduated,” Yolie continues.

My eyes cut to Liesel, trying to understand why this stranger is standing in my bedroom when I have much more important things to worry about.

“I work on your security team, developing the latest technologies.”

“She’s a genius is what she is saying,” Liesel says, smiling.

Yolie blushes. “I wouldn’t say that. But I did design some earrings for Kai. I figured Milo would be less likely to suspect small diamond stud earrings than a necklace or bracelet.”

I stare at her, confused.

“She designed earrings that allow us to track Kai at all times, and Kai can tap out simple messages to us through the earrings. We taught Kai a few letters of Morse code. That’s how she let us know there was going to be an attack at Surrender and to get everyone out before the explosion.”

“Surrender is destroyed?” I ask.

Liesel nods with a smile.

She hates that place as much as I do. Too many memories of my father haunt those walls. I’m not sad the place is gone; I should have destroyed it long ago.

“Where is Kai now?” I ask, desperate to see Kai and hopeful she is safe.

Yolie starts typing on the computer, and then she shoves the laptop onto my lap.

“She’s safe. We are monitoring her location. They just landed in Italy.”

I don’t want to know what took them so long to get to Italy. But Kai is anything but safe.

“She can send a distress call with a long press of the earrings. Or if they are removed, we are notified and have a team already in Italy ready to move in. But we could really use you, boss. You know the compound better than anyone since you’ve lived there. Kai is going to try to find a way to let us in undetected, but if not, it’s all up to you.”

I look at Langston who has already hopped up and most likely already knows what I’m about to say.

“Get my damn plane ready. We are going to Italy.”

Liesel crosses her arms. “You will wait for Kai’s signal. We can tell if she’s distressed. If he touches her, we will know. The earrings detect changes in heart rate.”

I stand up, coming eye to eye with Liesel. “If I get a chance to take out Milo, I’m going to take it. I’m not waiting on some signal. Kai isn’t the only person on the inside I can trust.”

“Just promise me you won’t trade yourself to save Kai,” Liesel begs.

“I can’t do that.”

She shakes her head. “You love her.”

I don’t answer.

“Jesus, I never thought I’d say you are a good man. I never thought I’d see you in love. And I never thought that love would be the death of you.”