I walked to the top floor and entered the bedroom. Button sat at the edge of the bed, wearing my t-shirt and boxers. Her arms were folded close to her chest and she stared at the fire, the fear in her eyes.
I shut the door and announced my presence.
Her eyes were on me instantly. “What happened?”
“They just asked routine questions.” I removed my clothes then sat beside her.
“That’s it?” she asked incredulously.
“They’d asked if I’d seen you around Tuscany, and they asked me to share your absence with my employees. I employee a lot of people in Tuscany and the cops thought it would be a good way to spread the word.”
“They’re still looking for me nine months later?”
“I’m just as surprised.”
She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins. “Who called on the search?”
I didn’t have an answer for that. “I don’t know. When I asked they didn’t give me an answer.”
“I have no idea who it could be.”
My suspicion immediately went to Cane but what did he get out of that? If the police extracted her and shipped her off to America we would lose our only leverage. Unless he had an alternative plan? I wasn’t sure.
She turned to me, tucking her hair behind her ear. “What do you think?”
“I’m not sure...but I suspect Cane has something to do with it.”
“What would he get out of it?”
“I don’t know. But I can’t think of any other possibility. He’s the only person who knows you’re here.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear again. “If it was him I’m going to punch him right in the dick.”
“You should punch him in the dick anyway.”
“What are we going to do?”
“The police didn’t seem too suspicious. But we’ll have to lay low for a while. Stay in the house until it blows over.”
“If someone I loved was looking for me I’d have to hand myself over. I couldn’t let them keep worrying about me. But I know no one is looking for me. It was either Cane or something else.” The sadness in her voice echoed off the walls and masked the crackling flames in the fire. The loneliness and despair was enough to affect everything around her.
Including me. “You always have me, Button. If something were to happen to you I would never stop looking for you until I found you.” Maybe she didn’t have anyone else but she had me. I didn’t have anyone either. But now I had her.
“I know, Crow.”
I wrapped my arm around her waist and held her close to me. “You’re never alone. I’m never alone. Because we have each other.” I pressed my lips to her forehead and let them linger, feeling her take a deep breath when she felt my touch. The affection comforted her but it also made me warm. I didn’t feel like such a monster when I was with her. I didn’t feel like a thief and a criminal. It was the first time I felt like a man.
Just a man.
***
I snuck into Cane’s house just as he snuck into mine. I climbed through a window and entered the living room. He was screwing a whore on the couch, her ass in the air while she gripped the back of the couch. “Sorry. Am I interrupting?”
Cane stopped what he was doing and gave me a glare. “Uh, do you mind?”
“Nope. You broke into my house and I’m gonna do the same to you.” I fell onto the opposite couch and rested my feet on the table. “You’re just lucky I’m not gonna knock her around.”
“Like I would give a damn.” He pulled out of her and dressed himself. Then he opened his wallet and tossed the cash at her. “Get out.”
She pulled on her dress and took the money without asking a single question. She left through the front door, grateful for getting paid even though she didn’t finish the job.
“What the fuck?” Cane tensed with his arms by his sides, giving me a look that was beyond hateful.
“You broke into my house and hurt my slave. I no longer have any respect for you. I will walk into your house like I own the damn place whenever I feel like it.”
“Would you let it go already?”
“Never.” The only retribution I would have is doing the same thing to him—whenever he found someone he actually cared about.
He abandoned the fight and poured himself a scotch. “What is it? What do you want?”
“I didn’t appreciate the little stunt you pulled.” It was easier to get him to talk if I acted like I already knew what happened. When he was cornered he usually caved.
“What stunt?”
“Don’t play stupid, Cane. I know you contacted the police about Pearl.”
“The police?” He was about to take a drink but stopped himself. “Why the hell would I call the police?”