Angelina
The interview with the police was stressful, to say the least. So many questions. And as I’d feared, one of the officers remembered me from the gallery fire. It was thanks to the brothers’ mind control that that little problem was made to disappear.
Don’t ask me how they did it, but after the interview was over, they made it appear as if it was quite natural for us all to remain there as police and forensic teams went about their work. It was bizarre to watch them working away and not even seeing us. There was an officer at one side of the front door as well.
All of this was getting too much for me. What I needed most in the world was someplace to blow off steam, along with some alcohol. I knew I loved Luca and Salvatore. Unconditionally. And yet, I still hadn’t come out and admitted my feelings. If they got wind of what I wanted to do, I’d never be able to leave. Time alone was a necessity for me, though.
The Abyss was where I needed to be. It was the local rock club. A place I always felt safe. Somewhere I could be just me. But how was I going to do this without Luca and Salvatore demanding to come with me? I needed this downtime. Alone.
“Where are you going?” Luca asked when I began to rise from between them.
“I’m only going to the bathroom.” I got up and headed down the hallway.
I splashed my face and dried it before going to my bedroom. “Just getting my remaining belongings from my room,” I called out.
“Do you need any help?” Salvatore called back.
“No. But I could do with a cuppa if you don’t mind making it.”
“Anything for you.” His heartfelt words had me swallowing back my guilt.
They were going to be so angry when they finally caught up with me. And I was certain I wouldn’t have too long on my own before they discovered me. Oh well, I’d deal with the consequences when they found me.
I hurriedly changed into tight black jeans, my favourite Rammstein T-shirt, and high-heeled black boots. The timing was going to be crucial, and I had to keep my mind as closed off to them as I possibly could. There would be only one shot at getting out of the apartment before they knew I’d left. In case I lost my nerve, I took my chance. I ran down the stairs and out into the frigid night air.
Fortunately for me, there was always an abundance of cabs in this area. Quickly, I hailed one and breathed a sigh of relief as it headed away. I’d have a quick drink on my own and then ask them to come get me. What harm could it possibly do?
* * *
Luca
I came back from making the drinks and sat beside Salvatore.
“She’s taking a long time,” I said. My concern started to rise as I watched the authorities go about their business, totally unaware of our presence.
Salvatore stood up. “Something’s wrong. I can’t feel her.”
Those were my sentiments too. We rushed to her bedroom, only to see it was empty. The clothes she’d been wearing earlier were thrown on the bed. We ran towards the front door, which had been left open. The officer was still in place and because we’d manipulated her mind to think we’d left after the interview, she wouldn’t have seen Angelina leave. Her scent was thick in the air around us and then, just like that, it vanished by the road.
“Fuck, she’s taken a cab!” Salvatore swore.
“Sal, we need to focus. Take to the skies and head for the busy part of town. We’ll be able to pick up her scent when she gets out. I expect she’s gone to get blind drunk somewhere.”
“That bastard Viktor and his familiars will be out there. He’ll pick up her fucking scent too. I’m calling Antoine and Karl. We may well need their help.”
Sal didn’t need to say more. I was so afraid. Without another word, we took to the skies.
* * *