Chapter 103 Something like pain
GIOVANNI’S POV
The surveillance room was cramped and smelled like stale coffee.
I stood behind the guard manning the screens, watching him rewind and fast-forward through the footage.
It was the third day after Arya disappeared and it was starting to feel like we were chasing a ghost in the wind.
Checking the CCTV for what was the hundredth time waa starting to feel hopeless.
"There." I pointed at the screen. "That corridor. Check it again."
He did, frame by frame. The hallway remained empty, there was no sign of Arya.
When he looked up, the resignation on his face made my jaw clench. "Sir, I've been through every camera feed from the past six hours."
His voice was apologetic. "She doesn't appear on any of them."
"That's impossible." My hands gripped the back of his chair hard enough to make it creak. "She had to pass through somewhere to have left the house.”
He bobbed his head in agreement. "She must have known where the blind spots were.”
"We have gaps in coverage so if she has observed well enough..” another guard offered from the corner.
I couldn’t deny it. She was smart, perhaps too smart for her own good.
The door burst open and Enzo strode in, his face grim.
"You’re back already?” I quipped and he bobbed his head.
I turned towards him, crossing my hands in front of my chest. “Well?”
"Nothing." He ran a hand through his hair. "We've checked the train station, bus terminal. Called every contact we have in the city. No one's seen her."
My left eye twitched. "What about the airports?"
"Already on it. I've got men stationed all over." He paused. "But Gio, she doesn't have her passport. We have it locked in the safe."
It was a small relief, but not enough. "She could still slip across the border if she's desperate enough. Or if someone's helping her."
"Maybe," Enzo said with a sigh.
I clenched teeth together. "We need to put out an alert," I said.
"Gio, think about this." Enzo stepped closer, lowering his voice. "If we put out an alert that we've lost Robert Vitale's daughter, what do you think happens? We’ll just show that our security is compromised. Again."
A small huff left my lips. "I don't care."
"And her father will know she's missing as well.” He argued back and I couldn’t hold it anymore.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO!" The words exploded out of me. I grabbed the edge of the desk, my knuckles white. "She's out there somewhere, and-“
I didn't get to tell her that the man in the dungeon wasn't who I wanted to be. I was drowning in rage and pain and I lashed out at the one person who…
Who what? Who I loved?
My jaw clenched again. No, there was no way I would let myself be ruled by sentiments.
The only reason I wanted to find her was to teach her a lesson about disobedient traitors.
"Gio." Enzo placed a hand on my shoulder. "We'll find her.”
I wasn’t sure I believed him anymore, days had passed already. She could be anywhere by now.
I turned on the guard at the computer. "If you don't find her," I hissed. "forget about your job. You'll be lucky if I let you leave this place alive."
The man paled. "Sir, I'm doing everything I can to-"
"It's not enough!" I slammed my fist on the desk, making everyone jump. "None of this is enough!"
Enzo pulled me toward the door. "Come on. You need to step away."
I let him guide me out, but I couldn't shake the rage coursing through my entire body.
When I returned to my office, Enzo gave me space but I couldn't sit still. The walls of my office felt like they were closing in.
I changed into workout clothes and headed to the training room in the basement. I wrapped my hands hastily, not bothering to do it properly, and approached the heavy bag.
The first punch felt good and by the third, I found a rhythm already.
I hit harder until he wrapping on my hands came loose and I felt skin splitting against the rough
canvas.
Blood smeared across the bag, but I didn't stop.
Because if I stopped, I would have to face what I did. The fact that I took a girl who looked at me with hope and destroyed her.
Until she rather risk the streets alone than spend another moment under my roof.
My hand slipped against the bag and a loud crack echoed in the space. Pain exploded through my knuckles but I roared, hitting the bag again with my other hand.
Then again with the injured one, welcoming the agony because at least it was something I could feel besides the emptiness in my chest.
Finally, my legs gave out. I collapsed onto the mat, staring up at the fluorescent lights, breathing so hard I thought my lungs might burst.
I looked at my right hand. The knuckles were split open, and blood dripped onto the mat beneath me.
“Shit.” The curse slipped out of my mouth.
With a groan, I forced myself upright. Every muscle protested as I stood, swaying slightly.
I left the training room and headed toward the kitchen, the house was too quiet.
Usually at this hour there would be sounds of the changing shifts, Maria preparing something in the kitchen, Enzo and Jasmine arguing about something trivial.
Now there was nothing. Just the echo of my failure.
At the kitchen sink, I ran cold water over my damaged hand. It stung viciously, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.
The blood swirled down the drain, pink at first, then clearer.
A shadow moved in my peripheral vision. I spun, instinctively reaching for the knife in the rack.
Claire stood in the doorway, her eyes wide. When she saw me notice her, she quickly ducked back into the hallway.
Part of me wanted to call after her and make true my words to punish her for unlocking that door.
But I didn't have the energy.
So I dried my hand and left the kitchen, heading back toward my room. The hallway seemed longer than usual, or maybe I was just that exhausted.
"Mr. De Santis?"
Maria's voice made me stop. She appeared from the dining room, wringing her hands.
"Breakfast is ready," she said softly. "I made your favorite and-“
I waved her off, my injured hand screaming in pain. "I'm not hungry."
Why oh why did I have to ruin my dominant hand?
Maria stepped forward. "Sir, you need to eat something. You've had nothing but coffee for the past three days.”
"I said I'm not hungry, Maria." My voice came out harsher than intended. "Just... leave it.”
Her face fell, but she nodded. "Of course, sir."
I continued to my room in silence and once I was inside, I locked the door and leaned against it.
A long sigh left my mouth and I dragged a palm down my face. “I’ll find you, Arya. I swear and once I do…”
I pressed my lips together, imagining all the way I would make her pay for this.