He spent the first few months after her
disappearance looking for her. His network of contacts was vast,
worldwide, stretching to every remote corner of the globe. There was no
sign of her. Nothing. Her reputation had preceded her, some
acquaintances refused to even take his call. Kevin was powerful, she was
lethal.
"NO" he roared, his voice
shattering the mirror in the room. He had heard a rumor that a woman
fitting her description had been seen the previous week entering St. Mark's in
Venice. It was one of the places his loyal contacts had kept watch
over. They had followed her back to a small apartment and confirmed that
she was indeed pregnant. Kevin had come immediately only to find the
apartment empty, no trace of her existed. "Why can't I feel
her? I don't even know if she was here." He sank to the floor
and sobbed.
"If we ever find that woman I will
tear her limb from limb!" Against his better judgement, Howie had
come with Kevin. He knew they wouldn't find her here. She would
never allow herself to be followed unless she wanted to be found. She was
toying with Kevin, torturing him, using his love for her as her weapon.
"Are you so blind that you can't see what she is doing to you? She
will never allow herself to be found."
"I know. I just want to know if she is safe, if our
child if safe. I just want to feel her be a part of me
again."
"She'll never allow that
either." Rising to his feet, his frame bent in defeat, Kevin headed
out of the room.
"Please come back to me" he whispered, knowing in
his heart she was near.
She was in the apartment above him,
sitting in a rocking chair, her hands caressing her belly. Taking a
calculated risk, she had gone to the basilica the week before to see his face,
his real face. She had allowed herself to be followed, knowing Kevin would
be summoned. It was cruel, but she wanted to punish him, to make him
feel some of the torment she felt. She felt his anguish as he sobbed below
her, but could not bring herself to comfort him. She had received no
comfort, no aid from him except in her dreams and she still wasn't sure what
parts of them were real. The child kicked against her hands,
bringing a smile to her face for the first time in months. Her smile faded
as she heard his plea.
"Someday..." she whispered
back. She closed her eyes and saw him pause as he walked down the
stairs. She had allowed him to hear her words. Feeling him
reach out to her, she shut herself off from him once again.
"Someday." This time she was speaking to the child within
her.