Elena?” When Enzo picks up the phone, his voice on the other end of the line sounds as frantic as I thought it would. Good.

I glance at Elena, sitting there on the couch with a worried frown on her face. With the morning sunlight behind her, she’s glowing like an angel, just like that time when I saw her just outside Enzo’s office.

I can’t believe that was just a few days ago. So many things have changed.

“Enzo,” I say.

“Who is this? Where is Elena?” he asks.

“Don’t worry. She’s okay. She’s safe.”

After a pause, Enzo asks, “Damon?”

“Bingo.”

“Why do you have Elena’s phone?”

I pause, letting his mind wander and explore all the horrible possibilities.

Perhaps this is all innocent. Maybe Elena and I are in love, and we’ve eloped after that first date.

But why would I be the one calling him? Why not Elena?

Has something happened to Elena? Did I just lie to him?

Why would I do that?

Did I find out about what he did to my parents?

. . .

Is Elena even still alive?

“Because she’s with me,” I answer.

“Is she okay?”

“I told you. She’s fine.” I walk across the living room, feeling power course through my veins. I’m in complete control in this moment. Staring into Elena’s eyes, I say, “Tell your dad you’re okay.”

Elena looks up at me, but I can no longer read her like I used to. She’s closed the window through which I peered inside her mind. And she probably won’t ever let me in again.

It shouldn’t affect me, but a cold, sharp pain pangs in my chest.

Focus, I tell myself, reminding myself what could happen if I let weakness and sentimentality take control.

I hold the phone in the air, inches away from Elena’s face. “Go on.”

“I’m okay, Dad,” she says.

I hear Enzo speak but the volume’s too low for either one of us to hear.

I don’t want to put him on speakerphone either, just in case it gives them ideas. I don’t want them giving each other secret codes or whatever. I’m the one in control here.

“She didn’t hear one word you said, old man,” I tell him. “But she’s okay. She’ll continue to be okay if you agree to my terms.”

“What the fuck?” Enzo curses. “Are you fucking blackmailing me?”

I chuckle. “Does the thought bother you that much? You’ve done the same to plenty of people before.”

It doesn’t surprise me that he’d be outraged, though. Someone like Enzo, who thinks he’s at the top of the food chain, never believes the rules apply to him.

I’m here to remind him that he’s still just a man. A man with resources, sure. But a man nonetheless. Mortal.

“What do you want?” Enzo asks.

“What does everyone want?” I muse. “Money. Power. Wealth. Revenge.”

“Fucking revenge? I’ve done everything for you. Helped you finish your schooling. Given you a job,” he says.

“Come on, Enzo. Don’t insult my intelligence like that. I didn’t waste all that money you spent putting me through school. I’m not an idiot. What we have is a mutually beneficial relationship . . . or so I thought, until I learned the truth. It really is too bad. I would’ve been happy working for you if I didn’t know.”

“What truth?” he asks, indignant.

“The truth about what you did to my parents.”

There’s a long pause as the gravity of the situation sinks in for Enzo.

“I didn’t do nothing to them,” he says. “I’m sorry to say this about your parents but they destroyed themselves. They thought they were strong enough for this life but they weren’t.”

“Bullshit. They’d still be alive if it weren’t for you.”

“Giving up is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a hard life,” he says. “You’re different, though. You have potential. I had plans for you. Big plans.”

“Sure you do,” I say. “And now I’ve gone and destroyed my only path to success. That’s what you want me to believe, right?”

“You’ve just destroyed yourself, period,” he says. “You think this is a shortcut to success? This is the best way to ensure that you’ll never get there. My men will annihilate you when they find out what you’ve done.

“But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can still stop this. I’ll let you go, and you can start over somewhere else. Just give me back my daughter and walk away.”

I laugh. “You think I’m going to buy that? You really think nothing of me, do you? Maybe that’s why it’s so easy to do everything I’ve done under your nose.”

“Whatever you’ve done, it can still be fixed. We can talk about it,” Enzo says.

“Have you been watching some cop TV drama lately? You think you’re a hostage negotiator now?” I ask, mocking him. I know he’ll hate that. “Enzo, I call the shots here, so stop talking and listen.

“You’ll meet me tonight at seven. Alone. If I see so much as a shadow following you, Elena is dead.” I continue pacing around the room, avoiding her gaze. Looking at her would just weaken my resolve. “Don’t try to test my patience. You’ll regret it.”

“Okay, Damon. Whatever you say. Nobody needs to get hurt, least of all Elena. She has nothing to do with this.”

“Bring me five million dollars and have your lawyers draft the paperwork to give me ownership of Dive and Mercury.”

“Two of my best clubs. You have good taste,” he says.

“Don’t forget how long I’ve worked for you. I’ve seen how much money changes hands there.”

“And it only made you want it all for yourself,” he says.

“Loyalty is important to me, Enzo,” I tell him. “My parents were loyal to you, but you repaid them with ruin. You’re not capable of loyalty, so giving you mine would’ve been a waste.”

“Okay. I’ll get everything prepared.”

“You’ll be there alone,” I remind him. “Not even a driver in the car. You’ll drive yourself.”

“I don’t remember the last time I did that, but I’ll manage.”

“Good.”

“And then you’ll give me back my daughter? You’ll let her go safely?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Can I speak to her again? Let me see a picture or a video of her so I know she’s okay?” Enzo asks.

“No. I don’t want you trying to figure out where she is or sending her some kind of a hidden message,” I say. “Just meet me tonight, and I promise you I won’t hurt her. I’ll text you an address at six. Go there right away. A man will meet you there to take you to our meeting place.”

I hang up. I said everything I need to say and he heard me loud and clear.

“So that’s it?” Elena asks. “I’m just a bargaining chip for money and property?”

“That’s generally how kidnappings work.”

“Are you going to let my dad go too?” she asks.

I guess there’s no need to hide it from Elena. She won’t get any chance to see her dad until the meeting tonight. I can gag her so she won’t be able to warn him.

But on the other hand, knowing won’t do her any good either. I only have a few more hours with her, and I’d rather not have her see me as a monster during this small window of time.

“Sure. If both of you do as I say.”