“What happens to them here?”
“They are treated, and they are safe. It’s a refuge. A place where they can’t be harmed.”
“How long do they stay?”
“Depends on their needs, and those of their children. My goal in building this place was to get them back on their feet and then to offer counseling. Once their confidence is built back up, they can be released into the world again. I offer the chance of a better life. All they need to do is embrace it. In here they are taught essential skills like self-defense and given the tools they need so that when they are ready to leave, they can survive anything.”
“This place and what you are doing…it’s amazing,” I said. “These women owe you their lives.”
“I know what it feels like to be the one someone puts the screws to. I’ve witnessed and suffered through many things in my life, even as a child, and this is my opportunity to make it better. Even if it makes the smallest dent on humankind. It will spread to future generations that come along after I’m long gone. All it takes is one seed, Sloane, to make a change in the world.”
I stood there in that moment with a full heart and in complete awe of him.
In the corner of the room a young boy looked our direction and then darted into the next room and returned seconds later with a group of children. They ran to Giovanni, and he bent down to greet them.
“Gio, Gio,” they said. “Will you read us a story?”
“Please,” one girl said.
“Double please,” said another.
Giovanni laughed and said, “Alright then, one story. Go and choose a book for me to read.”
A minute later we were in a room full of beanbags with an assortment of children who latched on to every word Giovanni read like a room full of parishioners listening to a sermon.
There were times in my life when I felt like I was a magnet to all things complicated. Giovanni seemed stable and secure, and more magnificent than I expected him to be. Here he was in a safe house with a book in his hand reading to a handful of children. There was just one caveat that played like a skipped record in the back of my mind, and there was no getting around it. I was dating a modern version of Don Corleone, and as impressive as the safe house was, there were two sides to a man like this. There had to be.
CHAPTER 48
In the morning I found a note next to my bed that said to go upstairs and to walk to the second door on the right and then go in. I’d never been one to back down from a good old fashioned surprise, and I wasn’t about to now either.
Lord Berkeley was still asleep on the bed next to me sans his detective costume, so I slipped out the side of the bed, wrapped a robe around me, and tiptoed out to the hall. When I arrived at the door in question, I imagined what I might possibly find on the other side. I almost didn’t want to open the oversized double doors in fear that I would spoil what I’d built up in my mind.
I grabbed both knobs in my hands and pushed them open at the same time and then gasped. Along the walls on all four sides of the room were bookshelves lined with books—old, new, collectible—they were all there, and there were thousands of them. A desk in the middle of the room contained a note that had been folded over with my name written on the front. I opened it.
Sloane, read whatever you wish. I hope this helps take your mind off things.
I folded the note up and slipped it in the pocket of my robe.
“Amazing isn’t it?”
I spun around to see Giovanni’s sister at the door.
“Morning,” I said.
“He’s been collecting for over twenty years now. It’s a big deal he let you in this room, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is where he comes for refuge, and usually when he’s in here everyone knows he’s not to be disturbed.”
“I see. He showed me the shelter last night. It’s amazing to me that he built that place.”
Daniela laughed.
“He’s ahhh, built ten of them.”
“Ten?” I said.
“They’re all over the place. Las Vegas, L.A., Miami….”
“It’s amazing what he’s done for these women and their children.”
“That’s just who he is. He puts others before himself all the time.”
“I can see that,” I said.
“Listen, I have to head out.”
“So soon?” I said.
“It’s time for me to get back to my real life. I just came up here to say goodbye.”
She had a look on her face that said something more.
“And…?”
“Don’t hurt my brother.”
“What makes you think I would?” I said.
“I can’t remember the last time he had a girlfriend. I hope that gives you some idea of how long ago it was. He’s cautious with women; most don’t appeal to him.”
“Why?”
“They can’t think for themselves, are interested in his money, and that type of thing. So it’s rare for him to attach himself to anyone. As his girlfriend, I thought you should know.”
“But I’m not his—”
“Of course you are. Just don’t hurt him. He acts all tough and believe me he is, but he’s let you see the other side of him, and not many ever see that so consider yourself lucky.”
She walked over and squeezed me tight and then turned and walked back out the door and said, “See you soon.”
I selected an old copy of Jane Eyre and shut the door to the library and walked back down the stairs and was met by Giovanni.
“I was just coming to find you,” he said.
“Your book collection is amazing. I could have spent hours in there. I’ve never seen anything like it, thank you for—”
He grabbed my arms and shook me, not hard—but enough to get my attention.
“Sloane…”
I looked into his eyes. Something wasn’t right.
“What’s happened?” I said.
“How fast can you get ready?”
CHAPTER 49
It wasn’t time for the first matinee of the day at the local movie theater, and already there were two patrons. The only thing was—they were both dead. The garbage collector noticed them when he made his early morning rounds and called it in. Two women, fully clothed, lay side by side with one arm across their chest and the other spread out, just like the other victims had been. Their right hands had been hacked off, and one had Sinnerman’s signature S carved in her wrist, but the other had something different this time, an M.
“Maybe he’s breaking up his name into two words now,” Maddie said, “since there’s two women. One for Sinner and the other for Man. This is the first time he’s killed more than one at the same time.”
“We both know what else that could stand for, Maddie.”
“Oh please, you’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I? Those initials could be mine too.”
“How close are you?” Maddie said.
“ETA is five minutes.”
“The place is already swarming with fed’s and everyone else on the planet, so I’m not sure how close you’ll be able to get to the victims.”
“If Coop’s there, I’m sure I won’t get anywhere near them.”
“Here’s hoping he’s down with some kind of tragic illness where he needs bed rest,” Maddie said.
I pressed the end button on my phone and looked at Giovanni.
“Every time someone is killed, I can’t help but feel it’s my fault,” I said.
He took his right hand off the wheel and replaced it with his left and then reached over and set his hand on top of mine.
“You can’t think like that.”
“It’s hard not to. And I feel like I’ve let my sister down because I still haven’t found this guy. All I do is keep sending others to join her.”