chapter 49

Angelo sat in his dimly lit study, the flickering light of a solitary lamp casting shadows on the walls. The room was filled with pictures of Emily, each one capturing a different moment of her life since she was taken away. Photos of her at school, in the garden, and even candid shots of her when she thought no one was watching. Angelo stared at these images, a mixture of longing and anger coursing through him.

He couldn’t understand why things had gone so wrong. Emily was supposed to be with him, not in the hands of another man. The thought of Kamsy being close to her, touching her, made Angelo's blood boil. He clenched his fists, trying to control the rage that threatened to consume him.

Since the day Emily was taken, Angelo had men following her everywhere. They reported back to him daily, giving him detailed accounts of her movements, her interactions, her moods. He knew she was struggling, that she missed her family and friends. He knew she thought about him, too. The way she so