CHAPTER THREE
A few Days Later...
Anna's PoV
"What do you mean he will not speak to anyone but me?" I asked Agent Adams over the phone.
"We have tried several other evaluators, and they have all been either threatened or injured. He insists he will only talk to you," Agent Adams explained.
This new information surprised me. I had thought by leaving Don Vincenzo alone in prison, I would be free from his influence, but he was proving to be relentless.
"Listen, Anna, you are our only hope at this point. We cannot get any useful information from him unless you speak with him. He seems to have taken a liking to you," Agent Adams pointed out.
I was about to respond when the sound of whistling startled me. I turned to see Leo examining one of my paintings.
"What is that noise in the background?" Agent Adams asked.
"Nothing, just some interference," I laughed nervously, motioning at Leo to be quiet. "Alright, look, I will return to the prison for one more session, but this is absolutely the last time," I decided.
"Great, I will arrange your flight."
"When is this flight scheduled?" I asked, mentally reviewing my calendar.
"Immediately," he replied.
"Immediately?" I glanced at my watch, realizing it was only eight in the morning. "I cannot conduct a session right now! I am not prepared at all," I protested.
"You are a professional, Anna. Understand that if you handle this session well, it could significantly advance your career," he replied.
I did not appreciate the suggestion that I needed external motivation to do my job effectively.
"Fine, I will be ready in an hour," I agreed.
"Excellent. We will be expecting you," he said before hanging up.
"Off to see Don Vincenzo today?" Leo asked, still admiring the painting.
"Your boss is insufferable! He refuses to cooperate with anyone else and now insists I keep coming to see him. This is ridiculous!" I vented while Leo watched me without emotion.
"When the boss told me to guard you, I was surprised. I thought he had other plans for me, but a woman was never on the list. You must mean something to him."
"I do not care what value he places on me. As far as I am concerned, he is still a criminal who controls illegal activities."
Leo shook his head and approached me, his gaze steady. "The media can spread many lies, but it is not my place to reveal the truth. I believe when the time is right, you will see things clearly."
I moved away from him and headed to my room. I had no time for his mysterious messages. Agent Adams had likely scheduled the flight, and I needed to get to the airport as soon as possible.
After changing into a simple, professional outfit, I returned to the living room where Leo was watching television.
"Need a ride to the airport?" he offered.
"That will not be necessary," I said, heading for the door. "And I suggest you keep a low profile. I do not want people getting the wrong idea," I added, rolling my eyes.
The truth was, I did want someone to keep an eye on my apartment, but I hated that it had to be someone connected to Don Vincenzo.
Hours later, I was back in the Chicago prison, heading toward Don Vincenzo's cell. He certainly had a lot to answer for.
"Listen carefully," Agent Adams instructed as we stood outside the holding room. "Get him to reveal as much information as possible. Rest assured, we have security measures in place. If he tries anything dangerous, we can stop him immediately."
Taking a deep breath, I entered the room as the door opened. To my surprise, Don Vincenzo was calmly reading a book.
"Ah, she returns at last," he remarked, closing the book and placing it on the table. "I will need the audio recording in this room to be turned off," Don Vincenzo added, glancing at the camera.
"That is not possible. They need to hear everything we discuss," I objected.
"Then I will not speak. Having Doctor Sinclair here to document our conversation is sufficient." I massaged my temples, already feeling stressed by his demands.
"Very well, we will disable the audio recorder only. The camera will remain on for her safety," Agent Adams's voice came through the speaker.
I approached the table where Don Vincenzo had motioned for me to sit. He looked pleased to see me, his trademark smirk in place.
Glancing at the now-silent audio recorder, I turned to Don Vincenzo. "Why did you send Leo to protect me? And how are you able to make phone calls from this cell?" I demanded.
"Let us just say I have my ways. As for Leo, his presence is for your own safety," he stated.
"What do you mean?" I pressed.
"I thought by staying here and waiting for the right time, I could plan my next move. But I have received word of a new threat. If they discover your involvement in my case, your life would be in danger."
I took a moment to process this information, trying to maintain my composure despite the growing fear.
"You are not waiting for the right time, Don Vincenzo. You are going to face justice," I asserted. He laughed at my statement.
"You underestimate me, sweetheart. My departure from this prison should be happening right about..." He glanced at an imaginary watch. "Now."
The door burst open, revealing a guard with a bloodied face.
"Took you long enough," Don Vincenzo remarked casually. "Is the jet ready?" he asked, rising to his feet.
"What is going on here?" I asked, utterly confused.
"What does it look like, sweetheart? We are leaving," he replied, picking up his book.
"We?" I echoed, staring at him in disbelief.
"I am sorry, darling. I will explain everything soon," Don Vincenzo said. Bef
ore I could respond, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my head, and then darkness surrounded me.