Nothing On You

Chapter Twenty-two

"You sure you want to come with?" Phil asks, adjusting his coat. 

"Yeah, I want to come." I put my Rolex on and check the time. "Why do you keep asking me if I want to go? I already told you I was going to go." 

"Alright, alright fine; lets go."

Phil and I head downstairs just as the usual car pulls up outside my building. 

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I nurse a glass of Dancing Juice while I sit at the bar. I nod to the music as people mill around, dancing and socializing all attempting to hold on to their drinks in the process. The room shakes, pulsating with music. The counter vibrates with every beat of the bass, the contents of my glass shaking as well. Someone nudges me. 

"You can't just sit there all night," Phil says as he sets his glass on the counter, the bartender gives him a refill. 

"Sure I can," I half chuckle before I take a sip. "I can sit here all night if I want; I'm here aren't I?"

"That's not what I mean and you know it." I don't answer him. "I know you're worried about her, I am too but there's nothing we can do right now." 

"I know."

Then I spot her, the face I've been looking for. 

I set my drink down and step off the bar stool. My eyes locked on her I proceed to wade through the sea of movement. 

"Where are yo—" Phil starts before he takes notice of the woman in my sites. He nods. 

I walking towards her I keep a low profile, slipping through groups and couples as soon as there is enough space for me to pass. Her wavy dark brown hair lays against her back,  she wearing one of her infamous little red dresses that falls just past the middle of her thigh. I touch her shoulder and she turns around, her eyes growing wide. 

"We need to talk." 

"Bru—"

"Now." I take her arm tighly and guide her out of the club. We walk down the street the coffee shop we met in, back before she ruined my life. Again. I sit down, Natalie following suit across from me. She shifts in her seat uneasily. 

"Where is she?"

"Bruno, what are you talking abo—"

"You know damn well what I'm talking about," I stare dead in her eyes, my voice rising. "Where is she?"

"I don't have to tell you anything." she looks away.

You kidnapped my girlfriend, I almost seethe before I slowly take a breath.

"Why are you doing this?" She doesn't look at me. "She's never done anything to you."

"She did." Natalie looks at me, her eyes are glassy. Tears form at their corners. I know what she's about to say. "She took you away from me. It's just like what Presley said, she's the polar opposite of me...when we were together, I never stayed over for more than a night or two but you two actually, well practically lived together. You're were with her all the time. It's doesn't even seem like you fight. And...she's...she's changed you...you're different."

"How?" I question watching her intently. It's been a while since I've seen this side of her. I shake the thoughts away, I can't fall for this even if she does mean what she's saying; I can't take any chances. 

"The way you look at her, care for her, you never been that way with me..."

"Natalie, look I get it. Just let Izzie go, she's very important to me and I need her back."

"I can't do that." She wipes away her tears, her face growing hard. Her eyes lock on mine. She starts to stand, I snatch her wrist. 

"No. Tell me where she is." Her jaw clenches. 

A man a few tables away watches us, a coffee mug in hand. The hairs at the back of my neck raise as I look behind me a man has stopped cleaning the counter it mid-circular motion. The coffee house has been vacated somehow, the people who were here before are gone. I loosen my grip as Natalie pulls her hand from my grasp. 

I clench my fist as she walks away the guy with the coffee mug, follows closely behind. Soon there after the guy cleaning the table follows as well.

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"Anything?" Phil asks pulling the strap to his set belt, clicking it into place. 

"She has people helping her," I say staring straight ahead. "I can't get anything out of her. She refuses to tell me."

"She refuses to tell you...she refuses to tell you? What kind of answer is that. You make her tell you." Phil puts the key in the ignition and starts the car.

"You should have seen the guys with her. They're professionals. I can't go into that alone." 

"You don't have to," he starts as we pull out of the parking lot. "You've go me, her friends and the guys and your families. She's going to be fine, we're going to find her." 

The multi-colored city lights dot the streets and skies as we drive off into the night. The moon shows in its full form, glowing in an ominous yellow similar to the night she left. I can't help but think about what could be happening to her right now. What she could be thinking about. 

Iz, I love you.

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Upon opening my door, G trots over and sets his rump on the floor looking up at me. I hang my keys on the hook and give him a good pet. He stares me in the eyes, his dark brown eyes glossy. He whines quietly, his eyebrows arching before they come together. 

"I know boy, you miss her too." he whines again but this time he looks away from me into the living room. "What's up?" He starts to walk away, turning back with in a few steps to check if I'm following him. I follow him in to the living room. In his bed lays a dirty, bloodied ball of grey and white fur. He licks it gently and the puppy turns opening its eyes. Soft blue eyes meet mine. My eyes widened, she whines. Lani. 

"Good boy..." I pet him as crouch down and pick up the puppy She whines in pain as shift her in to the crook of my arm. She's grown since the last him I saw her. I take her to the bathroom and run warm water in the tub before I set her down. I grab a quickly sponge as the warm water runs over her, the dirt slowly swirling down the drain. I lather up some soap and gently scrub her fur until her pure white fir shows, the grey patches clearing up. She pulls away, almost nipping my hand when I go to scrub her left front paw. It's bend at an odd angle with what looks like a knot on right on the bone. I carefully handle her leg and finish her bath. I give her a quick rub down with a towel and wrap her in a dry one before I head to the living room and set her on the couch. I change in to a tee and sweat pants I hold her in my lap. Picking up the remote, I put on an the latest episode of Game Of Thrones. 

"How's that?" I ask, gently petting her head. She licks my hand and snuggles closer to me then she looks up to me and I can almost tell what she's thinking. 

"I know Lani, I want to find her too." I breathe. My phone vibrates. I pick it up and unlock the screen. The tiny email icon shows in the corner shows. I tap it and it opens to my inbox. It reads: One new email. I tap it with my thumb and it opens. A black box appears with a triangular play button at it's center. I hesitate my hand beginning to shake. I tap the the screen once more and the video starts. 

The lights come on. My blood runs cold.

Is she...?