Lewis watched Nolan in the restaurant, just hoping he wouldn't lose his fundamental composure over Eliza's kidnapping. Inside, Nolan got straight to the point. “Where is Eliza now?” “Locked up by my father. I don't know where.” “Our men didn't find Nathaniel at the Hartwell residence.” “He had me take Eliza to a villa, but he didn't let me get involved in what came after. I suspect he’s hidden her.” “Why didn't he let you get involved?” Nolan knew Nathaniel had always been both wary and trusting of Matteo. If he trusted him with the kidnapping, why not see it through to the end? “At the villa, he wanted to harm Eliza. I stopped him. I... I stabbed his arm, so he wouldn't let me be involved after that.” As he spoke, Matteo glanced at the back of his own hand. Following his gaze, Nolan noticed a long scratch on Matteo's hand, clearly a fresh knife wound. It looked like the other person had been fighting back hard. Matteo continued, “It wasn't that I wanted to grab Eliza. If I hadn't done what Nathaniel said, I’d be finished too. Eliza is the Sue family’s daughter, so Nathaniel wouldn't dare really hurt her. He's just trying to get some leverage. Wendy is dead, and if they dig too deep, the Hartwell family will be implicated. I just don't know what he wants. I came here behind his back.” With that, Matteo placed a list of addresses on the table. “These are Nathaniel's properties in Westbrook. It's not convenient for me to search them. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to check which one she's in.” Nolan looked down at the dozen or so properties on the list. Most were in the city center, with a few in the suburbs, all spread far apart. “I don't know where he took her, but I doubt he'd trust anywhere else. He'll probably contact you soon. I think it's better to strike first.” Matteo put on his hat. “I don't trust those friends of yours. If you really care about Eliza, use your own men.” With that, Matteo turned and left the restaurant. The moment he was gone, Colton and Lewis rushed in. Seeing only a piece of paper in Nolan's hand, Colton was bewildered. “What does that mean? Does he want us to investigate or not?” Nolan said, “He wants us to search these properties. Eliza might be in one of them.” “I smell a rat.” Lewis immediately pointed out the problem. “If Matteo knows all of Nathaniel's properties, why does he know nothing about where Eliza was taken? He doesn't know where she is?” “Matteo said that after she was taken, Nathaniel tried to harm her, and Matteo stopped him. He has a long knife wound on the back of his hand. It looks like it happened yesterday.” Nolan was good at judging wounds. The injury on Matteo's hand was not fake. “It’s a self-injury ploy.” Lewis cut straight through the lie. “Don't tell me you're falling for such a low-level trick?” “It’s not a gamble I can afford to take.” If it were anyone else, Nolan would never have believed Matteo's story. But it was Eliza who had been taken. He couldn't risk it. Even if Eliza wasn't at any of those properties, even if it was a trap, he had to have his men investigate. “You guys stay out of this. I’ll find her myself.” “Are you kidding?” Colton said. “Hitting a dozen places in one day? Nathaniel's properties are guaranteed to be guarded by his most loyal men. You're not just searching his properties; you're going after his entire operation. You'll make an enemy of all his people.” The Hartwell family couldn't hold a candle to the Hayes family—they weren't even fit to shine Nolan's shoes—but they were still in the underworld. Those men were like pests: notoriously difficult to get rid of once you were on their radar. Nolan knew it was dangerous, but he had to do it. He had no other choice. “Stay out of it. I have to find Eliza.” She had been missing for almost twenty-four hours. He had no more time to waste.