"Any word?" AJ asks, pacing anxiously back and forth around Ricardo and Alicia's kitchen, ignoring the weight of Sofia's concerned gaze on hr back.
"No," Ciampa says with a sigh. "I asked around, even cornered Gargano and asked him, since Lumis was his, you know. Sort of son in law? I guess. But he claimed to have no clue."
AJ breathes in deeply and closes her eyes, pinching her nose. "Have you seen Tamina?"
"I have," he confirms. "We're both looking. She said this has happened before?"
"Kind of. The Wyatts kidnapped Mike once, but we knew here they took him, and we were able to find him after they left. This, I just..." Her voice wavers. "I have no idea what to do. What if... what if he's hurt or... or Lumis is..."
She falters and Ciampa jumps in. "Hey, don't think like that, ok? We'll find him. It's going to be fine. I'm not..." He sighs. "I'm not going to let something happen to him. Just... try to be patient and don't dwell on negatives, ok? I know Lumis well enough, he's screwed in the head, but he won't... he won't actually hurt Mike, we'll find him long before that can happen."
"I hope so," AJ murmurs.
"I think Mike said you were visiting a friend? Just focus on that right now, and Tamina and I will keep you updated. I promise."
"Ok," AJ sighs restlessly, tugging at her hair uselessly, feeling a little like that spiraling woman who had been left behind by the men she thought had loved her. Spiraling helplessly and suffering, alone and confused. "Please. As soon as you know anything."
"I promise," he says before hanging up to continue the search.
AJ stares blankly at the wall opposite her and closes her eyes, wincing. She hates this, she hates that she's not in Canada to help, she hates. Hates. Hates all of this.
"No news?" Sofia asks, standing up to touch AJ's back gently, try to offer some support.
"No," AJ says faintly, her hands clenching into fists at her side. "God, I hate this. Where is he? What if he's hurt? What do I tell the kids tomorrow? They..."
"They'll be fine," Sofia promises her quietly, stroking her shoulder. "Just breathe, honey. He'll be home before you know it. Here, I'll make you some tea while we wait, how does that sound?"
AJ nods distantly, following her over to the table and sinking down onto one of the chairs, burying her face in her hands. "I've never felt so useless," she mumbles. "I'm not even in the same country and I'm forced to just sit here and wait while our friends attempt to find him. And I don't even know if we can trust Ciampa, that phone call was the first time I've ever talked with him. Mike trusts him, but I can't really get a good read on him. And he knows... he knows things that maybe Mike shouldn't have told him, yet, and I just... I don't know what to do..."
Sofia sets a mug of steaming hot tea before her and AJ nods thankfully, blowing softly on it. "What does Ciampa know that you think perhaps he shouldn't? About the kids?" she guesses uncertainly.
"Yeah," AJ sighs. "Mike just... told him, and it's crazy because some people we're actually pretty close to don't even know about the whole situation, meanwhile Mike just up and tells Tommaso like he's known him for decades instead of just a couple months. I don't know. It's all so messed up."
Sofia strokes her knuckles and nudges the tea closer to her. AJ nods silently, taking a slow sip of the warm drink, closing her eyes and hoping that it'll help hold her together until her phone rings next, hopefully with a solid update on Mike's whereabouts and safety.