My mind flashes back to the last few weeks spent with Luci. She didn’t struggle against Aldo’s hand as he helped her off the property. Did she ever truly love me or was this a rouse to get my guard down? How long has this escape plan been in place? Most importantly, is she carrying my child?
Marco gently knocks on the door, walking in like he’s trying to sneak past a tiger. Instead of sitting in his usual spot, he sits in the chair across from my desk, setting his tablet on the desk, and slides it to me.
“What is this?” My hands go to my temples, trying to massage the headache that’s been in place since I found Luci gone less than forty-eight hours ago.
“This is the footage I’ve been able to locate of Aldo’s car and another one following them. I assume it’s Stella and Caterina. I’ve tracked the cars and plates until Amish country. After that, the plates disappear.”
Of course, they went through Amish country. “What are you getting at Marco? I’m about two seconds away from telling El to finally castrate you like she threatens every other goddamn day.”
“It means they’re either in Amish country or changed plates before crossing the state borders. I’m trying to track their cars and any pictures taken by traffic cams, but I haven’t been able to find any on the major highways leaving Pennsylvania. Which also leads back to the theory they’re in Amish country or they left the state on a back road then connected to a highway. That or maybe . . . no it’s unlikely never mind.”
I’m tired of people tip-toeing around things. “What’s unlikely? Spit it out, Marco.”
“There’s technically a possibility that they went somewhere via airplane. A small one that holds a few passengers. The likelihood that Aldo knows someone or would have the money to pull that off is slim though.”
“So all you’ve managed to do is narrow down Luci’s location to the world? Remind me, why are you head of security?”
“Because I’m your best friend and you secretly love me?”
I ignore his answer, knowing he’s correct even though I hate that he’s right. “Make yourself useful and get the fuck out of my office and find my pregnant fiancé.”
Marco quietly gathers his tablet and leaves, closing the door quietly enough that I don’t hear it behind my anger and other emotions clouding my mind. Before I process what I’m doing I swipe everything off my desk, not caring about what I break and how much shit I lose in the process. She’s gone. Luci is gone and I need to get her back. I’ll murder anyone and do anything I need to do to make that happen. She will not keep my baby from me and I will not let her raise my baby without me next to her.
I drink myself into a stupor and wake up around midnight in the bedroom Luci was last in before she left the house. Left me. I’m drunk enough that I can’t leave the bed without wanting to throw up, but sober enough that I know I came in here to be close to her scent. The orange blossom and jasmine scent I’d know anywhere. Her signature scent. I know eventually it will fade from the sheets so I welcome it in the meantime.
Chapter 47
Luci
The Next Day
My plan to stay in this room falters when my bladder threatens to win. I slowly open the door, hoping to find the bathroom. Fingers crossed I can sneak there and back without anyone noticing me. When the door opens I run into a body, letting out a small shriek until I realize it’s Elio.
“Elio! What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to check on you. Everyone else is awake and downstairs. Would you come down and speak with everyone? Even if the answer is no, you need to eat. Your body is creating life and you need to treat it like a temple. If you won’t eat for me you need to for your baby, our baby.”
Our baby. What a joke. “This isn’t your baby, Elio. This is my baby with Alessandro. I won’t let this baby be yours, I can’t.”
He wants to argue with me but doesn’t want to upset me. That makes me miss Alessandro more. The fire Alessandro has in his eyes and body language when we argue is one thing I never thought I’d miss. Women everywhere want a man like Elio. He’s kind, and considerate, will do anything to help the people he cares about, and I don’t want any of it. I want Alessandro and his stubbornness, the passion he gives me both intimately and in our daily lives. Most importantly, I want his love.
The sweet smell floats from downstairs and my stomach growls, beating me to the punch of my plan to avoid everyone in the house. “Are those croissants?”
“Yes. Stella has been making them all morning. She made some of them with custard drizzled in chocolate.” Of course, she did. “Will you come downstairs now?”
I don’t want to give him the pleasure of knowing he got me out of this room and downstairs. Instead, I don’t respond as I head into the bathroom I spot over Elio’s shoulders. I know he’s waiting in the hallway and once I’m done, I walk past him down the stairs, his quiet footsteps behind me.
My family turns to me as I appear in the kitchen, but Nonna is the first to speak.
“La mia dolce nipotina. Come have a seat and let me get you some breakfast. You shouldn’t have coffee, but you can have all the croissants you want.” My silence continues as I gather two in my hands and sit down at the table. I don’t miss Mamma studying me and the croissants while holding back her opinions on my eating. A groan verbally escapes me as Nonno ruins my breakfast by getting straight to the conversation I was hoping to avoid.
“We need to finish our conversation from last night.” The hope I had to at least enjoy breakfast sinks. Elio sits next to me,reaching for my hand but I swipe it away, grabbing my croissant with both hands.
“What conversation? Knowing you, you’ve probably already decided what’s best for me and this family.” I must have the same look on my face as everyone else in this kitchen because I’m just as shocked by what came out of my mouth. Questioning my family was something I never did. I always knew they wouldn’t be insistent on something if it wasn’t covered with good intentions.
“Luci, please listen to your nonno. I know I’ve overreacted lately with your decisions. You have to know it’s only because not too long ago I was in the same situation. I was,am, lucky to have my parents, but they’re getting older, and you need more than my help alone to take care of you and your baby. You need a man.” I think I would rather have Mamma yell at me versus comparing me to her mistakes in life.
Maybe if I give into this conversation, we can have it and move on with our lives, including trying to get back to Alessandro. “Then what do you suggest, Mamma?”
