“Your nonno, nonna, and I were talking and we think it’s important that you have as many people as possible supporting you.”
The half-eaten croissant lies on the table next to the other one and my heart beats faster as I wait for the point that they’re reaching for. “Will someone please tell me what everyone is trying to say?”
Elio sits next to me managing to grasp my hand in his, kissing the palms of my hands. It’s something small he used to do when we dated. Now it just gives me the ick. “Luci, will you marry me?”
Outside of this house, time keeps ticking but in this room, it ceases to exist. How is this happening again? “I’ve always hated myself for how I ended our relationship. I will do anything tohave you back. We’re going to have a baby together. If we get married all three of us can have the same last name and raise this baby together, as a family.”
“No! No. No. No.” I can’t get any other words to come out of my panic. I refuse to let Elio raise Alessandro’s baby. The last few weeks flash through my head, replaying the prison I was in when Alessandro first took me. And now, being here in this house may not be the same but it’s a prison, nonetheless.
“What do you mean no? We were together most of our senior year and my love for you hasn’t changed since the day I left. My biggest regret is having to leave you, especially the way I did. I want to make it up to you. Will you let me help you?”
Nonno cuts in, emotional and passionate. “Of course, she’ll let you help her! Luci, why are you being difficult? Your family is trying to help you. Has that man brainwashed you enough that you can’t see how evil he is?”
“He’s not evil! I love him! This baby is his and mine. I need to go back. I need to get back to him. It’s . . . this . . . my baby is his.” I’ve seen virtually nothing the past twelve hours except the same four sets of eyes with the same emotions on them. My own personal horror movie. I collapse on the floor, my face in my hands, and sob until someone pulls me up and moves me to the sofa as they hold me in their arms. Nonna hushes me and whispers sweet words to me as I cry.
At least someone wants to make sure I’m okay.
Chapter 48
Alessandro
One week. It’s been seven fucking days since Luci left with my baby. I can’t stop thinking about how Luci left. Did she reach out to him or did he find a way in by himself?
I can’t figure out what to do with my days except for the monotonous bullshit I do daily. Geno said I can’t help Marco find Luci anymore. He said something about how since I killed one of our new guys and kept knocking people out, I can’t be trusted with that anymore. It’s not my fucking fault they’re not working fast enough. If I was in charge, I would have found her already and she would be Luciana Leone, my wife.
Marco comes into my office quietly and sits in his usual spot. I told him not to bother me unless he had something important to tell me.
“You better have something useful.”
“I do. I’ve been able to hack into Aldo’s email. There are a few different things I’ve found.” He must understand the stare I give him because he continues cautiously. “Do you want the shit news or the extra shit news?”
“Does it matter what order I receive it in?”
“I guess not. You’ll want to punch me either way.” Likely. “I’ve found a few different emails. One is between him and someone I haven’t been able to decipher yet. Most of it talks about having a phone call and finding an address. This person lives in some northern state and they’re staying with this person for the unseeable future. This person lives in an area that’s pretty isolated and has some sort of history with Luci or at least her family. There’s that and something else.”
“My patience is running insanely thin, Marco. Why are you pausing?”
“This is the extra shit news.” It’s all shit news at this point. “There’s this email sitting in his trash. I’m guessing Aldo didn’t know he needed to delete it there too. The address is from Luci’s law school email. Honestly, I’m surprised they’ve kept her email open.” He flips his tablet around, hesitantly holding it out for me. “Promise you won’t break it?” By the stare I send him he knows I can’t promise anything. The words on the screen make every sort of hesitation break in my head.
Sono io. Voglio tornare a casa.
“That traitorous bitch. We’re still finding her. She’s pregnant with my baby and if she thinks she can keep my child away from me she’s mistaken.”
“Alessandro, a lot was going on when she sent that. Do you think she might have been emotional and didn’t think it through?” Fucking Marco and his logic.
“It doesn’t fucking matter! If she truly loved me, she wouldn’t have sent that email. Find her and don’t make me repeat it.”
I let Marco have his tablet back and waited until he left the room to trash it. Again. Fuck all the things in here, they can be replaced. Luci can’t. I look up and see El in the doorway. In typical El stance, her arms are crossed and she is leaning into one hip.
“Are you done throwing a fit yet, little boy?”
I settle my anger enough to prevent myself from snapping at her. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to talk to you, with you, whatever, which brings me back to my original question. Are you done throwing a fit yet?”
I walk back over to my chair and sit while El walks into my office, her heels breaking the glass into smaller pieces. “She left.”
“I know. I’ve seen the email and heard everything. I’m extremely nosey. You should know this by now.” Ironically her nosiness is part of the reason she’s good at her job. Something about her makes every girl comfortable, giving them a safe space to open up to her without judgment.
