Capitolo Nove

It’s been two weeks of hell. Valentina is miserable again, and Laney, as well.

Dominic and his aunt went together to Italy, saying they felt it was best if the women stayed here until Laney gets her passport.

I agree. More importantly, Valentina is much easier to deal with when Laney is with her.

Last night when Dominic came home before returning to Italy, Laney told him she didn’t have the new passport yet. I knew otherwise. I processed the paperwork with her, the day he left for Italy.

Valentina didn’t want to leave. She told Dominic that she wanted to get to know her American family, and that he and Laney should take some time together. She promised him she would return for holiday. Therefore, he asked that I stay here, too. I agreed, not divulging my own reason for wanting to stay.

I would stay until Salvatore Efisto is found.

When I told him Laney’s passport was here, he flipped out. I have no idea what was said. The audio in her apartment isn’t used when Valentina and her are not alone and when things feel off to me.

When he left alone, I felt for him. He clearly loved the two women who had both shot him down at his greatest moment. A moment of triumph, one in which validated his family’s legacy.

I was angry at Valentina until the elevator opened and her and Laney walked out with a suitcase. Laney’s suitcase, she was going to Italy.

Today, I wait for news on Salvatore, while making sure Sabato doesn’t come within an inch of Valentina, and I do it with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

When the elevator opens, Valentina walks out with a pan. I can’t help smiling, thinking she cooked again.

When she walks past me, dumps it in the trash, then turns and glares at me, I lose my shit.

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“Clearly, you have an issue with me. I just wanted to make sure you know that, although I have been trying so very hard since being here, I’m done trying with you.”

I fucking laugh at her. She’s crazy. Fucking crazy.

“I will not be needing your protection today. I’ll be with my family.” Nose in the air, she marches toward the elevator as the smell of cherry Crostatas invades my senses.

I flip on the audio and hear her talking on the phone. She’s speaking to a girl named Nikki. I flip through a file and see that Nikolette Bassett is Abe O’Donnell’s, CFO of Steel Incorporated, girlfriend. She was one of the young women who helped move Laney in. An old college roommate. The other was a girl named Melyssa.

Hearing only one side of the conversation and not knowing Nikki, I can only assume Valentina is inviting them over for a girls’ night.

Right now, I need a girls’ night, too. Me and two women … fucking.

Two days later, it’s been girls’ night since that call. Tonight, it’s Melyssa, or Mel, as Valentina calls her. They drink wine and talk a fuck of a lot about men, or boys.

I have not taken time off, nor has Vincent. Both of us take our jobs seriously, and both also have strong desire to get that fucker Salvatore put behind bars.

When the door opens, I recognize Jase Steel, Valentina’s cousin, Abe, and Nikki.

“Franco,” Jase greets, holding out his hand.

“Sign—”

“Mr. Steel,” he corrects then looks around. “Where’s my cousin?”

“In her apartment,” I tell him.

“Well, we got a fucking problem. Salvatore is on the run. Two hospital guards were killed. Cops everywhere are looking for him.”

“Is Melyssa here, as well?” Abe asks.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Gotta talk to the girls,” Jase says, nodding toward the elevator.

When we walk into Valentina’s apartment, she turns down the television.

“Hey, guys, what’s going on?” She stands.

“Sabato’s father, Salvatore Efisto, escaped from lockup a few hours ago. Two guards were killed,” Jase says as he looks around.

“Oh, my God.”

“We can’t get ahold of your brother. He’s not answering—”

“He was planning on proposing to Laney today,” Valentina interrupts, smiling.

Both Nikki and Melyssa respond with an aw.

“Okay. I have someone going to the vineyard to see that he’s okay—”

“What do you mean, if he’s okay, Jase?” Valentina gasps.

“We have to take precautions, Valentina, just to make sure we all are safe until he’s found.”

“Sabato, where is he?” Mel asks.

I see Valentina look at her oddly, then watch as Jase and Abe exchange looks.

“Is he okay?” Valentina asks.

“The police went to the club an hour ago. It appears there was a struggle. We’re looking for him now,” Abe explains.

“Oh, my God.” She covers her mouth.

“I want you to stay put. No going out, not even to the store. Salvatore doesn’t know where you live, but I don’t trust he doesn’t have men out looking. Mel, you were at the club, he’s seen you, so you stay put, too. Do you understand?” Abe requests.

She nods.

“Nikki and I will come get you tomorrow. We want you to go home and visit your family. Just a visit. Nothing more. Anything else is on a need to know basis. The less they know, the safer everyone is,” Abe explains.

As soon as they leave, I watch Valentina check out Mel when she isn’t looking, and Melyssa does the same to her.

Then Valentina grabs her phone and dials Dominic.

She smiles brightly when he speaks. I watch her look around to see if anyone is watching, and then she turns her back.

“I am so happy for you.” She pauses. “Of course I’ll be safe. More reason to now than ever before.”

When she ends the call, she turns around.

“Do you understand that there are no games, Valentina?” I ask her.

“I understand, all right. I am officially under house arrest.” She rolls her eyes.

When all is quiet, Vincent takes the lobby, and I bring a chair to sit outside Valentina’s door.

The next morning, Abe and Nikki pick up Melyssa. Now, it is just us, again.