34. Ravenna
Ravenna
S ophia’s engagement party is not anything like I expected.
Half the city must be in attendance tonight, there’s enough food to feed an army, and the entire house is decorated to show off the Pontrelli family’s vast wealth.
It’s garish. Embarrassing even. I’m so glad I’m not in the spotlight of tonight’s festivities.
Poor Sophia. What are the Russians going to think of all this? Will they be impressed? Doubtful.
Though as I question that, already intoxicated Russians stumble into each other, speaking loudly, all throughout the room. They seem delighted by all the free booze.
To think, if Papa was still alive, Elena would be the soon-to-be bride on display this evening. The thought makes me cringe. My sweet sister wouldn’t survive these brutes. I’m sorry Sophia has to deal with them, but my cousin and I are much more alike. She’s no wilting flower.
I’ve seen her a couple of times tonight, from afar through the thick crowd.
Once most of them have cleared out, I’ll have a moment alone with her to chat.
Though, I’m not sure if I should be offering my congratulations or my condolences.
Nik never did warm up to her and their wedding’s right around the corner.
I spot her a third time as she weaves through the crowd. She does look stunning in that red dress. It compliments her deep brown hair. Hopefully her fiancé appreciates what and who he’s getting—once he gets to know her.
Most of all, I hope he’s kind to her and treats her with respect. That hasn’t been the case so far, but maybe he’ll change after they’re married. Cian has changed so much in the past year. It can happen. He’s proof.
“There you are!” Ginevra appears at my side, Arianna close behind her. “We thought you went home early.”
“I’d never leave without saying goodbye. I’m hoping to catch Sophia alone for a second, but she’s been completely swamped all evening.” I grab a glass of champagne from a passing server. “Cheers.”
Ginevra and Arianna clink their glasses to mine. They’re both technically underage, but at home our family has always bent the rules. Especially during celebrations.
“Come on. Let’s get out of this crush.” I lead the way upstairs to the landing that overlooks the massive foyer. It’s much less crowded up here.
Arianna leans against the railing. “I know it hasn’t been easy for my sister, but I hope this ends up being a good match between Sophia and Nikolai.
Her wedding will set the tone for the rest of us.
I’m up next, and surely Papa is already scheming.
The aunties told me they think he’ll want to connect us to the Baron family next, but I hope that’s false gossip. ”
“The Barons.” I frown. “I hope your father knows that’s a terrible idea. Blake Baron’s an anomaly in our world. Mysterious and untouchable. You’d do much better marrying an Irishman.”
Arianna scrunches her face, and Gin laughs.
I pretend to be offended. “What’s that look for? The Irish are perfectly attractive men.”
“They’re big and scary.” Arianna shudders. “Somehow you managed to get the biggest, scariest of them all, yet you’re happily married. I don’t think I’d have that kind of luck.”
“You never know until?—”
“Put me down! You monster !” Sophia’s scream tears through the hallway below.
A man—not Nikolai Kozlov—carries my cousin over his broad shoulder. He rumbles a laugh as she frantically struggles against him, then he swats her ass.
Arianna and Gin gasp
I blink, shocked at the crude display.
He’s kidnapping Sophia, strolling right through the front door, and no one’s attempting to stop him.
Arianna and I look at each other in horror.
“Did he—? Who was that?”
Gin answers. “Roman De Luca. I noticed him staring at Sophia earlier.”
“Well he can’t just take her like that! She’s engaged to Nik.” I can’t believe this is happening. Where is my uncle? Where are the Russians?
“Actually, it’s worse than you think.” Arianna’s pale as a ghost. “Roman De Luca really is a monster.”
Uncle Davide steps out of a doorway and gestures for us to come down. I follow my cousins downstairs and into his office, where Aunt Rosa joins us.
“What is the meaning of this!” My aunt shouts at her husband once the door has closed. “You better start speaking.”
Uncle Davide holds up his hands in surrender against his wife’s fury. “I had no choice. Roman De Luca and I came to an understanding. Sophia is no longer engaged to Nikolai Kozlov. She will marry Mr. De Luca instead. Everything will be fine.”
“Everything is not fine!” Aunt Rosa glances at us. “You girls go join the party. You don’t need to be involved in this. This is between me and my husband.”
Quickly, we scurry from the office as Aunt Rosa lays into Uncle Davide. We climb back up to our perch on the landing. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, prickling with awareness. My bodyguard is watching us.
Arianna grabs my shoulder, turning me to face her. “Roman De Luca murdered his first wife. Now he has Sophia. We have to do something. She’s in grave danger.”
“Are you sure? Your father seemed… less concerned.”
“I’m sure. He either doesn’t know or doesn’t care. We have to help Sophia before it’s too late.”
My mind races, seeking a solution. Uncle Davide didn’t try to stop Roman and we know they have an understanding.
One that Sophia didn’t agree to by the look of things.
Disappointment and anger flares in my veins.
I thought my uncle was a better man than my father, but it seems I was wrong.
Uncle Davide is just as quick to sell his daughter as Papa was to put me up for sale.
What can we do? How do we stop this?
Cian’s out of town, so he can’t help us. I don’t trust any other man but him.
“We’re going to have to save Sophia ourselves,” I murmur. “But first…” I glance around until I spot Wolfe sulking in a dark corner. He’s been my shadow all evening, as that’s his job. Unfortunately, he won’t let me go after Sophia on my own. He certainly won’t help me confront Roman De Luca.
Which leaves me no choice but to get him out of the way. How does a person incapacitate a huge Irishman? I purse my lips in thought.
I don’t have the time to drug him. Hitting him over the head seems insufficient.
I don’t want to do anything that would risk his life.
He’s going to be furious with me, and hate me even more after tonight, so I’ll have to do this as gently as possible.
Or say screw it and go for maximum effectiveness.
“But first what ?” Arianna presses. “I can’t read your mind.”
“First we have to deal with my bodyguard. I’m open to ideas on how to get rid of him for tonight. Not permanently,” I clarify.
“Can’t we just give him the slip?” Arianna points to a window. “We can climb out through there.”
I shake my head. “You don’t know Wolfe. He has a sixth sense when it comes to guarding people. I’m worried that he’s already suspicious, and I’m only thinking about getting rid of him. As soon as we move, he’ll be on to us. Trust me. I need something he won’t see coming. Something… unpredictable.”
Ginevra moves closer to me, her voice low. “How about something extremely predictable instead?”
“Like what?”
She whispers, “Like you’re in trouble. Like someone’s trying to take you from the party. Bodyguards go rabid over that type of thing. Naturally.”
A slow smile forms on my lips. “Gin, you’re a genius.”
She beams at me.
“So… what’s the plan?” Arianna surveys the foyer below us.
“You two go save Sophia. I’ll stay here and deal with that bodyguard.” Gin glances over the railing at him. “Do you have his number?”
I nod.
“Good. Give me his number. I’ll call him, but then hang up.
This is all going to happen real quick. As soon as he’s distracted by the phone, duck down and hide.
I’ll go down there and tell him I saw someone forcing you into the basement.
Once he enters the basement, I’ll lock him into that creepy room we used to play in as kids. ”
“Gin, that’s terrible,” Arianna chides her, but doesn’t seem opposed to the plan.
She shrugs. “Sometimes you have to do terrible things to get what you want.”
“Let’s not waste another minute. Think of Sophia, Arianna, she’s in danger.” I need her on my side, totally committed if we’re going to pull this off.
“Right. This is for the greater good. Let’s do this.”
I share Wolfe’s contact with Gin. She presses his number and it rings.
Wolfe briefly glances up at me, taking note of my location I’m sure, before his phone steals his attention. The crease between his brows deepens as he stares at the unknown number.
That’s all I see.
The next second, Arianna and I sprint through an open door. By the time Wolfe looks up again, I’ll have disappeared.
A commotion downstairs tells me Ginevra’s already put the rest of her plan into action. A loud, masculine voice booms, “Everybody move!”
We’re hidden away for the moment. Now we need to figure out the next steps of our plan.
“Try calling Sophia. We need to find out where she’s going.”
Arianna dials her sister’s number, but it goes to voicemail. She tries to reach her again and again, to no avail.
“She’s not answering. What are we going to do?” She frowns in thought.
With Wolfe out of the way, we’re free to leave. “We should get to the car. If she calls, I want to be ready to go to her. If only we’d gotten away earlier, we could have followed them.”
“Too late for that now.” Arianna pokes her head out the door. “It’s all clear. Let’s go. Follow me.”
Like two thieves, we sneak down the back staircase to the first floor, then slip out the door to the garage. The car Wolfe drove me here in is parked in the private driveway.
“We’re going nowhere real fast if you don’t have a key.” Arianna and I approach the car.
I pull the fob from my clutch. “Security measure. I always carry a key fob so if anything were to happen to my driver, I can drive myself out of danger. Cian’s big on safety measures.”