Chapter 43 Massimo
MASSIMO
Iwalk out of the banquet room and follow my parents as they head down several hallways before making their way into a room.
I made sure to keep a safe distance behind them, and when my dad checked multiple times over his shoulder to see if anyone was following him, I knew something was up.
They stop in a corner office, and when they shut the door, I walk over, making sure to keep my steps as quiet as possible. The door is shut, but I can hear them mumbling inside.
“What’re we supposed to do now?” my mom says, concern lacing her voice.
“Do not worry about it. Ignazio will get rid of her.”
I furrow my brow, wondering who they could be talking about.
“This is too close, Andreas. Massimo, Guilherme, and Liana are here.”
My heart drops at the way my mom emphasizes Liana’s name. What the fuck does she have to do with this?
Fast approaching voices sound in the distance. My heart hammers in my chest as I search around for a place to hide.
I choose the room across the hallway, hurrying inside and closing the door so the smallest crack allows me to see what’s going on in the hallway.
“Ignazio, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want me to be here? I helped plan this ball and have been by your side at every function before. Why do you suddenly not want me at this one?” a woman says.
They come into sight, standing outside of the door where my parents are. I don’t recognize the woman. She has long brown hair and is wearing a floor-length red dress and a black and red mask similar to Liana’s, with the black and red feathers arranged on one side of it.
“I do want you here, but—”
The door swings open, and my dad is standing on the other side. He seems to let out a breath of relief when he sees Ignazio and the woman. “Oh, good, it’s just you too. I wasn’t sure if—”
“Rosa isn’t feeling well,” Ignazio interjects, which has everyone’s eyes widening.
He turns back to look at the woman he’s with.
“I need you to leave because Rosa isn’t feeling well.
I want to introduce Andreas to some people, and I didn’t want to send her back to the house on her own. Surely, you understand, tesoro mio.”
“Oh,” the woman says, then turns back to face my parents. She takes off her mask, and I wish she was facing my way. “Of course. I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well, Rosa. Is it your stomach?”
The woman’s tone is very maternal, so I know she easily bought into that fucking lie. But that begs some damn questions. Who is this woman, why is she being tricked into leaving the ball, and why would it affect me, Gui, or Liana?
My mom’s eyes widen briefly, and I know she’s about to tell a lie, but she falls into place just as quickly. I’ve never seen her be able to switch her emotions so fast.
“Yes, it’s my stomach,” she says, placing her hand over it. “It must’ve been something I ate at the bakery earlier. I’m starting to feel a bit lightheaded”
“You see, tesoro mio,” Ignazio says. “I would love to have you here, but I wouldn’t feel right about sending Rosa home by herself. You understand?”
“Of course,” the woman says, and this time she turns her head so I’m able to get somewhat of a view of her face. She looks familiar, but it’s fucking impossible to see well through the small crack in the door, especially from this angle.
“Let me know when the driver’s here and I’ll bring her home.” She steps into the office and says, “Come sit, Rosa. You shouldn’t be on your feet if you’re feeling lightheaded.”
My dad steps outside of the room and closes the door behind him.
Ignazio whisper-shouts, “What the hell is going on? I thought you said they weren’t coming tonight?”
“Massimo said they weren’t,” my dad whispers. “I called my guy who was able to break into the warehouse back home, and when I spoke to Massimo about it, I suggested he go home and deal with it.”
“Did he actually say he was going to go home and deal with it or did you just assume?”
“He … He said he was …”
I’ve never heard my dad sound so weak in my life. I’ve always seen him as this leader in charge, but he sounds like he’s a little schoolboy being reprimanded.
“He said I was probably right, but no, I guess he never confirmed that he was leaving.”
“So you’re the reason we’re in this mess now,” Ignazio snaps. “You better fucking hope they don’t find her, or I’ll do something about them myself.”
“Are you threatening my children?” my dad says, and it’s an inkling of the man I’ve always known him to be. I perk up, hoping he’ll stop whatever the fuck is going on here.
Ignazio squares his shoulders. “I’ll do anything to keep them from finding her. Anything. So it’d be in your best interest for you and your family to make sure those kids disappear from Sicily permanently.”
My skin heats with anger at his threatening words. I don’t care how much fucking influence he has here, he will not speak down about my family. I’m about to swing this door open and ruin everything, but the door opens behind my dad.
“Have you called the driver yet?” a woman says from behind him, and when he steps out of the way, I’m given a perfect view of Ignazio’s wife.
My eyes widen and my heart thumps so loud I can’t hear anything anyone else is saying. My throat dries up, and a pit in my stomach forms so large it makes it fucking difficult to breathe.
That can’t be …
“He’ll be here soon, tesoro mio. Andreas will stay with you both, and I’ll call him when the driver is out front.”
That woman …
My dad gives Ignazio a tight smile and retreats into the room.
Now I know why she looked familiar …
“I’ll let you know shortly,” Ignazio says, then leans in and gives her a kiss on the cheek. He waits at the door until she shuts it, and when he walks away, anger and confusion hit me like a ton of bricks.
Ignazio’s wife. I know who she is because she looks an awful fucking lot like my wife.