Chapter 21 Rico
Rico
Ishould be putting my time to better use.
Instead my eyes haven’t left her once.
I could easily chalk my hyper vigilance up to the fact of making sure she doesn’t try to sneak away while attending the dressing room.
Except that’s not it.
I can not even lie to myself.
There’s something utterly hypnotizing about her. The way she moves ensnares you. The soft sway of her hips. How her fingers gently caress the fabric of clothing. When she gathers her hair to peer over her shoulder to see how the dress accentuates her back. Every single move of her interests me.
She catches eyes with me again, purposely doing a turn around to show me the entirety of the dress. Or shall I say lack of. There’s hardly any fabric. It boggles me how something so little costs so much.
Yet seeing her in the plum haltered backless dress I understand why the scrap of fabric is worth thousands. To be fair it should be priced higher since it touched her flesh.
Our eyes break when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I answer on the first ring knowing it’s not Pietro. “Gino,” I say in my own way of hello.
“We have a problem.”
I sit upright, turning my back on Imogen to not be distracted and listen intently. “Speak.”
“Despite you ignoring Pietro, which he’s pretty upset about by the way. Can’t get a fucking word in edgewise without him telling me how the bromance between you two has died.”
I expel a long breath. I’m not even talking to the fucker and I’m already feeling the beginning of a headache. “There was never a bromance or whatever the fuck that entails.”
“He’s throwing a fucking funeral in honor of it, Rico.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“Trust me. I’m not. How about putting an end to his little theatrics and start talking to him again. At least have a shred of empathy for Constantine, Carina and I for dealing with him.”
“He went against my plans, Gino. You know how I feel about that.”
He pauses. “Don’t mistake me as an idiot. You were scared the girl was going to be killed.”
My hand tightens around the phone. “And if she was, where would our leverage over her father be?”
He snorts. “Is that the lie you’re telling yourself?“
“It’s the truth,” I say with false conviction.
Gino sighs. “Look, I don’t know what the fuck is going on between you and Imogen. Hell, I don’t even fucking know if she’s aware there is something going on, but you need to leave it behind and remember your Famiglia. And that includes Pietro.”
“Fine,” I concede, tired of talking about him. “Now are you going to tell me what the problem is or continue being Pietro’s defense attorney?”
“Seamus’ men sabotaged the transport of Eden,” he tells me and I internally groan.
Fuck. This isn’t good. Alvaro already isn’t happy half of his shipment was stolen by the bastards.
Now this? He might just pull the deal all together.
“We had a semi-truck ready to be distributed to our dealers to handle. They then were hijacked off the road by Seamus’ men.
All of our soldiers on the truck are dead and the drugs are missing.
The only thing left in the truck was a note that said regards from Ireland. ”
Retaliation was expected. I knew this. After the video call he was not going to concede. And I’m starting to believe it doesn’t matter if we were to send his daughter back in pieces like I did Dougal.
This is a man who is stubborn and full of pride. His pride won’t allow him to surrender for his daughter. To his men he’ll look weak. If only he knew the appearance he’s trying to keep is killing the relationship with his daughter. Most likely his wife too.
Too many men in this particular business care more about perception rather than relationships.
“Is Don Constantine and Donna Carina aware? Has the news spread to Alvaro yet?”
“Don and Donna know. I assume a meeting will be held immediately. As far as I know Alvaro has no knowledge of what’s happened. But when he does. . .”
“He’ll be furious,” I finish his thought. Gino hums in agreement. “We can’t lose this deal nor the relationship.”
“Seamus is trying to make us surrender. He’ll keep attacking until we release her.”
Never. The thought comes unexpectedly and suddenly. My eyes immediately search for her and when I can’t find her my heart rate increases. A vice grip feels as if it’s encased my throat. My damn chest tightens.
I rise from the lounge chair and begin hunting her down on foot, all the while the phone is still pressed to my ear. He begins to talk strategy but my mind isn’t focused on him. Not able to find her on the floor area I cut him off briskly, “Gino, I have to call you back.”
“Something more important than Famiglia business?”
“Si,” I answer and hang up before he can question me.
Heart pounding I find Carolyn before I do her. She smiles up at me a tad too wide. “Mr. Maroni, can I help you?”
I stare her down, fully aware I’m towering over her. In response her pupils dilate as her frame shrinks. “Where is she?”
She stammers. “She told me you were to handle the bags.”
Unblinking, I ask, “Excuse me?”
She toys with the cuffs of her shirt. Bringing added moisture to her lips she licks them. “She finished shopping at this store, Mr. Maroni and left to shop at the next one.”
My heart pounds viciously. My blood roars in my ears. “Did she say where she was going?”
A small shake of her head. “No, sir.”
La mia gazzella decided to run.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Survival instincts are heavily ingrained in her nature.
Chasing down prey is mine.
She can run as fast as she can. She can believe she’ll get far. But she’ll never be able to escape me.
Let the real hunt begin.