Chapter 52 Arty Strikes Again
Chapter fifty-two
Arty Strikes Again
Sophia
I finally and regrettably took my now fully charged phone off do not disturb.
Instantly, notifications of missed messages in multiple chats and apps flash brighter than an emergency beacon.
Pressing the button on the coffee machine that Marco set exactly to my preferred order—double-espresso—I click into my chat thread with the girls.
Stella:
Look at this bitch, I say one ride and the next thing I know she’s moving in with him. Now that’s what I call some magical dick.
Evie:
Stella! I literally do not want to think about Marco and his dick at this hour of the morning. Ever.
Stella:
Oh no, that’s right. You’d rather fantasize about Seb and his dick.
Evie:
Stella. Again, respectfully. Shut. The. Fuck. Up. I don’t know how many times I need to say it, we’re just friends.
Stella:
Okay, boo. Denial doesn’t look that cute on you. But whatevs…
Stella:
Anyway, let’s get back on track. Paging Sophia. Please let us know you haven’t choked on Marco’s giant…
Before I can finish reading Stella’s message, the shrill of my ringtone sounds, and my eldest brother Raf’s face fills the screen, his name flashing like a distress signal.
After pretty much disconnecting from the world for the entire weekend, more concerned with being connected to Marco and the impressive parts Stella is referring to, the tolling sound spikes my heart rate and anxiety.
Uggh! I realize in this moment how much I hate this ringtone.
I honestly don’t know why I haven’t changed it yet.
I think about ignoring it, seeing as I’m about to be in the office in the next twenty minutes, but considering I report to him, I’m not sure that would be very professional.
“Hel—“
He cuts me off before I can even get out the greeting.
“Soph, why the fuck haven’t you answered any of my messages or voicemails,” he says slowly and measured with just the right amount of menace that I know whatever he’s about the say next is not good.
“I forgot to turn off do not disturb. Now I kinda wish it was still on,“ I sass back.
“Firstly, from now on out, I always need to be able to reach you, so do not disturb is not applicable to you. Secondly, this is serious. Where’s Marco? Why the fuck isn’t he answering his phone either?”
“I’m guessing because he’s busy working.”
“Well, I need him to call me the fuck back. Luca and Sebastian were involved in a fight that almost became an all-out brawl at Bella Donna last night. Luca took issue with some dudes who came in looking for Marco. It escalated when they made derogatory comments about Arabella. They threatened to come after you both if we didn’t deliver Marco.
Luca and Sebastian let their fists fly.”
“What? That’s crazy. Are Sebastian and Luca okay? Did the security footage show anything?”
“They’re a bit battered and bruised. Arty has offered to review the footage to see if he can identify the assailants so we can understand who we’re dealing with and manage the cops. The last thing we need is more blowback. I need you in the office,” he demands.
“What’s Arty got to do with this?”
“He was at the club partying with Arabella’s brothers.
So obviously they jumped in when they heard Arabella’s name.
Arty alerted security to help break it up.
I spoke to him last night, and he said he recognized them from some case files as henchmen for the alleged Mafia family, the Rizzos.
I need to get a hold of Marco. If you speak to him before I do, please tell him to fucking call me. ”
With that, he hangs up before I can respond. Arty being involved leaves a bad taste in my mouth. What game is he playing?