Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
JULIET
MARCH
As the weeks without Mateo pass, Vanessa is getting angrier at Gino and probably the rest of us. Also, I have constantly tried to keep her at bay, but that doesn’t stop her from going into Gino’s office, practically begging him to tell her something.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” Alonso asks, walking into the dining room, where I’m sitting eating chips after cleaning.
“Yeah, what’s up?” I reply as he sits next to me at the table.
“Do you think this makes sense, continuing to keep how bad Mateo is suffering right now from her? Vanessa has a right to know if her husband is being tortured and questioned.”
“Is it a good idea? Probably not, but is it what Gino wants? Yes. And we need to trust him,” I reply.
“So what, now you two are fucking, you’re just going to listen to everything he says??” I can hear the edge in his voice.
“Excuse me?” I look at him in shock.
“Oh, come on,” he rolls his eyes. “You always push him and debate him on decisions, and what, now you just don’t?”
“First off, fuck you. And second, of course I still push him, but I’m not doing it in public, and not when he’s not here.
” I sigh. “Do I agree with every decision he’s made?
Absolutely not. Do I let him know that? Of course I do.
But I don’t come to any of you and complain.
If you have an issue with any of his decisions, you can talk to him about it.
Just because we’re, as you put it, ‘fucking now’ doesn’t mean I’m going to be his messenger. ”
I cross my arms and stare at him.
“Well damn, now I know who’s running the show over there,” he laughs out.
“God, you’re annoying.” I roll my eyes.
“Obviously, I’m the annoying younger brother to all of you; just remember that.”
I groan.
“I’m going on a run,” he says, getting up and leaving the house.
I knew eventually the guys would start questioning if I would start making decisions based on Gino. I don’t think I have, but if Alonso’s thinking it, the rest of them could be.
Once I finish eating, I get up from the table and put my dish in the dishwasher. I lay down on the couch and open the book I was reading. I don’t know how much time it’s been when I hear someone call my name.
“Juliet,” Vanessa calls.
I sit up and look at her. She has both twins, one on each hip.
“Hey,” I reply. I get up and take Julian from her.
“Thanks for letting me take a nap. I really needed it,” she says.
“Of course.” I smile at her.
“Okay, give it to me straight. I know you’re probably going to take Gino’s side in all this, but is he trying to make me suffer?” she asks.
“Suffer? Why would you say that?” I ask back.
“He won’t tell me shit. Alonso has told me enough for me to gather that nothing has worked in finding my husband. No one will tell me how bad it is. I know none of you want to tell me he’ll never be found, but at what point do you all just tell me he can’t be found?” She asks.
Damn it, she’s right.
“It’s not that he can’t be found, it’s—”
She cuts me off. “Juliet, don't I know my brother’s doing it, but not you too. I can’t have more people blatantly lie to my face.”
“Okay, well, you know Gino is letting Drew do whatever he wants to find Mateo,” I begin.
“Once he finds something, Ryan is checking it out to see if there’s anything.
The only thing we’ve figured out is he’s using his father’s villa as cover, but he’s not holding Mateo at any properties we know his father has.
Gino has called in some favors, and every single one that could have been used to hold him has been searched or looked in. ”
“Could it be possible they’re moving him?” she asks.
“Doubtful; moving him would cause much more logistical trouble for them.”
“Okay, you know I wouldn’t ask you to go around your boyfriend to tell me things, but can I ask you to try to convince him to tell me more than he is?”
“I’ll try my best.” I smile at her.
Once the day is over, I make my walk back to the house. I’m still getting used to calling it ‘our house’ or ‘my house.’
Walking through the front door, I immediately walk upstairs to Gino’s office.
Ryan and Drew are both seated across from him. Gino looks up at me and smiles.
“Hey guys, can I talk to Gino alone, please?” I ask.
Gino’s smile drops, and Drew and Ryan quickly get up and leave the office. Before closing the door, Drew gives Gino a ‘good luck’ look.
He walks around his desk, and I get close to him.
“What is it, bella?”
“You need to talk to your sister,” I say.
“I’ve been talking to her,” he replies.
“I know, but you need to talk to her; she’s scared, terrified. She thinks we’re all lying to her. Not just keeping things from her, but lying. She’s clearly been talking to Alonso about it because he got pissed at me this morning, thinking I’m encouraging you to lie.”
“That son of a bitch. I’m going to—”
“No, you’re not,” I cut him off. “He’s right; you have been lying to her.”
“I’m trying to keep her safe,” he replies, sounding defeated.
“Are you?” I fire back. “She’s strong enough for you to tell her the truth.”
“I don’t want to break her.” His voice is low, merely a whisper.
“Gino, we've talked about this. She’s not made of glass. She’s a mom who's hurting because her children haven’t met their father yet, and she hasn’t seen her husband in almost a year.”
He sits back on his desk, and I can see the realization on his face of how long Mateo has been gone.
“Juliet, I don't know what to do.”
“Talk to her. It’s that simple. Tell her something. Give her something, anything,” I tell him.
“What should I tell her?” he asks.
“Be honest with her. Tell her the truth. That’s all she’s asking. She understands there are some things that she shouldn’t know, but you need to tell her something. I know she’s getting sick of hearing secondhand information from Alonso or me.”
He swallows.
“You’re right, she deserves to know. I’ll go over and talk to her now.”
I nod.
He kisses me; it’s a soft, slow kiss. He pulls back, looking at me.
“I love you,” he whispers.
“I love you too,” I reply. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, I need to talk to her alone. You’re right; she needs to hear from me directly, not from anyone else,” he says, then looks at me. “I know you want to tell me something else. What is it?”
“Can you let me in on what Drew and Ryan are doing? I know you told me to review things they found, but they haven’t sent me anything. I can help look at things if they need it.”
“Bella—” he starts.
“Gino, I’m not going to stop helping because I’m helping Vanessa,” I cut him off with a firm, sharp gaze of warning. “You’ve already agreed that I know what to look for.”
He sighs. “Fine, I’ll tell them to send you everything.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m going to walk over there,” he says.
“I’ll have dinner ready when you get back.”
He kisses my cheek and leaves the room.