"This is going to hit the news," Matteo told me in a low voice, looking around at all the emergency vehicles filling our lot.
It was.
We'd been in the news more than a few times.
But this was big.
This would go to every state.
"New York is going to hear of it," he added, vocalizing my thoughts.
Fuck.
As if we didn't have enough going on.
We were supposed to be seeing Lorenzo in another three days, give or take. He said he was driving, so traffic and stops would factor into his estimated time of arrival.
My mind was in a million places as we stood aside, let our business be overrun with cops and paramedics and detectives and then our biggest friends in the world, the FBI.
"Interesting to be called by you and not for you," the lead man said with a raised brow as he guided a group of men and women in blue jackets with bright yellow FBI letters across the breast and backs past us.
"I hope everyone has had their coffee. We are about to have every boss in the tri-state area on our asses about this," our father said as the news vans finally started to show up on the street, everyone setting up their cameras and lights.
I wasn't concerned with the other families. Or our ability to handle them.
I was worried about Romy.
Waking up.
Flicking on the TV for some background noise.
And hearing the news.
From them.
Not me.
"What's the matter, Luca?" Lucky asked, tone light. "Afraid of getting immortalized in a news article without a fresh shave?" he teased, knowing I'd always been a stickler for them in the past. Before Romy said she liked the scruff. Before I learned I liked how her skin went pink where I grazed it across her.
"Here," Matteo said, pulling out a phone. The flip variety. Meaning a burner. "Make the call," he said.
I wanted to do it in person.
I wanted to pull her onto my lap, hold onto her to ease the blow.
But there was no way to get out of here right then. It would be hours before things calmed down. And by then it could be too late.
"Thank you," I told him, giving him a nod as I took the phone, then took a long walk, making sure no one was around before plugging in her number.
"Ah, hello?" she answered, voice cautious.
"Romy."
"Luca? Why are you calling from a different number?"
"I'm going to need you to sit down," I started.
"Did you find her? Is she okay? Is she alive?"