I’m turning everything over in my mind when I finally fall asleep.
I wake before my alarm to the insistent buzzing of my phone. I look over quickly to see Vittoria still fast asleep beside me.
On instinct, I check to see if she’s breathing. Things that matter don’t last in my world. I don’t want to lose her. But she’s breathing as softly as a sleeping baby.
I push myself out of bed and walk to the sitting area, phone in hand.
Orlando.
I answer the phone. “Yeah?” I whisper, still not wanting to wake her.
“Fuckin’ problem, Rome.”
“Spill.”
Santo was run off the road last night, we know this, while my father went missing. “It’s Mama.”
Fuck.
My mother goes on drinking binges when my father takes another woman. One would think she’d be used to it by now. Fidelity isn’t part of the Rossi family code. She isn’t, though.
“What about her?”
“She’s missing, Rome.”
I stand up straighter. Mama doesn’t even leave the house to get groceries. What few friends she has come here to The Castle to eat lunch with her. Papa doesn’t like her traveling, so the only time she ever leaves the house is when she goes to Tuscany with him.
I look over at the bed to see Vittoria still asleep even through my conversation. I grab a faded pair of jeans from the back of the chair and tug them on. I rapidly get dressed with my phone tucked under my chin, listening while he fills me in.
She went to bed before anyone else did, Marialena saw her go up. Then this morning, Rosa went up with Natalia because Natalia wanted to see her Nonna. She was gone.
“Did she take anything?”
“Not that we noticed.”
Fuck. My heart beats faster as I think about my father’s desperation. Maybe he won’t come after me. Maybe he’ll off Mama so he can take another wife. Not unheard of in the circles we run in.
He wants a wife but doesn’t want her. Divorce ain’t an option.
I scowl at the bed where Vittoria still lies. If she were mine, I’d have the power to oust him. I could pull every made man this side of the ocean out of jobs to hunt him down and punish him for what he’s done. I’d have the power to change anything.
Without that bond, my hands are tied.
We live in an ancient castle, still bound by ancient laws. Stupid fucking archaic laws.
I could make her. I fucking could, and I know it. I’ve threatened it. How much would she resent me?
I’ve given her every possible option I could think of, tantalized her with everything that could be hers.
But that’s not what she needs. She doesn’t want money or status or any of the riches I could promise her.
What does she want?
She needs time.
It’s the one thing I can’t give her.
Fuck.
I hang up the phone with a promise I’ll be down. She stirs on the bed and looks over at me. A twinkle lights her beautiful eyes.
“They should put men in jeans and white T-shirts on the cover of men’s magazines,” she says as she tucks her hands under her chin.
“I’m not an expert, but I think they do.”
“Oh,” she says with a smile. “I should check them out.” She sobers when I don’t respond. “Something the matter?”
I tell her. She sits up straighter in bed. “Oh, God, Romeo. Would he hurt her?”
“If you have to ask that question, you really haven’t fully grasped what he’s capable of, Vittoria.”
“Fu—” she catches my eye, about to curse. She swallows. “You should find her,” she says with a sigh. “I want to go with you.”
I shake my head firmly. “I don’t want to take you into something dangerous. He could be baiting me.”
“And maybe he’s baiting you to leave so I’m here alone.” Her eyes widen with panic, then she gasps when someone pounds on the door.
“Rome! Romeo, let me the fuck in.”
Leo. I throw the covers up over Vittoria as I head for the door. He’s still wearing last night’s clothes.
“Where the fuck is she?” He looks like shit.
“Just woke up, how the fuck do I know? Where was her bodyguard?”
That’s when I see him, hanging behind Leo in the shadow of the hallway. Leo jerks his head toward me.
“Come here,” he growls. “Tell your fuckin’ Don why his mother’s missing.”
Amadeo hangs his head. “Fell asleep, Boss. Think someone drugged my drink.”
I clench my fists so I don’t hit him. I’ll deal with him in private. I don’t want to scare Vittoria. I keep my tone tight, my voice calm. “You were fucking drinking when you were on the job?”
He winces and doesn’t respond. I’ll punish him, but not in front of her. If he wasn’t so loyal to the Family, I’d kill him.
“You go with Tavi and Leo, and you scour the fucking Earth until you find her. When she’s safe, you come and tell me. You understand me?”