Dominic’s eyes widen, and Tristan gives me a look of disproval. From what Gabriella was wearing it was obvious she was naked under that kimono.
“Massimo, did you?” Tristan asks, pointing after the empty trail Gabriella left. Dominic looks on curiously.
“No, these women are driving me fucking crazy,” I seethe.
“Well, you’re about to go crazier,” Dominic says, chewing on the side of his lip.
He has news. More pieces of the puzzle.
“Hit me with it,” I say.
“I hacked, and from what I could see, I think they’re waiting on a shipment of diamonds that’s supposed to come in the next three days. It has to be that. It’s blood diamonds worth a shit load of money. There was references to Africa and mines in emails I saw between him and Vlad. They have a deal. I’m still looking into it, but I wanted to give you the heads-up.”
Fucking fuck. I grit my teeth. Diamonds.
Before I can open my mouth, the door opens, and Priscilla rushes in. She knows never to interrupt when it looks like I’m in business meetings. But I’m not about to talk down to a woman who’s like a mother to me.
“Massimo, we can’t find Emelia. She was supposed to come down to lunch. She didn’t. We’ve been looking around. The cameras show her on the beach, but then she just disappears.”
My blood runs cold, and my throat goes dry
“What? What do you mean, disappear? She couldn’t just disappear. The cameras should pick everything up.”
“Where on the beach was she?” Tristan asks. “Did she go in the sea?”
Oh my God. What if she did?
Ma’s cold dead eyes come to my mind. Would Emelia do that? Go in the sea and die? If they can’t find her and she was on the beach, there’s only one place she could have gone. She doesn’t know about the cave. I made sure no one told her. So, what happened?
“She was just walking on the beach picking up shells. She didn’t look herself,” Pricilla says.
“How long ago did the camera pick that up?”
“Twenty minutes.”
“And nothing more?” I ask. My fucking voice waivers. This is my fault.
Priscilla shakes her head.
“I think I know where she went,” Candace says, stepping forward. Her face is ghostly pale, her eyes heavy with sadness.
“Where?” I ball my fists.
“The cave. She would have taken the rowboat. The cameras don’t work on that side of the beach,” she confesses. I glare back at her. Candace is a woman I trust nearly as much as my brothers.
“The cameras don’t work?” I bark. I wasn’t aware of that, but clearly, security has been keeping things from me. Someone will die tonight.
“No. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“And how did Emelia know about the cameras and the boat?” I’ve guessed it, but I want to hear it for myself. From her lips. How she helped Emelia escape. So clever to betray my trust.
“I told her.”
I roar, and she starts crying. I lunge for her. Tristan and Dominic grab me.
“Massimo, there’s a storm coming, and Emelia isn’t a strong swimmer,” Priscilla says quickly. “I can’t imagine a young woman rowing a boat on the sea the way it is. And to where? Where is she going? She won’t survive water like that.”
Panic and terror already have me moving. I don’t care why she left, or how she left, or who helped her leave. Fuck, I don’t even care if she does manage to escape. I just don’t want her to die.