That could only mean...
I glare at Parisi who grins like a predator about to pounce on his prey.
“Something wrong, Parlatore?” He tucks his wet handkerchief back in his pocket.
“No.”
I text back to Lucca.
What the fuck do you mean she’s missing?
I show no expression. No fear. No worry. Parisi will not get the upper hand.
She was with Maria at the market. A man took her and shoved her in the back of a black SUV. No plates.
I take a moment and stare out at the Mediterranean. I’m not calm. A storm is raging inside of me, but I can’t let Parisi see. It’ll only make me weak. Weakness causes mistakes. I force myself to think of Gia as just another woman. A woman I’d protect no matter how I feel about her.
Not that I have any feelings for Gia.
Lust.
Like.
I press my tongue to the roof of my mouth to avoid clenching my teeth. I want Parisi to see no angst in me. He assumes I used his daughter to get to him. Which is correct. However, he also assumes I’m as cutthroat as he is and will hurt anyone who gets in my way.
I’m like that to a limit. Gia is not someone I will hurt. Not today. Not ever. I take a calming breath, letting the ocean air fill my lungs, and reply to Lucca.
Find her the fuck now.
I pocket my cell and take a leisurely scan of the area doing my best to make Parisi think he hasn’t gotten to me.
“You surprise me, Parlatore. I thought maybe you were like your father and would beg on your knees for the life of your woman.”
“She’s not the woman I’m looking for.” The lie leaves a bitter taste in my throat. I tell myself it’s the truth. Lucca is currently looking for her while I’m scouring the hills for the young girls Parisi has kidnapped, so in a sense, it is the truth.
A wicked laugh escapes his lips. “That’s why you forced my daughter into marriage? To get young pussy? Callista too old for your taste?”
“Why else would I want to buy you out?”
I nod at Marco’s gun, and he lowers it from Parisi’s chest. This is the show I’ve been practicing for so long. Make him think I want the business.
“Now you want to buy me out? I thought you just wanted a piece of the action.”
“I want it all.” I cross the distance between us, the sun at my back, blinding Parisi enough so he has to squint to see me.
“What is it you want?”
He’s holding his cards to his chest for as long as possible.
“The girls.”
“What about your wife?”
Bile rises up again. “What do you want with her?”
Parisi’s top lip lifts in a dirty scowl. “I’m not the one who wants her. She could have crashed in a plane years ago for all I care.”
I’m more confused than ever but remain stoic. “So why search for her? Why do you care now if she doesn’t mean anything to you?”