“This is too much.” I rubbed my head like it was going to explode.
“Elio, you’re spinning out of control because you are blinded by love. Think about all that’s happened since she arrived. She brought this storm to your doorstep. Who is trying to help you out of it in one piece? Me. It’s my job to help guide you to be the best boss there is, and part of that is seeing things you don’t want to. It’s not just about you anymore, it’s about our syndicate. Until you accept that, you’ll be spinning until you crash.”
“I know,” I said through a clenched jaw.
“Just take a breath and remember who is important and who isn’t. She needs to go.”
“I’ll call you later.” I hung up and slammed my fist into the steering wheel, needing to find anything that would relieve the twisted knot that had its ugly claws in my gut.
I had lost ten years with the woman I loved, ten years I would never get back. And now look what was happening! When did life take a turn and make everything shatter in one giant heap? The damage tore through me like a tidal wave crashing and pulling me down. I felt as though I was drowning. The ripple effect of it all needed to stop, now.
I rubbed my face and took a breath. I needed to deal with Sienna. I needed to fix this and make it right, no matter what the cost.
In a fog, I headed back out onto the open road and tried to get my head on straight.
As I got to the steps, I scooped up her sunglasses. She must have dropped them. I unlocked the door to find the house quiet.
“Sienna?” I called as I tossed my keys in the bowl and headed into the kitchen. “Sienna?” I hurried up the stairs, checking every room, but they were all empty. “Sienna, we have to talk.” Nothing. I called her number, but it went straight to voicemail. I tried another number.
“Dammit.” I hung up on Ugo after four rings, then Vinni pushed his call through.
“Hey, boss, I’m running behind for our meeting, but I’ll—”
“Vin, is Sienna with you?” He went quiet, and I checked to see if the phone was still connected.
“No, why?”
“Because I dropped her off at my place a few hours ago, and she’s not here.”
“Did you try Ugo?”
“I did, but he didn’t answer. Hang on.” I headed downstairs to my office and clicked on the iPad to check the outside cameras. “What the hell?” I hissed as I watched my front door camera suddenly go black. The rest of them were still working.
“What?”
“Someone messed with my front door camera.”
A slow, cold prickle crept up my spine, and my temperature rose.
“I’ll call you back.”
I took a breath as I called her phone.
“Elio,” Nonna was calm as can be, “calling to apologize?”
“Where is she?”
“Who?”
“Don’t.” I stopped myself from flipping off the rails. “Don’t play coy with me, Nonna. Please just tell me you have nothing to do with her being gone.”
“That’s the second time today you’ve accused me of something outrageous. That was your last time. Forgiveness only goes so far.”
“I know things too,” I whispered, not hearing anything but my rapid heartbeat. “Two can play at this game.” I hung up and tossed the photo of Sienna from my windshield across the room with a roar.
The walls closed in, the air felt heavy, and just when I was about to lose my shit for good, my phone vibrated in my hand.
Donatello: Boss, you need to get down to the dockyard now. We found another girl. Bring the notebook. I think there’s a connection here.