I raced up the stairs, grabbed my keys, and retrieved the notebook from the safe. I stopped short when I saw Wyatt’s ball hat on the table. Once I was back in my car and on the main road, I called Wyatt. Maybe she left with him?
“Not that I don’t appreciate a call from you, but…” He cleared his throat. “Is everything okay?”
“Is Sienna with you?”
“No. Why?”
“Shit!” I closed my eyes as I came to a stop at the traffic light.
“She’s not there?”
“No.” I couldn’t handle being still, so I slammed my foot down on the pedal and ran the red light. “Did she say anything about going somewhere today?” I tossed my finger at the guy I cut off.
“She called this morning and said your aunt had invited her over to go riding again. I must say, she did sound hesitant about it. I know she wanted to stay home and wait for you because you guys needed to clear the air. She’s in a dark place, Elio, but I know she loves you very much.”
I pulled up to the curb of the dockyard and looked around, not seeing anyone. I punched in the passcode.
“Where are you?”
“The dockyard,” I muttered, annoyed that Donatello needed me.
“If you hear from her, tell I’m looking for her, okay? And Wyatt, I’m concerned that my nonna might have something to do with her being gone.”
“Why?” His words sounded a million miles away as I focused on a sound behind me. I whirled to find Anna stepping off the office stairs. She tossed Donatello’s phone on the ground and crushed it into the concrete with the heel of her boot. “Elio, are you still there?” Wyatt’s voice came across the line.
“I think it’s time we had a little chat.” Anna smirked as she took a step back and looked over her shoulder. I followed her line of sight and saw Stefano with a baseball bat in his hand.
Oh, shit.
Like water trickling through the cracks of a seam, at least thirty of his soldiers emerged from all around me.
“Wyatt?” I whispered, slipping back into the dark corners of my mind. “Call Vinni.”
Thirty minutes ago…
I sniffed, happy to be alone for a moment to gather my feelings on what just happened. I pulled out my phone and called Ugo, but he didn’t answer, so I hung up. I had hoped maybe Ugo was up for another visit tonight. I could have used a little family time because, chances were Elio wouldn’t return tonight. I dropped my phone in the pocket of my dress as I dug around for my house key. I turned the key, pushed the door open, and stopped short.
“Since when do you have a key to Elio’s house?” Mariano’s voice was calm. He sat on the stairs, arms resting on his knees, hands folded together, but his red-dilated eyes told me he had recently taken something.
“They’re his,” I lied, and a warning passed through me to leave.
“Where is Elio?”
“He,” I paused, trying to find my voice, “left.”
“I see.” He unfolded from the stairs. “Well, that was a bad call on his part.”
“What does that mean?”
He jerked me to his chest, and his big arms wrapped around me. I was lifted off my feet and carried outside and up behind the garage to a blacked-out town car.
“Ah!” I screamed. “No! Help me, someone, please!” I kicked at the door when Mariano opened it, which sent us both backward, and I landed on his chest. It took me a half a second to snap out of the stunned state I was in. Just as I scrambled to my knees, he rose above me with a curse and backhanded me across the face. His family ring caught the flesh of my cheek, and I instantly felt the pain as the blood ran.
“Piero! Francesco!” I screamed, begging anyone to hear my cries for help.
“Shut up! Help me get her in.” Another pair of arms helped shove me inside the car, and from behind my wild hair I caught sight of the rosary beads and went ice cold.
Abramo glared at me as he slammed the door and hopped in the front seat.