“I just arrived, so I’m not sure where he is.” I started to look around. “I could call him if you’d like?”
“No need.” He placed his hand on my purse to stop me. “I think you can help me.”
I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, but I knew how important this event was to everyone. I also knew that if someone was going to show up, chances were it would be here.
Mariano came out of one of the tents, rubbing his nose like he just took a hit. He’d been in a mood all morning until one of his friends showed up.
“What?” he snarled at me, instantly irritated.
I grabbed him by his suit jacket and yanked him toward my face. I towered over him and made sure he knew just how finished I was.
“Either get your shit together or get the hell out of here.”
“Seriously?” He wiggled free and looked around, embarrassed. “What do you think I’m doing here?”
“Doing a line in the tent.” I tapped my nose. “This is your last warning before I toss you, your tramp of a mother, and your heart attack father out on your asses.”
“You might be untouchable, Elio,” he squeezed his eyes, trying to seem clear-minded, “but she’s not.”
“What?” I hated to play dumb, but I did. “Who, Sienna?”
“They’re everywhere, just waiting.”
“Who are?”
“Your kingdom is falling,” he seethed, “and just when you think you have it under control…” He snapped his fingers. I knew the drug was coursing through his system at that point because his eyes were mere slits and his words slowed. “Just wait.” He let out a wild laugh. “You have no idea.”
Everything inside me went still. I tossed a punch at his face and another to his chest. It happened quickly, and I held back from doing anything more. As he heaved over, I reached out to hold him up as the pain burst through his body. To anyone else, I was coming to his aid, and as I held him up, I chuckled darkly.
“I know…” I paused as he tried to draw in a breath. I knew every intake of air into his bruised lungs would hurt like a bitch. I spoke slowly because, drug or not, I knew this would get through to him. “Whatever the hell is happening with you and the drugs needs to end, or I will end it for you.” I shoved him down into a seat and ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “Watch him,” I ordered one of my soldiers.
“Vinni,” I called as he looked at Mariano with a sour expression.
“Yeah, boss.”
“Have you spoken to Sienna? Is she still at the hotel?”
“Ah,” he hesitated, and I felt my sixth sense kick in, “I went to visit her today and invited her to come here, but that was hours ago, and if she was coming, she was supposed to call me, and hasn’t yet.”
“And why did you do that?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had not authorized that.
“Boss,” he waved me away from Mariano, “you’re pushing her away. She literally left you, and you haven’t gone after her.” He made a face, knowing he was crossing over lines by being this blunt. “Your mama, papa, Francesco, we’re all trying to figure out what’s going on, and I don’t want you to lose her. She’s the best thing that’s happened to you in years.”
He was right.
I hated that he was right.
Nonna’s warnings were so deeply rooted in my head they were confusing me. It was easier to try to keep a step back from her than to try to process what I might be doing to our relationship.
“How was she?”
His shoulders dropped in relief that I wasn’t going to rip him a new one.
“Not good.”
I closed my eyes and wished I could pull myself from this state.
“I think there’s something more going on with her than just you two.”