I wrenched against Giovanni’s hold. I could call out for Luca if I only got my mouth away from his hand, but with the enforcers helping out, Giovanni concentrated everything on silencing me.
He let go of my arm, and someone else caught it. He grabbed my head and clamped his thick palm over my face so tightly that I couldn’t breathe.
They hauled me into the stall. My brain screamed out, Luca! Luca, help me! but I couldn’t make a sound.
I kicked out to brace myself against the walls, but I was rapidly running out of air. The world blurred. The last thing I saw before I passed out was a sliding panel opening in the stall, and then I disappeared into the dark.
Chapter17
Dominic
Dante shouldered through the crowd to my side. “Where’s Ari?”
I pointed up at the balcony. “Luca took her up to the bathroom. What’s the situation on the south side?”
“There is no situation. It’s all quiet.” He jutted my chin toward the enforcers. “They haven’t moved.”
“Do you think it’s a trick?”
He shrugged. “Could be.”
I scanned the crowd, checking the location of everyone present. Carlo Triolo. Sergio Rizzi. Clemente Morino. They all mingled with other guests. No one was missing or doing anything suspicious, but I couldn’t relax.
Dante went over to the bar and ordered something. I whacked him. “Padrino said no shots.”
“I’m not drinking. I’m getting a glass of pineapple juice. I’m thirsty.”
I rotated the other way and started checking faces again. Zeno Lucci. Alfredo Morino. Eugenio Del Tufo. My eyes skipped over to Michael Vittorio holding court at the end of the ballroom. Alessandro still stood at his side.
I stiffened and spun around. “Where the hell is Giovanni?”
“Huh?” Dante asked. “I haven’t seen him.”
I rose on my tiptoes and scanned the ballroom. “He isn’t here. He’s gone.”
“Good riddance,” Dante muttered into his juice. “He’s probably out back getting his dick wet.”
My hair stood on end. “Something’s wrong.”
He looked up at me. “What do you mean?”
I shot a terrible glance up to the balcony, and my worst fears came true when I saw Luca standing there. He wasn’t wearing his mask, and he looked like the fucking Grim Reaper come to Earth.
He narrowed his eyes down at the dance floor glaring directly at me. He pointed at me and then crooked his finger in a classic,Come here,gesture.
I grabbed Dante. “Put your juice down. Something’s wrong.”
I hauled Dante upstairs to find Luca in a rage. “She’s gone!”
“What?” I bellowed. “How?”
“She went into the bathroom, and she didn’t come out. They must have nabbed her. Fan out, and search the property.”
I didn’t need to hear anymore. Those words set off a nuclear bomb in my head. She’s gone.
I whirled away and grabbed my phone. I put in a call to our men stationed around the estate. “Seal the perimeter. The Vittorios took the bait. They’ll be moving her off the property.”
I stormed downstairs with Luca and Dante right behind me. They both talked fast into their phones, but I only half heard them. The Vittorios had Ariana, the one outcome of this that we all wanted more than anything to avoid.