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“I met Lorenzo twice before I saw him at the hospital with you. Once about 6 years ago, and once 4 years ago right before I ran. The Lombardi’s were always different from my family. They aren’t innocent, not by any standard, but they hold values. Family. Happiness. I don’t think Enzo would ever be like my father.”
I hold my tongue though I want to tell him he’s right, that Enzo has been nothing but a loving father to Matteo.
“Do you want to leave him, Emma? If you tell me yes, I’ll take your word for it and get you both out of here, but I don’t think you want to go. I think you’re a wonderful mom who wants what’s best for her kid, but I don’t think you want to leave Lorenzo again.”
“I don’t.”
“So why are you?”
I glance at Matteo on the bed. “The same reason I left the first time. For Matteo. He deserves safety. He shouldn’t be in his own home and get attacked.”
“And this is your decision. Just like it was your decision five years ago?”
I open my mouth to reply, but when all that comes out is stuttering, I stop trying. Derek watches me intently, his eyes searching my face.
“I spent most of my life trying to please my father. Doing his dirty work hoping one day, maybe he would appreciate me. See the value in me. When I left, it took me a while to learn to stop unconsciously consulting him with all of my decisions. I didn’t realize I was doing it at first, but he programmed my brain to work how he wanted it to work, and it took me a long time to deprogram myself.”
Five years ago, I didn’t think I had a choice. As an adult, I can see that there was always a choice there. It just felt like an impossible one to make as a pregnant 18-year-old. Going along with what my father wanted was easier. I did a lot to please him and make my life easier. Even back then, I wanted Enzo to have the option to be a part of Matteo’s life.
“Now that I’m here, we can put you into a nicer hotel. You can spend a few days thinking about your decision, and if you still want to leave, I’ll help you.”
“You don’t have to…”
“Don’t worry about it. Seriously. I took quite a bit of my father’s cash and jewelry with me when I left and invested it. Think of this as investing the blood money in a worthy cause.”
“And if I decide to go back? Will you feel bad about using your money to support the wife of a mafia boss?”
Derek smiles at me. “I told you, the Lombardi’s are different. And I’m sure with you as part of the family, you’ll do some good.”
Chapter Forty-Two- Enzo
There’s an unknown number ringing on my phone, and if this were any other day, I’d let it go to voicemail.
After we realized the kidnapping attempt was a failure and Emma had gotten away, we changed tactics. I still have Oleg and Eric tied up in the basement, and I’ll get to them once we find Emma and Matteo and get them home. That could be days. It could be weeks. However long it takes, neither of them will move from those fucking chairs until it happens.
My only regret is that Eric thinks his plan was successful. Oleg already knows something went wrong. The plan was for him to be off-property and far away by the time we realized Emma was missing. According to my father, we’ve already received phone calls and threats from his family since he hasn’t returned home after our meeting.
“Hello,” I say, sliding the phone to my ear. Emma hasn’t used her card and her cellphone has been turned off so we aren’t able to track her that way. Andy found out a local taxi service picked someone up alongside the stretch of road where we found the abandoned vehicle. The driver has gone home for the day, so we’re going to visit him.
We’ll go easy on the man. Our brief background check on him doesn’t suggest he has any history of organized crime. I doubt he realized who he was picking up from the side of the road. Hopefully, all it will take is flashing the guns on our sides for him to tell me where he’s taken my fiancee. Anything more and I might have to kill him so he doesn’t do something stupid and try to go to the police.
“Never thought I’d be calling this number.”
The voice is only vaguely familiar, and I take a moment to place it. “Derek. Never thought I’d hear from you. I thought you were trying to stay dead?”
Andy shoots me a look out of the corner of his eye. I’ll explain to him later. I’m more curious about how Derek got my number. My number isn’t something I give out freely, even to business associates. There’s another number for them to call, one that rings to a phone my cousins take turns manning. Once it is determined it is a call necessary for me to take, it gets routed to my phone.
Direct calls usually only come from family.
“Emma and Matteo are safe.”
At the words, I can feel my chest start the lighten. I shouldn’t find this much relief in his words, he was once known for being a ruthless killer. There’s an honesty in them though, and no one outside the men restrained in my basement knows about Emma’s disappearance. If he’s telling me she’s alright, then he’s at least been in contact with her.
“I’m glad to hear it. Why am I hearing it from you instead of from my fiancée herself?”
“Because she doesn’t know I’m calling you. I owe you. You’ve kept the fact I’m still alive a secret and I haven’t forgotten about what you did for me years ago. Consider this repayment. Emma and Matteo are alive and safe, and they will continue to be so. If Emma wants out of this life, I will help her disappear. You will never find her. I trust this phone call won’t act as a deterrent, but I’m just letting you know now.”
I growl into the phone, crushing it with my fist. “Like hell, you’re going to take my fiancée and son away from me.”
