I took the box from him. “Grazie, but don’t change the subject. What aren’t you telling me?”
He gulped and glanced back at Callum, who held out a mug to me. I shook my head, refusing to take anything until they told me what the hell was happening.
“Damiano is still missing,”Papisaid carefully. I frowned.
“Missing?”
“He’s most likely dead,” Callum added, and I blinked back at him.
“What?”
“Aria.”Papiplaced his hand on my shoulder, guiding me into the living room so we could sit. Callum joined us. “We believe Buccini might be behind his disappearance.”
“You think Santino has hurt Damiano?” I asked, my brain taking too long to process what they were really suggesting. “Why would you think that?”
“Because Damiano was your chief bodyguard, Aria,” Callum interjected, resting his elbows on his knees. “He was the biggest obstacle in Santino’s way. It’s clear he’s about to strike.”
I swallowed, remembering Santino’s text yesterday telling me not to worry about my bodyguards stopping him from taking me on a date. “Strike? What do you mean?”
“With Damiano out of the picture, you’re left vulnerable. Damiano’s skills were highly specialised. There aren’t many bodyguards we know who could hold their own against Buccini. We can, of course, make sure you have another bodyguard, but if Santino has taken out Damiano, then there isn’t much hopefor the rest.”
Mypapiglared at Callum, and it was clear there was something he wasn’t saying or didn’t agree with.
“Taken out?” My jaw dropped. “As in killed him?”
The two men glanced at each other, then Callum nodded at my father, insisting he tell me something he clearly didn’t want to share.Papisighed, rubbing his hand down his face.
“This morning, a package was delivered to my office. It was a human ear. It had a small silver hoop piercing, the same one Damiano wore.”
My eyes bulged as all the colour drained from my face. I couldn’t speak. I was too worried that the bile lodged in my throat might spill out.
“It came with a typed note,” Papi continued. “The note read,‘This is who you chose to keep your daughter safe? Bad choice.’”
“Bad choice?” I whispered. “What does that mean?”
Mypapiopened his mouth to speak, but Callum jumped in ahead of him.
“Obviously, he meant that Damiano was a bad choice if it was this easy for him to take him out.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around it. It couldn’t be true. Santino wouldn’t kill Damiano, cut off his ear, and send it to my father as a threat.Oh my god, listen to me. They kept warning me about what he was capable of, but I couldn’t see past the brain fog of lust. I literally orgasmed over a murderer a few hours ago.
“Have you told the police?” My voice sounded so quiet and frail as I looked between them.
“We’ve reported Damiano missing. They’re looking into it, but I doubt they’ll ever find a body,” Callum said. I twisted to face my father.
“But… you just said.”
“It’s complicated,luce mia. We know it was Buccini, but we have no evidence to prove it. The note could have been from anyone.”
I dropped my head into my hands, pushing away the little voice that told me there was a possibility this wasn’t Santino’s doing. That Damiano might still show up for work in a few hours with both his ears attached.
“Aria, you need to live with me for a while,”Papisaid, placing his hand on my knee. “It’s not safe for you to be here alone.”
“Or you can come and live with me,” Callum offered. I stared at him as he gave me a soft smile.
I stood up, taking them by surprise.
“I need a minute.”
