Page 3 of The Mafia’s Fiancee

I had no clue how to find the Giordino or Marchese men. I was lost for where to start.

My only connection was Jimmy, so I started there.

Fuck. What if he had her taken?

I started the car and drove in the direction of where I assumed the Rossini residences were in the city. Miami was a huge metropolis, but everyone who’d lived here was aware of the general areas where the mafia families lived. The same as everyone with any street smarts knew to avoid certain neighborhoods the cartel operated from, and the spots where stings and drug busts happened.

That was where I headed, loosely toward where I’d heard the Rossini family lived. It wasn’t a short drive, nor an easy one with the traffic, but I aimed for the sprawling estates, the oceanfront properties.

It was taking too long though, and with every minute Emma was absent, missing and taken, dread and anger built within me. I couldn’t take it. Driving toward the Rossini area was a first step, but it didn’t feel like I was doing anything.

I grabbed my phone and called the one contact listing I had for Jimmy. He was labeled as manager, and I scowled at knowing he was so much more. He was my uncle, one who’d lied to me all my life.

He answered, and I didn’t hesitate to let him know how pissed I was. “Did you arrange this?”

“Arrange what?”

“Emma. Did you have her taken?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

I slammed my fist on the steering wheel, furious at the idea that he might be playing games with me. That he might be playing dumb.

“Emmalina. Did you arrange to have her taken?” By asking him this, I was giving away the news that she had be taken. “You just told me to give her up. To stop being with her, and now she’s gone.”

“Lucas, I tried to tell you—”

“Did you fucking take her?” I roared, feeling tension in my neck from how hard I strained and yelled. I felt taut everywhere, like a bomb collecting pressure before an imminent explosion.

“No. I didn’t, Lucas. But I tried to tell you. You messing around with Emma won’t end well.”

I didn’t know how things would end. No one ever did. But I’d be damned if someone tried to force us apart.

“This is only proof of what I tried to tell you. War will be coming. Antonio Marchese won’t be happy to hear about you and Emma. Damon Giordino will be furious. If someone has taken her, then it’s only a sign of someone knowing and reacting. Just like I fucking tried to warn you.”

I braked sharply as a tourist forgot how to drive.

This wasn’t the time or place to get answers.

I hung up, focusing on driving to get out of this clogged area. Heading toward where I assumed the Rossini residence was, I gritted my teeth and tried to speed out of this backed-up downtown stretch.

It’d be far better to have a direct conversation with this uncle of mine. I needed more answers, more background on Emma and this engagement that wouldn’t be happening between her and Antonio.

I was engaged to Emma. She wore my grandmother’s ruby ring. She was mine.

And come hell or highwater, I’d beat the answers out of my lying uncle so I could get her back as soon as possible.