Page 46 of The Mafia’s Fiancee

Chapter 17

Luke

Jimmy didn’t questionthe soldier getting into the driver’s seat. I didn’t wait for an invitation, climbing into the backseat before we sped away.

A small worry hit me that I shouldn’t be leaving Emma behind, but she was safe here, guarded because the Rossini men were here to guard my father at all costs. They were paid to do so, and they’d sworn their loyalty to him all this time.

I bet they recognized Emma as a Giordino, but I wanted to assume that we’d demonstrated that she was with me.

They wouldn’t turn on her and harm her without me being there, right?

Hell, she’d defend herself. She wasn’t helpless. She knew how to shoot.

I pushed aside the worries about Emma. It was natural to be anxious. We’d been together, living in each other’s shadows nonstop for weeks now. More than a month, we’d spent all of our time together. This bout of separation anxiety passed quickly though, because I focused on the guard speaking to Jimmy. He didn’t address me, even though this was my mother we were rushing to get back. He had no clue that I was the Rossini heir. I didn’t correct him, because like Jimmy had coached, we had to keep my identity a secret until we were ready to tell the whole world. Rumors were dangerous, and if men—Rossini men—caught word of a suspected heir, dissent could become an issue. Too many could question my linage. Others would claim that they were bastard children of Marlo’s as well, because why not join that trend?

“Leo said it was the Giordinos who took her. He followed them all the way to the bridge but he lost them there.”

Jimmy scowled. “You’re sure it was the Giordinos?”

“Isn’t the cartel active near the bridge?” I asked. Even I knew that area was risky.

“They are.” Jimmy turned to nod at me, but then faced the guard driving us. “Leo is certain the Giordinos took Nina?”

“Yes. He said it was them.”

“I can’t see Damon Giordino working with the cartel to pull of a kidnapping.” Jimmy shook his head, deep in thought.

If he doubted what these Rossini men reported, I would too. “Damon’s working with the Marcheses,” I said.

“But you could use whatever resource or connection he has to get the results he wants.”

In this matter, it seemed the wanted to lure me out. How they could know that Nina was related to me, I had no clue. Maybe they looked through the Tropican employee info. Maybe they had cops in their pocket. I didn’t care that they’d discovered my mother. I only prioritized keeping her safe.

We held on for the ride, getting nearer the area that the guard referenced.

It was a slow going with traffic, and the wait to get moving pissed me off.

“What about there?” Jimmy indicated for the guard to drive around a blockage, a shortcut to the left.

“The signs say it’s closed up there,” the driver said as he steered where Jimmy pointed to go, “but maybe I can get around another side street and—”

The car rocked to the side with a loud crash. Metal-on-metal screeches filled the air, and I tensed at the impact. Jimmy was flung to the passenger door. The driver clutched the steering wheel as he was whipped back from the collision. I gripped the armrest, feeling the vibrations of the hit traveling from the truck driver’s accident.

“Dammit!”

As soon as the car jerked to a stop, half of it wedged into a caving hole that the utility workers had dug up, Jimmy slammed his hand to the dashboard. Plastic crunched. Glass shattered. After the hard crash, slamming us to a full stop, I held my breath for another moment until the dust settled. I was already tense and high on an adrenaline rush from rushing to save my mother. Now, I was deeper into survival mode, bracing for another hit.

The airbags had deployed on the driver’s side, and the guard struggled to shove them clear.

“Fucking hell.” Jimmy shoved at his door, forcing it open. It swung low with the car tilted to the side, but he jumped out anyway.

I followed suit, opening the back door and leaving the guard to fend for himself.

“We have to—” Jimmy didn’t bother finishing. He looked at the guard, who nodded and waved him on.

“Come on,” Jimmy yelled at me.

Already, commotion was taking over. The truck driver was wincing and apologetic as he climbed down from his driver’s seat. Cops and utility workers were crowding close, bemoaning the location of the untimely accident.