Page 50 of The Mafia’s Fiancee

He held up his hand, pressing his finger to his earpiece, listening to something through his comms unit. “Fuck.” He changed his tactic, gesturing for me to come with him along the path of hedges. “Come on. Right now!”

“What happened?” I didn’t feel right about trusting him, but I had to follow my instincts. If he wanted to bring me to Antonio, he would’ve just grabbed me and dragged me inside. Telling me about his remorse in getting Krista caught swayed me to believe him. He wasn’t an ally. He couldn’t be so long as he remained as Antonio’s employee, but I felt certain that he’d do anything to spare Krista’s life.

I followed him, crouching like he did at a low run.

“They just brought in another hostage,” he replied, whispering under the cover of the night. “Head in and go up to the north end of the house. Third floor. Come back this way, and I’ll be watching out to get you away.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“I’m helping her. I fucking love her. If Antonio could get over his shit about having you, then I could quit and be with her.”

“Why not quit sooner?”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Because of you. Krista says she’ll never speak to me again if I’m not here as a mole, as someone to help give her intel.”

Damn, did my bestie love me, or what.

“Stay to this end of the house. They should be focusing on getting the other hostage settled.”

I nodded and slipped inside. The gun in my hand should’ve made me feel stronger and more prepared, but setting foot in Antonio’s house filled me with nothing but dread.

No sounds of commotion came from other wings of the house, and I felt a silly sense of déjà vu. Like my father’s house, like the neglected Rossini mansion, the Marchese residence was overly large and not at all full of people. I encountered no one, but I remained on alert and kept as quiet as possible.

I reached the second floor, worried that I’d taken the wrong turn somewhere. The moon still shone from the same wall of windows as I went higher through the house, but it seemed like I’d branched out toward the west. I wasn’t sure how I’d reach a third floor, where Krista was supposed to be.

I paused, hearing the sounds of a woman crying on the second floor. Slowing my steps, I strained to listen closely and track where she was.

Maybe Justin got the floors mixed up?

I reached a door at the end of the hall. I stepped too quickly, not softening the landing of my shoe, and the woman gasped inside. Then coughed. And coughed.

I furrowed my brow, wondering if it was Krista at all.

Before I could think twice or debate my actions, I opened the door and stepped in.

Nina.

Her eyes opened wide at me, and her mouth hung open in shock.

“Shhh.” I closed the door and hurried toward her. I hadn’t come here to rescue her, but my friend.

If Jimmy and Luke are looking for her and they’re nowhere to be seen...

I swallowed hard and resisted more worrying.

“Are you okay?” I asked, pissed that Antonio had arranged to capture my friend and Luke’s mother. It seemed that he couldn’t rely on one bait, but had to use both. Or he was simply that cruel of a man and wanted to hurt us both as much as he could.

“Yes,” she whispered, replying in kind. “No. I’m here. Taken by those mafia thugs.” She shook her head. “But why are you here?”

“I’m—”

Men ran down the hallway outside and I stiffened, going quiet to listen as they passed by. Instinct kicked in, and I lifted my gun to aim at the door until all seemed quiet again.

“I’m Emmalina Giordino,” I told her.

She blinked, stunned. Then she narrowed her eyes. “Oh, fuck. Don’t tell me he fell in love with the enemy.”

“He didn’t know I was an enemy. Then again, how could he have known when you and Jimmy lied to him his whole life?”