Page 72 of The Boss

“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” Alonso asks, walking into the dining room, where I’m sitting eating chips after cleaning.

“Yeah, what’s up?” I reply as he sits next to me at the table.

“Do you think this makes sense, continuing to keep how bad Mateo is suffering right now from her? Vanessa has a right to know if her husband is being tortured and questioned.”

“Is it a good idea? Probably not, but is it what Gino wants? Yes. And we need to trust him,” I reply.

“So what, now you two are fucking, you’re just going to listen to everything he says??” I can hear the edge in his voice.

“Excuse me?” I look at him in shock.

“Oh, come on,” he rolls his eyes. “You always push him and debate him on decisions, and what, now you just don’t?”

“First off, fuck you. And second, of course I still push him, but I’m not doing it in public, and not when he’s not here.” I sigh. “Do I agree with every decision he’s made? Absolutely not. Do I let him know that? Of course I do. But I don’t come to any of you and complain. If you have an issue with any of his decisions, you can talk to him about it. Just because we’re, as you put it, ‘fucking now’ doesn’t mean I’m going to be his messenger.”

I cross my arms and stare at him.

“Well damn, now I know who’s running the show over there,” he laughs out.

“God, you’re annoying.” I roll my eyes.

“Obviously, I’m the annoying younger brother to all of you; just remember that.”

I groan.

“I’m going on a run,” he says, getting up and leaving the house.

I knew eventually the guys would start questioning if I would start making decisions based on Gino. I don’t think I have, but if Alonso’s thinking it, the rest of them could be.

Once I finish eating, I get up from the table and put my dish in the dishwasher. I lay down on the couch and open the book I was reading. I don’t know how much time it’s been when I hear someone call my name.

“Juliet,” Vanessa calls.

I sit up and look at her. She has both twins, one on each hip.

“Hey,” I reply. I get up and take Julian from her.

“Thanks for letting me take a nap. I really needed it,” she says.

“Of course.” I smile at her.

“Okay, give it to me straight. I know you’re probably going to take Gino’s side in all this, but is he trying to make me suffer?” she asks.

“Suffer? Why would you say that?” I ask back.

“He won’t tell me shit. Alonso has told me enough for me to gather that nothing has worked in finding my husband. No one will tell me how bad it is. I know none of you want to tell me he’ll never be found, but at what point do you all just tell me he can’t be found?” She asks.

Damn it, she’s right.

“It’s not that he can’t be found, it’s⁠—”

She cuts me off. “Juliet, don't I know my brother’s doing it, but not you too. I can’t have more people blatantly lie to my face.”

“Okay, well, you know Gino is letting Drew do whatever he wants to find Mateo,” I begin. “Once he finds something, Ryan is checking it out to see if there’s anything. The only thing we’ve figured out is he’s using his father’s villa as cover, but he’s not holding Mateo at any properties we know his father has. Gino has called in some favors, and every single one that could have been used to hold him has been searched or looked in.”

“Could it be possible they’re moving him?” she asks.

“Doubtful; moving him would cause much more logistical trouble for them.”