Page 76 of The Boss

“Okay, did she tell you about her theory once you knew of the messages?” I ask.

“That she thinks it’s two people messaging her? Yeah, she told me,” she replies.

“What’s your take on that?”

“She’s right,” she says without missing a beat. “I think the idea of one of them working for Lorenzo is plausible. Whoever it is either doesn’t like what he’s doing, or they’re trying to shift focus from Mateo, encouraging you to search for them instead. The second person is genuinely trying to help, but how would they know Mateo was missing? You didn’t put up posters all over the city, so it has to be someone who either knows her or you but doesn’t want to get in the way and thinks this was the best way to help,” she says.

“Well, shit. I might need you to work in the analytics department when we start this company.”

“I’m just fine working in the medical field, thank you,” she says.

I know she would never do it, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

I laugh. “Okay, fine, but the offer will always be there.”

“I bet it will, but I kind of like the stay-at-home mom life and helping you guys out when you need it.”

“How are they?” I ask, shifting topics to lighten the mood.

“They’re good,” she tells me confidently. “They would like to see their uncle and godfather more, though.”

“Did you just use your children as a way to get me to hang out with you more?”

“You can think that, but I’ve only seen you a few times over here since they were born, and I would like to see you more,” she gives me her best pouting look.

“You’re good,” I smirk at her. She knows how to get me to say yes. “Fine, I’ll come over more.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“I bet you will,” I reply.

The baby monitor crackles with one of the twins’ soft cries. She gets up and starts to walk upstairs, and I follow her.

Walking into the nursery, Vanessa picks up her son Julian, who is a spitting image of Mateo, and it hits me how much we’re losing with him gone. I’m frozen as she holds him, watching her take her new normal in stride. And understanding comes over me about how strong she is, and she doesn’t need a babysitter; she needs a brother she can trust.

THIRTY-THREE

JULIET

Sitting in the space that is my second happy place, behind my dance studio, for the first time in days is soothing.

Gino and I just finished dinner, and he needed to take a call on a property he’s buying. I truly don’t know how he’s doing this at all. He’s managing his business, trying to build a new one, scouring the earth for his best friend, and protecting everyone all at the same time.

Opening my book, I start reading. The romance novel I’m reading is getting spicy, and I am so sucked in that I don’t hear someone walk into the library. It isn’t until my book is snatched from my hand.

I look up and see Gino looking at the page; he’s got a smirk on his face. Shit.

“My wrists are tied behind my back,” he begins reading. “I can feel the rope digging into my skin. He grabs me by my waist,” he starts, “and turns me over so I’m on my stomach, and he presses two fingers into my pussy. I’m leaking⁠—”

Before he can continue, I grab the book out of his hand.

“Bella, if I knew you wanted to do these things, we would have done them months ago.”

“Gino,” I yell out.

“What?” he asks, a permanent smile on his lips. “If you want to try something, just tell me, and we’ll try it.”

That look in his eye tells me he knows he’s riling me up.