Page 81 of The Boss

“I know.” I swallow.

“I love you, sweetheart,” she replies.

“I love you too, Mom.” I hang up and lie with my thoughts.

After thinking over what my mom said and what Lucy and Francesca have told me in prior conversations. I know what I need to do.

I leave my room and look through the house for Gino. After I notice he’s not in his office, the kitchen, or the gym, I know exactly where to look.

Walking outside to his mother’s garden, I see him sitting on the bench under the maple tree.

He hears me before I say anything. He gets up from the bench and walks to me.

“Please tell me you’re not leaving,” he whispers as he places his hands on my waist.

“I’m not leaving,” I assure him.

He releases a long exhale. “Okay, good,” he replies.

“I talked with my mom, and I’ll help with anything you need to get Mateo back,” I tell him. “You’re right, we need to put aside our feelings of what we like and don’t like about this and do whatever we can to find him.”

“I promise I won’t ask you to do anything like this again,” he says.

“I hope not. I don't want to have this happen ever again,” I reply.

He lets out a soft laugh. “Come on, let’s get to work.” He places his arm around my shoulders, and we walk back to the house.

THIRTY-FIVE

JULIET

APRIL

Having babies around has created a new version of Gino and the rest of the guys in a way I’ve never seen. It’s spring now, and every day feels like we’re farther and farther away from finding Mateo. They’ve helped with grocery runs, babysitting when we all know Vanessa needs a few hours to herself… She’s taking motherhood in stride.

But knowing her, she’s itching to be useful.

I’m sitting at the dining table reviewing Lorenzo’s finances and looking to see if there is anything we can work with. Gino still believes there could be something in there.

“Vanessa, I was wondering if you could help me with something?”

She turns from the fridge she’s standing in front of, a small smile creeping up her lips. She walks over and takes a seat next to me.

“Sure, what’s up?” She replies.

“I’m reviewing Lorenzo’s transactions. I’m looking to see if there’s any connection we haven’t found yet,” I respond.

“Haven’t you all looked over these things a million times?”

I nod my head.

“What makes you think there’s something else?” she asks.

“We’ve gotten some intel over the last few months; nothing has panned out, but there’s something there, there has to be, and Gino wants us to keep digging.”

She nods. “Okay, what can I do to help?”

I hand her a stack of papers of transactions from Lorenzo’s bank accounts dating back years.