Page 90 of Daddies of the Underworld

Rosa’s gaze moved to me. “Something stronger, then.”

“I always liked you.” I bent to press a kiss onto her coronet of gray braids.

Rosa muttered something about shameless boys and lifted the tray. “I will take these to the small dining room. The men will need them.” Shaking her head but smiling, she left through the service door.

I poured whiskey from the decanter Rosa had already taken from the cabinet before our arrival in the kitchen and handed Nina a glass. “Small sip.”

She took a large one and coughed hard enough to bend over the counter.

I barely managed to keep from laughing. “Or don’t listen. Very popular choice in this family.”

“It burns.” She wiped her eyes, sniffed and cleared her throat. “That’s good stuff.” She set the glass down and braced both hands on the counter. Her shoulders were nearly to her ears, tension locking her spine in a rigid line.

I moved behind her and rested my hands on her shoulders. “Can I?” She nodded, and I worked my thumbs into the tight muscles. She stiffened for one heartbeat, then dropped her head forward with a low sound that went straight through me.

“God, Luca.”

I bent and kissed the side of her neck before I could make the intelligent choice. “Careful. Praise makes me ambitious.”

Her laugh came out soft and was followed by a groan. “I think you’ll be okay.”

I worked my way lower, pressing my thumbs into the muscles beside her spine until another moan slipped out, the kind of sound a man would ruin his life to hear again. A better man might have stopped, but she needed this, and I was more than happy to offer whatever I could to make this day easier. I kissed the side of her neck, and she tilted her head, turning in my arms and pushing her fingers into my hair. She pulled hard enough to make me groan, then chuckled. I lifted her onto the counter and stepped between her knees, sliding my hands under her shirt. “I swear this wasn’t why I started the massage.”

“Sure.” She kissed the underside of my jaw, her warm lips trailing over my skin. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Static cracked from the security panel near the pantry. Nina jerked, and I whipped around to stare. The green light blinked twice, then went red.

“What does that mean?” Nina pushed at my hands, and I realized I’d been gripping her waist too tight.

I let go and stepped back, helping her off the counter. “I don’t know.” Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I cursed. No signal. My stomach dropped. “Stay here.”

“The hell I will.” She raced toward the door. “I’m going to check on Sofia.”

The kitchen door swung open before either of us made it two steps. Dante came in fast, gun drawn. “Comms are down.”

“How?” I almost choked on the question. Did how really matter? Not one bit.

Dante answered anyway, which brought a flash of surprise from Nina considering his normal recalcitrance. “Internal relay failure. Cameras on the second floor east hall are looping.” He cut around the counter and checked the servants’ corridor. “Where’s Rosa?”

Nina made a pained sound and bolted so fast her hair flew out behind her.

“Nina!” I grabbed for her, catching nothing but air.

Dante swore and moved after her. I followed, my heart punching against my ribs. The guards at the stairs shouted into dead radios. One had his weapon trained on the service corridor. Another looked too pale for a man with a gun in his hand.

Enzo lay near the wall, breathing but down. Blood trickled from his temple as he brought the radio to his lips.

Dante dropped beside Enzo and checked his pulse. “Status.”

Nina hit Sofia’s door with both hands, throwing it wide open. I ran in on her heels, weapon in my hand though I didn’t remember drawing it.

My mind refused to process the empty bed. The purple blanket lay in a crumpled heap, her rabbit on the floor. Sofia. No. God no. She wasn’t there.

Nina made a sound I would take to my grave. It came out primal and sharp, a high, keening sound that set my teeth on edge and shook me to my bones. A similar one built in my throat, but I locked it down. Wailing would not help me, though I wished to hell and back that I could bellow my rage.

Dante spoke from the hallway. “Lock down the estate. No one leaves.”

Matteo hit the top of the steps, his stride thunderous. He tore into the room, his face twisted in rage. “Where is she?”