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“Noemi.” She just stood there, and I wasn’t sure what was going through her mind. She closed her eyes and muttered something I couldn’t hear. “His name.”
“If I tell, he might try to kill you again.”
“Again?”
“Yes,” I sniffed and went for a look of distress, “it was him.” I leaned forward and pointed at the photo. “He wants you dead! He told me where you were at the Coppola house. He was the one who spread most of the gasoline. He even helped me get that woman onto your bed. I didn’t know he was going to stab her! It just got so out of control.”
“His name,” she repeated.
I needed to sell he was the true villain here.
“The bomb!” I blurted to get her to remember. Stefano had used that blast to separate Sienna from her new driver, but then Hector got her and took her to my mama’s house and kept her hidden. Mama used her as leverage to make a deal with Stefano, and everything would have worked if Sienna hadn’t escaped. I moved toward her. “He wants you dead, Sienna, and he won’t stop until he does.”
“I’m not asking again.” This time her tone struck a chord, and I knew now was the time.
“Officer Hector, the policeman who’s working with Elio.”
“Oh, my God!” She looked shocked and suddenly paled. I wondered if she might faint, but I knew her well enough now to know she’d keep it together.
She raced past me and flung the door open, and her dress swirled around her legs as she ran. I supposed it was too much to hope she’d trip. I gathered my purse and hurried outside. I needed to get home and pack. My shoes wobbled on the cobblestones as I dashed through the sea of cars to my own and fell into the driver’s seat with a crash.
As I started the engine, movement caught my eye, and I saw Hector’s confused face as I spun off.
It was time for him to go.
“Where is she?” I boomed through the private room, making Mama and Papa jump to their feet. “Is she with Wyatt? Because he’s missing, too!”
Vinni returned, looking pale and worried with the phone to his ear. “No sign of Wyatt,” he whispered.
I rushed through the patio doors to the outside and scanned the parking lot.
Where are you,bella?I bit my tongue to keep from lashing at everyone. This was the one night that needed to go smoothly. She deserved it!
“Elio, we have company on the way.” Niccola came outside with Officer Hector on his heels.
“Why do you think I’m looking for my wife?” I snapped.
“Sorry for coming uninvited, sir,” Hector looked around at all of us, “but Rosa Coppola and a few soldiers were spotted heading in this direction. There could be more. I’m not sure who she has left working with her.”
“He’s right.” Bosco came rushing up behind them. “Noemi got a call that someone spotted them.”
I looked over at The Finder, and he shook his head. “I wouldn’t risk staying, on the off chance she really is coming, but I haven’t heard this from any of my people, and they’re all on high alert.”
“Bosco,” Papa came to my side, “who did Noemi hear it from?”
“I’m unsure. Someone called her, and I didn’t wait around to ask.” Bosco rubbed his hand over his head as he tried to call Noemi. I glanced at Papa, and his mouth twisted.
“Papa,” I pulled him away from the others, “did she just separate me from my wife?” A chill blanketed the air around us, and my head spun. “If I was going to make one last effort to figure out what Sienna knew, the wedding would be a good place to try it. There’s so much going on, and we are about to leave for a three-week vacation.”
“I agree.” He nodded, and I knew he was thinking the same thing.
“We’re concerned for Noemi’s safety.” I looked at Papa, and he knew I’d taken that angle to spin the story to the cousins. I was still trying to protect them for a long as possible.
“Vinni! Niccola!” Papa started to gather the guys to form a search party for Noemi, Wyatt, and Sienna.
“Sir?” The Finder cautiously approached us, and Papa raised a hand to stop everyone from moving. “One of your guests just confirmed that she saw Noemi heading into an empty room—"
“Elio!” Sienna yelled as she raced around the side of the building, her heels and gown glowing in the garden lights. She threw herself into my arms as she gasped for breath. “I need to…” She tried to catch her breath, but her face was as white as her dress. Wyatt was a few yards behind her.
