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Andreas seats his cigar in the ashtray next to him. “She chose to leave the mansion without the additional protection we assigned?”
“Yes,” I ground out, frustrated by this line of questioning and wondering why they aren’t immediately sending more guards this way to go after her.
Carlos sighs. “I thought she was smarter than that. Looks like you’ll need to take over the New York business completely.”
Wait. “What do you mean take over the business? What about Scarlett?”
“Unfortunately, she has become collateral damage. She chose to leave the house without protection. We will not start a war with the DeLuca’s when she is unwilling to follow simple instructions.”
These men have no ideas of the danger the DeLuca’s having Scarlett poses to their business and I can’t tell them a goddamn thing.
Knowing that she’s the key to keeping Lorenzo from claiming the business for his grandson would be enough to send an army after her. Then again, it could also be enough that they have both of our heads and the boy’s. Their answer is firm and I know there’s no changing their minds, which leaves saving Scarlett in my hands.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Nico?” Andreas says, an edge to his voice.
“Yes?”
“Do not disappoint us.”
“I won’t.” And with that I disconnect the call before anything else is said. No lies were told, I will take care of it, just not in a way that they expect.
There’s no way in hell I will leave Scarlett to suffer at the hands of the DeLuca family. I’ve tried to avoid it, pretend it doesn’t exist, there’s no more denying how much Scarlett means to me. Even when she’s intentionally trying to drive me crazy.
I’m the only one who can protect her and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I pick up my cell and call a few of my contacts. Men who aren’t loyal to me or Luis, they’re not even loyal to Carlos and Andreas. What they are loyal to is money. Pay them enough and they’ll get any information you want and not tell a fucking soul they got it for you,
Now, it’s just a matter of waiting. My hands are tied until I know where they might have taken her. I refuse to even entertain the idea that she might not be alive. She has to be.
I pace the office floor my nerves getting the best of me. If I’m going to save Scarlett, I have to find a way to focus on the task. I walk over to the side wall and pour a glass of bourbon.
There’s a light knock at the door. “Come in.” I say louder enough for the person on the other side to hear. The door swings open. Sofia and Camila stand on either side of Rosa.
“Where’s Scarlett?” Sofia has an arm wrapped tightly around Rosa’s shoulders. It kills me to see Rosa hurt again, but I don’t let them see it. I maintain the façade of calm everyone is used to seeing from me.
Scarlett and I are more alike than I realized.
“I don’t know. I’m pretty sure the DeLuca family has her.”
Rosa begins to sob and Camila holds her tighter. Tears form in Sofia’s eyes. “Why are you here then?”
I look at Sofia and hold her gaze, hoping she sees what I can’t say out loud in front of the others. “The family heads don’t have any intention of going after her. She made the choice to leave without protection. They won’t spend resources bringing her back.”
Sofia watches me for a moment. Normally, she’s intuitive and can read between the lines, at least from what I’ve seen and I’m hoping she can do the same right now.
She nods. I understand. “Mom, let’s put Rosa in one of the guest rooms so she can lie down and rest.”
Camila looks between us then nods. Her trust in her daughter is immense.
The family may not be willing to use resources to say her, but I will go after her. I can’t leave her in their hands, not knowing what they might do to her.
It’s not just about protecting the family. It’s about protecting her.
Once Sofia and Camila lead Rosa up the stairs, I go back into the office. If there’s any way possible to save her, I need to know where she is.
While I wait for answers, I fire up the computer in the office, wondering if Luis was dumb enough to keep any files on it that might help me figure out where they might have taken her.
I scan each file, ignoring the name on them. Anyone could search this computer at anytime. An hour later and I still have nothing.
