Chapter 59
59
Lorenzo
The gravel crunches under my shoes as I walk the familiar path.
I haven’t been here in months.
It hasn’t felt right to visit. Not with everything that’s been going on with Victoria… and even now, it doesn’t, knowing what I now know.
Maybe it will bring me closure.
Her name comes into view, and I stop in front of the headstone.
Angela Rossi
My mother.
I drag a hand through my hair, then lower myself in front of the stone.
“So…” My voice sounds rough even to my ears. “This is awkward p>
I’m not even sure what to say. What do you tell your dead mother in a situation like this?
The truth, I guess. No reason to bullshit.
“I got married p>
The words feel weird as they leave my mouth.
I swallow, jaw tightening, and glance away.
This shouldn’t be so hard.
My eyes shut, and I can see the memory of her face.
She’s standing in front of me, arms crossed, watching me. Knowing full well I’m up to no good.
“I married Victoria.” My fingers curl into the grass, dirt pressing beneath my nails. I don’t look at the stone when I say that. I can’t. “I hated you for a long time… I didn’t understand how you could keep my family from me.” I take a deep breath. “And then you died. I never even got to speak to you before you did. I had only been gone a month… for a long time, I blamed them. Victoria. Her family. Then I blamed you.” I laugh once under my breath. It comes out broken.
“I blamed you for everything. For the loneliness. For the way I had to change. For her p>
I reach out and brush my finger against the base of the headstone. “That was before I knew the role you played. I know now. I’m not going to lie, what you did was wrong. You took away my choice p>
My throat tightens, pressure building there from all the words and emotions I’ve been holding back for too long.
“I don’t understand why you lied,” I whisper. “Why did you let me believe that letter was real? Why did you let me think she walked away from me like I meant nothing p>
My chest aches.
“Why didn’t you give me her letter?” My voice cracks on the word her. “The real one. The one she gave you. The one that would’ve saved us years of pain p>
I bow my head. “I want to hate you. I want to ask why. But I know the reason p>
I lift my gaze back to her name.
“You were trying to protect me,” I say quietly. “From my family. From the blood that would be spilled once I found out who I was. And you wanted to protect me from what you thought would ultimately be my undoing… her p>
My mouth twists. “You thought if she walked away, I’d be free. That I’d stop loving her.” I shake my head slowly. “You underestimated her p>
My eyes burn now, unshed tears gathering behind my lids.
“She taught me how to forgive,” I whisper. “I forgive you. Even though you don’t get to hear it. Even though it took me too long to say it.. p>
I scrub a hand over my face, catching a drop of wetness on my cheek.
“I still don’t like what you did,” I add hoarsely. “I don’t think I ever will. But I understand it p>
I push myself to my feet and stand over her grave. “I’m trying to be better for her. For the life we’re building. I want to become the man she deserves p>
The wind picks up again, and it feels cool against my skin.
“I hope wherever you are, you see that p>
I take one last look at her name, then step back.
“Goodbye, Mom p>
I pull up to the warehouse.
Today has been the longest day ever. After the cemetery, I’ve followed way too many bad leads.
I just want to get back to my wife.
Wife…
For the first time in months, this feels like a real marriage. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to myself that I’m ecstatic about that fact.
Sure, my plan was never for either of us to be happy. I only wanted revenge. To make sure Victoria was as miserable as I was, but now that is the farthest thing from my mind. All I want is to be with her.
Grow old with her.
But instead, I’m here right now.
My uncle wants this guy’s head on a platter, which I plan to give him once I find the bitch. Unfortunately for me, the little shit is a slippery little fucker.
Rafe drives with one hand on the wheel and the other resting near his thigh, close to his gun. His jaw stays set, eyes forward, and his expression remains calm. Me… I’m not calm. I’m pissed.
I lean my head back and let my eyes close for half a second.
We almost got him.
It’s going to make killing him so satisfying.
I picture it for a second—his face when he realizes he built this whole stunt to impress an uncle, and all he managed to do was piss off the wrong enemies and get himself killed.
My mouth twitches.
Rafe glances at me. “That look again p>
I crack my knuckles slowly. “What look p>
“The one that makes me know you’re about to have fun gutting someone p>
I stare out the window at the passing trees and street signs, my reflection flickering in the glass. “After what this asshole has put us through, I will p>
Vin puts down his phone. “Matteo is on p>
“Cousin, what’s the good word?” I ask him.
“The warehouse my team went to was hit too p>
My gaze slides to him. “Fuck p>
“They moved three hours before we arrived. Like they knew p>
“Of course they knew,” I grunt. “Everybody’s psychic these days p>
“We really need to find the fucking leak,” Matteo grunts.
“I’m working on it,” I reply, voice calm.
“Good, cous, because Pops is pissed.” He laughs. “He wants answers p>
“Fine. I’ll keep them alive long enough to talk… for now p>
“You do that. Got to go, I need to find someone to kill p>
After he hangs up, I nod to Vin.
His brow arches. “We still have the last contact. The one Doyle named. If he’s alive, he’ll lead us p>
“If he’s dead,” I add, rolling my shoulder until the joint pops, “I’ll still make him lead us. I’ll just have to get creative p>
“You’re a sick fuck.” Rafe snorts, but it isn’t an amused one. It’s a tired one. “Your uncle’s going to want an update by sunrise p>
The word uncle flicks like a blade across my nerves.
He’s the reason I’m currently married in secret.
I turn my head slowly. “Then he’ll get one p>
Rafe’s eyes stay on the road, but his voice lowers, careful. “You’ve got blood on your collar p>
I glance down at the dark smear on the edge of my shirt. Not mine.
“Fashion statement,” I retort. “I’m embracing colors this season p>
Vin’s mouth flickers like he’s trying not to smile. “You’re going to get shot for sarcasm one day p>
“I know,” I reply sweetly.
By the time we pull into my estate’s gated drive, it’s 4:03 a.m. Rafe punches the code, and the gates roll open.
The moment the car stops, I jump out, desperate to see Victoria. My boots crunch on gravel. I throw the front door open, then step inside.
“Where is she p>
The guard blinks. “Sir p>
I stop in the foyer, staring at him. Who the hell does he think I mean? Why is he so fucking confused? “Victoria,” I tell him.
The guard swallows. “She was p>
“She was what p>
I don’t wait for the guard to finish choking on whatever he’s trying to say. Instead, I take the stairs two at a time. I hit the second-floor landing, then stalk down the hall until I reach her room. The door is closed. I throw it open.
The room is empty.
Before I freak out, I decide to check my room. Things are different between us now, so maybe she decided to wait for me in my bed.
I head down the hall, throwing open my door, but I’m met with the same sight. Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
My gaze snaps to the window.
Still closed.
Locked.
And curtains drawn.
My jaw locks so hard it hurts.
Where the hell is she?
I stalk back to her room and straight into the closet. One drawer is half open. Clothes thrown sloppily around.
Was it always this messy? Or did she grab a few things and leave?
But why would she leave? And where would she go?
I hear footsteps behind me. Rafe stands in the doorway, gaze on the open drawer. His face tightens. “Where is she p>
My head shakes. “Not sure. Where’s Nico p>
“Haven’t seen him,” Rafe responds, while typing into his phone. Most likely texting the security team to see if they know where he is.
When he shakes his head at me, my throat goes dry.
I rip my phone out of my pocket and call him.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
No answer.
I call again.
Straight to voicemail.
My hand tightens around the phone until my palm aches.
Rafe watches me like he would watch a ticking time bomb. “Try the staff p>
“Try everyone,” I snap, already moving out of the room. “Wake everyone. Now p>
The next few minutes are a blur.
I swing open doors and throw on the lights. I search high and low for Victoria.
“Where is she?” My voice cuts through the hallway.
A few feet away, the maid’s eyes go wide. “S-sir, I p>
“You saw her?” I press, stepping closer until the maid backs into the wall.
The maid shakes her head violently. “She never came home from her parents p>
“What did you say?” Rafe’s voice cuts in. “Repeat that p>
“She never came home p>
“And before that… had Nico said anything that could be considered out of the ordinary p>
The maid’s lip trembles. “I heard him say that he’d handle her p>
My vision tunnels, and the world tilts.
Panic rises so fast inside me that my body doesn’t know where to put it.
I slam my fist into the wall, cracking the plaster.
Rafe is suddenly beside me, hand catching my shoulder. “You need to stay calm p>
“I need to find her,” I snarl, yanking out of his grip.
“And to do that, you need to breathe and think p>
He’s right. I know he’s right, but it still feels like an impossible task. Taking a deep breath, I start to walk toward the stairs, then head down to the foyer.
“Lorenzo p>
“What?” I whip around to see Rafe standing at the landing.
“She didn’t leave you p>
“I know. That’s what scares me p>
Things are different now. After everything we’ve been through, especially after yesterday at her parents’, I know without any measure of doubt that Victoria didn’t go off on her own free will.
She didn’t betray me.
She was taken.
My lungs burn.
I stare at Rafe, the room suddenly too bright, too sharp. “I need to find her p>
His mouth tightens. “We will. And Nico is the key. Nico wouldn’t disappear unless he planned to p>
My stomach turns.
I exhale slowly, forcing air into my lungs like it’s a decision. “Get me the cameras. Every feed,” I snap, already moving. “Security room. Now p>
We descend into the belly of the house, down a hallway, until we’re opening the door. The security room glows with monitors, each showing a different area of the house.
In the video, Nico opens the door to her room, and he’s got a bag in his hand.
My stomach drops.
Rafe’s voice comes from beside me, hard. “He took clothes from her room p>
My jaw clenches.
Cold anger slides through me, smooth and lethal.
“Where did he take her p>
I turn away from the screens and walk out of the room.
Rafe follows closely. “Where are we going p>
“Warehouse.” My voice is flat. “Car p>
He falls into step. “You think Nico handed her to Boston p>
I shove open the front door, the cold air slamming into me. “Boston makes the most sense. They want leverage p>
Rafe’s jaw tightens. “So… he p>
My chest tightens. “He gives them my wife. And I’m going to burn the city down until we find her p>