My heart was pounding in my throat when I got on the plane . It was my first time traveling in economy class.
Dad always bought business or first class tickets when we weren’t using a private jet. I was wedged between a stranger, who insisted on using my armrest, and the window. I barely dared to breathe until we were finally in the air , and even then I kept looking for a familiar face among the other passengers. It took a while before I finally settled into my seat and relaxed. Now that I could not go back, a flicker of excitement mingled with my anxiety. This was my life, and I was finally taking it into my own hands, finally regaining control from those who until then had ruled every aspect of my existence. I was going to be free. Matteo Luca’s phone rang. “Yes, Romero?” Silence. “Say it again .”
I was checking last month’s earnings for our Manhattan clubs, but I noticed the tension in Luca’s voice. His expression made me close my laptop. “What’s going on?”
Luca stood up. “Romero found Sandro drugged and tied up on the floor of the penthouse. Aria and Gianna left.
I straightened up. “You’re fucking joking.”
“You think I would joke about something like that?”
he growled in my face.
I returned the look. “I thought Aria was in love with you.”
For a moment Luca seemed about to punch me . Then he turned and rushed out of the basement of the Sphere. I hurried after him. “This is Gianna’s fault. This girl is the root of every problem. Why couldn’t you stay the fuck away from her like I told you?” he murmured .
If only I fucking knew. For some reason, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. And now she was going to run away. From me.
*** “I’m sorry, boss,” Sandro said again, half bent over Luca’s couch, his eyes bloodshot.
I wanted to fucking kill him for letting her get away. I should never have let her out of my sight. I got up and started pacing the room again, my eyes darting to the bedroom door. Luca had disappeared with Aria behind it more than twenty minutes ago. She had not run away. It had been all show. She had helped my fiancee escape, but she had gone back to Luca. She would have come back.
Normally I wouldn’t have doubted Luca’s ability to get information out of someone, but that was Aria, and Luca wasn’t going to hurt her. Not even for me, not even when she was the only one who could help me find my fiancee.
“I shouldn’t have taken the morning off,” Romero said from his seat in the chair.
“One bodyguard should have been enough. I should have been enough. They were just girls,” Sandro murmured.
I didn’t say anything. I was too pissed off. My pulse was pounding in my temples. I wanted to smash every piece of fucking furniture to pieces. Finally the door to the room opened and Luca came down the stairs. From the expression on his face I knew I wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“Don’t tell me you couldn’t get anything out of her,” I growled .
Luca scowled. “The only thing I know is that Gianna got a plane from JFK. Aria won’t tell me anything, but our informants will let me know soon what plane Gianna took.
“Great,” I murmured. “And then what? Aria knows Gianna’s plan. They told each other everything. The only way to find Gianna is through your wife.
“She won’t tell me anything.”
I tried to walk past him. “Then let me talk to her.” Luca grabbed my arm and pushed me back. “You will stay away from her, Matteo.” “You let her steal your money, your passports. You let her attack our men, mock you and betray you. You should punish her. You are Chief.
Luca’s eyes flashed. I was walking on thin ice but I didn’t give a shit.
“Aria is my wife. It’s none of your business how I deal with her. I told you Gianna meant trouble but you wouldn’t listen. You should never have asked for her hand,” he growled.
My fingers longed to grasp my knives. I turned my back on him and strolled out onto the roof garden. I needed to calm down before I railed at my brother. Luca and I had fought from time to time when we were younger, but it had never been real. I had a feeling that a fight between us would not end well today. We were both really pissed off and bloodthirsty.
I leaned my arms against the railing and let my gaze wander over New York. Gianna was slipping through my fingers. Every second that passed increased the distance between her and me. Once she landed wherever she was going, she would not stop running until she was sure she was safe. She would be alone, without protection. What if something happened to her?
Footsteps creaked behind me and I stiffened but did not look over my shoulder. Luca stopped beside me. “I called Scuderi. He’s furious and obviously blames us.”
“Of course,” I said quietly.
“He’s sending two of his men after Gianna.”
“I’ll go with them.”
“I thought so. I told Scuderi. You’ll meet them in Amsterdam.
I turned. “Amsterdam?”
Luca nodded. “I heard he got a plane to Schiphol.”
“When do I leave?” I asked, as the thrill of the impending chase spread through my veins.
“Four hours.”
“I have to leave early.”
“Impossible. I tried everything I could.
“Damn. Gianna will be long gone by the time I get there.
“You’ll find her. You’re the best hunter I know. She doesn’t stand a chance.
I pat him on the back. “You let me go, even though you need me here.”
“You’re not much use to me if all you think about is Gianna.”
“It could take weeks,” I said. “I won’t come back until I catch her.”
“I know. If Aria had escaped, I would have done the same.
I nodded. I wouldn’t stop until Gianna was mine. I didn’t care if I had to search the whole world, if I had to turn over every single stone, if I had to extort information from every fucking person in Amsterdam, I would find Gianna.