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“Your guess is as good as mine. I looked into the books after Jasper caused a scene at my restaurant opening. If someone has a problem with me, I want to know what it is. This is what I discovered.”
“I appreciate you letting me take a look at these.” I snap the ledger shut and get to my feet.
Enzo rises with me. “If there’s anything else I can do…”
“I’ll let you know,” I assure him as I make my way to the door.
My mind is spinning, teeming with questions and realizations I should have made sooner.
Both men operate in the same way. They’re erratic and untrustworthy—always looking for the next big score.
The second that single gunshot came from the woods, I should’ve known.
“Arsen?” I twist around to find Dominik leaning against the car. “Everything alright?”
“I think Jasper and Charles are working together.”
Dominik’s reaction isn’t surprising. It’s exactly what mine would have been a few months ago. “Yeah, right,” he snorts. But when I don’t react apart from staring back at him grimly, Dominik pales. “Holy shit. You’re serious.”
“Enzo just showed me the Calcagno debt ledgers. Both of those motherfuckers are in neck-deep with the Italians.”
Dominik turns away from me. I can see his mind whirring as he catches up with what I’ve inferred. But before he can process it,Enzo crashes through the front door. “Arsen! I just heard from Guilia.”
Judging from the look on his face, he’s not coming to tell me about some marital spat. “Is she okay?”
“She is, but…” He swallows as though the words are hard to get out. “You should check on Laila.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” But I’m already pulling out my phone to call her.
“Guilia said Laila texted her about meeting at Nonna Guilia’s for lunch, but Guilia didn’t make those plans.”
“She wouldn’t have left the house without my permission.” Her phone rings once before the call is dropped. I try again, but the same thing happens.
Dominik is on the phone with someone, and he curses as he hangs up. “Polina said a paper invitation arrived at the house this morning from Guilia. And Laila went.”
“Blyat’. This is a trap.”
“I’m calling the restaurant,” Enzo announces, phone pressed to his ear as he turns to pace across the porch. He’s speaking in rapid Italian, but panic is a universal language.
When he finally turns around, his face is pale.
“What is it?” I growl.
“According to a waitress, Laila was in the restaurant and left a few minutes ago with one of her bodyguards.”
“Who’s on duty today?” I demand, turning to Dominik.
He’s already making another call. “It was Vasily. I’ll—” He turns away as the call connects. “Vasily, where is Laila?”
I can’t wait for second hand information. I snatch the phone from Dominik and growl into the receiver. “Where is my wife, Vasily?”
“Boss, I didn’t—” He clears his throat. “She’s in the restaurant. Nonna Guilia’s.”
My stomach plummets even as I cling to hope. “She’s in the restaurant right now? Do you have eyes on her?”
“Sh-she insisted that we stay outside, boss,” Vasily stutters, his voice thick with nerves now. “She said Mrs. Guilia’s guards could handle it. I assumed she’d asked your permission.”
Fuck.
