“She doesn’t want to see you, baby. You have to accept it and move on.”
“I’ve already done that. Finally. I chose you. The moment I did, I knew she would never accept that choice. I’m no longer a rider to her. She’ll do whatever Stefano decrees, but she’ll disown me as a Ferraro and a rider.”
“She might come around.” He knew Eloisa never would.
“It’s too late as far as I’m concerned.” She kissed his hand and then let go of it. “You need to go to sleep. You have work to do tomorrow, and you have to get rid of this migraine.”
She was right, Valentino knew: no matter what, he had to be on his feet in the morning. There was no stopping his woman. She would be going to find his medication. He knew her.
“If you do go to get my meds, Princess, take backup with you.” He didn’t open his eyes. She had him floating. Drifting. He was already sliding away, not remembering if she gave her promise or not, but he thought she did. He did feel her kiss on his forehead and then his lips.
Emmanuelle didn’t want to ask one of her brothers to go with her to get Valentino’s migraine medicine, but he needed the shot. Sometimes, when he got a migraine, he would get a series of them. The shot would break the cycle, but if it didn’t, he could take it the moment he felt one coming on and prevent one.
She was certain interrogating the prisoners had brought this one on. She could tell it was far worse than any of the others she’d witnessed. Once he was asleep, she was determined to go back to his house and get the medicine. She messaged Dario and asked him where it was kept, explaining that she was going to find it and get it for Valentino.
The medicine couldn’t go through the shadows, but she should be able to have a car waiting to get it back to the hotel fast. That meant she would need to find the medicine. While she looked, she’d be safe, but once it was in her possession, she’d be in the open. If there was anyone watching, she’d have to either dispose of them or sneak her way through the house to the street, where she could meet the car that would carry the shot back to the hotel.
Emmanuelle considered which of her brothers to call. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t bother, but she had been an idiot again, practically accusing Valentino of marrying her so he could use her for spying. How many times was he going to have to reassure her? A million, probably. He was normally so patient with her. The moment he wasn’t, she knew he was hurting. She felt so low that she would for one moment believe anyone but him.
Valentino looked at her with love. He touched her with love. He spoke to her with love. Had he been a shadow rider, he would have claimed her partially because she was also a rider. What really was the difference? Nothing at all. She was the one with the self-confidence problem, thanks to Eloisa. She had to get over that before she ruined everything with her husband. It was a small thing to do—swallow her pride and bring along one of her brothers as Val asked.
Emme briefly played with the idea of calling Elie but knew Valentino wouldn’t be happy with that decision. Sooner or later she would have to talk with him and reiterate the truth—that Elie and she felt nothing but sibling affection for each other. He probably really knew that, but wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge it yet. As much as she’d heard the honesty in Valentino’s voice when he’d tried to explain about Marge, she hadn’t been willing to listen to it; the hurt ran too deep. If she was being totally honest with herself, her own fears had played a big part in keeping them apart.
Need to get meds for Val from his home tonight. Can’t go without backup. You free or should I ask one of the others?
It was very late. The raids had taken up most of the day. Part of her had been appalled that so many cops had to have been on the payroll to get away with so many raids. They had gone directly from one business to the next. Granted, they were on the clock, and the Ferraros had gone in first, mostly to make certain none of the women or children they were looking for were being held captive in any of the places before they were burned to the ground, but there were several dead bodies in each of the businesses. Most had looked legitimate. Emmanuelle supposed they might have been on the FBI’s radar, or at least the local cops, but somehow, Valentino Saldi had never been questioned.
It had to be known that the heir to the Saldi empire was staying at the Ferraro Hotel, but the police had never questioned him in the terrible raids on his uncle’s businesses. The reporters speculated all sorts of wars between families, but no one spoke out against Valentino. When the report did come, she knew it would be orchestrated by him and worded in such a way to make his enemies afraid and yet ambiguous enough that it would seem as if he had nothing whatsoever to do with any of the raids or deaths to the outside world.
Mariko and I will be happy to be your backup. We will meet with you at the back entrance to Giuseppi’s home. Do not enter until we are with you.
She rolled her eyes as she glanced down at the text. Already, Ricco was taking over. Telling her what to do. She was used to being bossed around by her brothers. She couldn’t imagine how Mariko felt. Her sister-in-law was a shadow rider of immense talent. She took her own rotations, and yet, when she went with her husband, she always followed his lead. It was impossible not to love Mariko, with her combination of lethal and soft, but sometimes, Emmanuelle just wanted to see her, one time, lose her temper with Ricco. Did Mariko have a temper? If she did, Emmanuelle had never seen it.
Will arrange for a car to be waiting to take the meds to the hotel for us.
Let me do that.
Emmanuelle burst out laughing. It was laugh or pull her hair out. Did Ricco think she was incapable of arranging for a car to meet them at Giuseppi’s home? She glanced in the mirror, making certain her hair was in a tight weave and her suit was locked down. She was tired, but getting Valentino’s medicine shouldn’t take long.
Dario hadn’t answered her yet. She considered texting him again. He always answered. He was in the same suite, in one of the bedrooms close by. Or was he? Had he come back from the interrogation room? She hadn’t stayed down there. Both Valentino and Stefano had asked her to leave. Had they ordered her, she might have resisted, but seeing the man tied to a chair and having been with her brothers before when they questioned someone for information, she had decided to comply. Dario hadn’t been in the room.
Just as she stepped outside the suite into the hallway and the guards outside the door came alert, her phone vibrated.
You have someone go with you. Meds in top drawer of walk-in closet in black storage container. You’ve seen them. Do not go alone. Miceli will have someone there. I can’t get there to protect you.
Ricco and Mariko are going with me.
Be safe. I want to know the moment you get back.
Yes, Dad.
She got a bird emoji. That made her laugh. “I have a sick sense of humor from growing up around too many men,” she explained to the bodyguards. “I’m heading out, but Ricco and Mariko are meeting me, so no worries. You can text them if you need confirmation, Drago.”
“I’ll have to confirm with Emilio. He’ll text Ricco.”
She looked at the two men waiting by the elevator. They were both in suits. Both Valentino’s men. Both assigned to protect Valentino and Giuseppi, although they didn’t look as if they were going to step aside.