“Scusi, Don Bellomo,” someone said, bursting into the office, brutally disrupting my life-changing moment.
Tino’s breath became distant, and his hands abandoned me completely. “Che cazzo, Michele?”
“Perdona, but you need to see this. It’s about Leo.”
Chapter 31
Lina
“What do you mean he’s missing?” I sobbed. I couldn’t wrap my head around what Tino and the bodyguards were saying now.
After Michele came barging in earlier, he and Tino spoke alone for about fifteen minutes, and then Tino gathered me, Nicole and all his personal bodyguards to tell us the awful news.
“Leo eluded his bodyguards this morning, and he’s nowhere to be found at his regular spots,” Tino explained again.
“Maybe he went out of town?” I hoped.
“His car is still parked. He didn’t take the plane either,” Michele said.
“This is all my fault. He must have found him. He must have been at the restaurant and saw. Oh my God, Tino. I’m so sorry. He must have him.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions. If he or anyone had tried to take my boy in broad daylight, the guards would have caught them.”
“Broad daylight,” I mumbled, a pang in my chest. The way Tino said it reminded me of how he said it. Why he said it. “That’s when he said he would...” He would find me in the dark, but he would take me in broad daylight. “Oh my God.”
“Calma, Angelina. I’m sure Leo is just doing something even stupider than what he did yesterday somewhere. That’s why he eluded the bodyguards.” Tino directed his stare at Michele. “Have you tracked his phone?”
“It’s still switched off.”
“Check the airports. San Francisco flights in particular.”
“You think he’s going to the Lanzas?” Nicky asked.
“Yeah. Like I said, to do something more stupid,” Tino grumbled.
“Like breaking off the engagement.” Nicky massaged her temples, swearing.
My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a gasp. I didn’t know what was more dangerous. Leo being kidnapped by him or going to the Lanzas to break off the engagement with the Mafia princess.
Either way, we were screwed. All of us.
Tino stretched a hand at me. “Angelina, give me your phone.”
I reached inside my pocket without thinking and handed my phone to him. He gave it to Michele, and the bodyguard exited rapidly.
“Wait, what are you gonna do with it?” I asked.
“Tapping it. He’s going to call or text you. We’ll find him when he does.” Tino brought out his own phone. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a phone call to make.”
My eyes narrowed at him. “How can you be so sure? And so freaking calm? Why are you eliminating the possibility that he’s actually been kidnapped? By a psycho killer?”
He rolled his eyes. “Go to your room, Angelina. Rest or play some music. Maybe chill by the pool. Enjoy your winter break while I handle my business. I’ll find my son by the end of the day.”
I was about to give him another piece of my mind, but Nicky grabbed my arm and practically dragged me out of the office.
“Let go, Nicky. Why are you taking his side now all of a sudden? Didn’t you think he was gonna off me earlier?”
“I still think he would, especially if you interfere with Mafia business,” Nicky said.
I shook my head in disbelief. “Nicky, I’m so scared. If something happens to Leo because of me, I’ll never forgive myself. I have to do something to help him. Anything.”
“What can you do?”
“I don’t know. There must be something.”
“All we can do is wait, pray and let the Mob does what the Mob does. C’mon, put on your bathing suit and let’s go for a swim. It’ll take the edge off while we wait. Maybe get the violin, too. It’ll help us all relax.”
My shoulders slumped in resignation. How helpless I was agitated and saddened me. Why did you have to like me, Leo? Why didn’t you stick to your fiancé, to your world where people like me didn’t belong or fit? “How did we get into this mess, Nicky?”
She puckered her lips and rubbed my back. “It doesn’t matter how we got in. It’s how we get out that matters the most.”
Chapter 32
Lina
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, second movement. One of the saddest pieces ever made. I’d been playing it for the past two hours.
“Can you please change this goddamn song?” Nicky wiped her wet face, glaring at me in the pool.
“Fine.” I switched to Schindler’s List Theme by John Williams.
She slapped the water. “Oh for fuck’s sake. Something not so dark. Please.”
“Well, I don’t exactly feel peppy at the moment.” I was scared shitless. For Leo. For myself. If he took him, he would finish the rest of his threat and come for me. To take me too. To rape me. If Leo just went to the Lanzas, who knew what they’d do for payback? They’d hurt me. They would kill me to get me out of Leo’s way.
“Then stop making it worse by playing sad songs.”
I took a deep breath, shaking my head and checking my phone for the millionth time. I couldn’t believe I’d ever say that. “Please, call me, Leo.”
Staring at the phone, willing it to ring, didn’t work. I put my bow back in position. Music was the only thing keeping me from going insane.
Back to December.
Maybe he’d listen.
I started the melody and Nicky still protested. I ignored her and focused only on the music and the flashes of Leo’s smiles from yesterday.
How could every good occasion in my life turn into a terrible trauma?
The day I thought life took away the monster that ruined my life for twelve years was the day a worse monster took over my life to continue ruining it forever.
The night I attended Nicky’s ceremony, happy for her, wearing a gorgeous dress I’d always wanted was the night I’d first met him and learned I was nothing but a body for sale with a target on my back ticking like a bomb.
The first time I went out on Valentine’s Day and had my first real gig, the first time a boy told me he loved me, proposed to me, turned into a miserable night when he got punched in the face and went missing the next morning.
And now I waited like a prisoner for the rest of my miserable destiny, my punishment for sins I’d never committed, with zero power to stop it from coming.
I finished the song for the third time, and my phone remained as silent as death.
Tears came out of my eyes without an invitation. Of fear? Of sadness? Of helplessness? I didn’t care. What good were they now? They couldn’t save him. They couldn’t save me.
I set down the violin. “I wish he could have just taken me that day.”
“Lina!” Nicky jumped out of the pool and covered her body with a towel. Then she rushed to my side and wrapped her arms around me. “Don’t say stuff like that, Sis.”
“Why not? It’s gonna happen sooner or later. Why would someone else have to suffer for it?”