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Author: Lindsay
last update Last Updated: 2024-09-23 08:41:14

CATERINA

Now I understand why Tatiana was dead set on getting dressed up tonight. We’re both wearing cocktail dresses and sky-high heels when we enter the upscale restaurant Gianni owns.

I have to remind myself to not look like too much of a rube as I try to take everything in, the sleek, dark interior, the shining bar spanning one wall, and the open kitchen further back. The crew works like a well-oiled machine, moving quickly but smoothly through the process of creating food that smells good enough to make my stomach clench with hunger.

“Right this way,” the perky hostess beckons with a smile. “It’s been a long time since we last saw you, Mr. Rossetti. But we know you’re a busy man.”

“And let’s be honest,” he replies with a charming grin. “Nobody wants to work with the owner looking over their shoulder.”

She blushes and giggles, which makes me want to scream. Where did that come from? That sudden, blinding rush of rage? I never thought of myself as a jealous person, but maybe I was
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    GIANNIIwish I could say the satisfaction of claiming my woman has calmed me down, but that’s not exactly true. I know she’s mine; no one’s taking her from me.Certainly not some sleazy piece of shit like Donovan Moroni. His last name is the only reason he’s still breathing. That and the witnesses present at the restaurant.Still, I’ve been insulted. That kid was supposed to be here to meet my daughter, not to feel up another girl while sitting at the same table as Tatiana. Jack had better do a lot of thinking on how to make this up to me. If not, I’ll set the terms myself.Terms he will not like much.Our table is empty now, and our servers stand around looking guilty and confused.“Sorry to have broken things up,” I murmur, but it’s Tatiana I’m concerned with now. Scanning the dining room, I find her sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of wine. Something about the way she holds herself gives off aDo Not Approachsignal, but I’m her father. That sort of shit doesn’t work on me.

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    GIANNIThe shattering of glass fills the air but doesn’t do anything to quiet the storm in my head. “Then what the fuck are they using for money if none of Tatiana’s cards have been accessed?”“Caterina must be paying for it herself,” Roger muses.He’s still standing exactly where he stood when he told me there’s been no trace of Tatiana’s activity twenty hours after they ran away. His balls are massive. He’s the only one of my guys who’s been able to stay in the room with me for more than half a minute since last night. All my men are running scared, scrambling around like chickens without their fucking heads, and none of it matters.We’re no fucking closer to finding them than we were last night.“That’s on me,” I growl, kicking aside one of the chairs in front of my desk. “I should have been tracking Caterina’s finances, too.”When will I learn? I should’ve been doing lots of things.“The good news is they can’t stay away forever.”I bark out a bitter laugh. “Do you want to bet? We

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    The look of heartbreak on Caterina’s face makes me want to order a hit on Amalia at this very moment. “That you’d want me to get an abortion if you found out because you didn’t want any more children. That the last thing you wanted was to be tied down again.” The anguish in her voice slices me down to the bone.I’ll kill her. It’s as simple as that.How long have I told myself I must spare her pathetic life because she’s Tatiana’s mother? She’s never been a mother to her, anyway. I could have done Tatiana and the world a favor by getting rid of her, but I didn’t. Now it doesn’t seem to matter if she’s alive or dead.“For one thing,” I speak carefully so I don’t spook her, “Amalia does not have the first clue on how I would feel about anything. She doesn’t know me. You should know by now that she wants me to be miserable, which means making everyone around me miserable by association. Plus, she’s herself, so I’m sure it must make her jealous, knowing you’re going to have my child—a chi

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    “There he is, going around with all these suspicions without solid proof. I'm finally starting to understand how he must feel.” That, and how Caterina seems determined to look after me—the way she does with him.“Speaking of which, have you reviewed the list of names I compiled?”If my head doesn't fucking explode, it will be a miracle. I walked into this room feeling good, energized, confident. All it takes is a catch-up session to remember how overwhelming the past few weeks have been. Caterina or no Caterina, I've got enough on my plate to make any man want to throw in the towel.I made her a promise. I’m going to find out who killed her mother. I only hope she isn’t in a hurry, since at least a dozen possible culprits could’ve had reason to send a message to Charles.“I scanned the names,” I confirm. “And I'd like to set up meetings. Only this is touchy, so we can't make too much noise, or word might spread that I'm digging.”“You realize one of those names was Salvatore Costello.

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