Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Edoardo grinds his teeth. Marcela stares at me in shock. Beside me, I feel Dario seething. Vittorio just folds his arms.
“I want the truth. I want to know what you’d do.”
“We would use our contacts in the police to persuade them you are confused and don’t understand what you are saying.”
“If that didn’t work?”
“It would,” he says.
“But what if it didn’t?”
“We would pay you off.”
“And if that didn’t?” I demand.
“Then we would fight you in court. You can dig all you like, Siena, but we are not in the business of harming women or civilians.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Dario says from beside me.
“Are you planning on doing that?” Edoardo demands.
“No, but I had to know. I had to understand what this was.”
Vittorio nods. “That makes you intelligent. I can’t fault that.” He turns to Dario. “Any sign of Rocco?”
“Not yet,” Dario mutters. “There’s an issue–we can’t check the huts of the other guests. We’ve booked almost all the rooms-almost, but not all. So there’s a chance he’s hiding in one of those.”
“Or he left the island,” Edoardo says. “It’d be the easiest thing in the world to get a boat and row to the nearest one.”
Vittorio groans. “He gave me a glass of champagne. Handed it to me with a smile on his face. A few minutes later… well, you all saw. How bad is the damage?”
“You’re sure he drugged you?” Edoardo says.
“Certain.”
“I knew it.”
“It’s manageable,” Dario says. “If we go on with the vow renewal and project an image of strength, the men will understand. Even better if we can catch Rocco and make him pay for what he’s done.”
“Rocco,” Marcela whispers. “My baby’s godfather. I don’t understand.”
“All men want power, sweetness,” Vittorio mutters. “Until they get it. Then they understand the mistake they made.”
My cell phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s a text from Veronica.
Veronica: Come to my room.
“I need to see my boss,” I say, standing up. “Maybe she’s feeling better. I could use her help for the final stretch… we want everything perfect.”
Dario stands. “I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t have—”
“I know I don’t have to. But I’m coming anyway.”
Together, we walk outside.
Dario turns and takes me in his arms. “That stuff you were saying in there…”
“I had to know just how mobbish this mob was, Dario.”
“My father told the truth. No one will hurt you. But if anyone tried, I’d stop them. I’d never let anyone hurt you, okay?”
I try to laugh it off. “It’s fine.”
“No–I need you to understand.” He pulls me in for a hug, and my resolve melts, and I hold him tightly.
“I get it,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER 32
DARIO
Despite everything, my body is still aching warmly as Siena and I walk down the beach together. I’ve got my hand on the small of her back, just above her ample ass. She flashes me a look. “Why do I feel like you chose this dress for a reason?”
“You know me too well.”
It’s one of her summer dresses, the fabric so thin it outlines her shape perfectly.
“Listen…” The fun spark drains from her expression. “I need to tell you something. Maybe I should’ve told you sooner.”
I stop walking. A bad feeling tightening my gut. “You’ve got a boyfriend.”
“What!” She looks at me like I’m crazy. “No. I don’t. I’d never cheat. Never. Jeez, Dario.”
“Shit, sorry.”
“A boyfriend,” she repeats, shaking her head.
“I was about to run into the goddamn ocean.”
“It’s about my boss.”
“Okay…”
“You know I told you that Rocco made me feel uncomfortable?”
“Yes.”
“Well, we didn’t just happen to run into each other. He was in Veronica’s room. They’ve been in a relationship for a while, apparently. It’s how she got this job.”
“Fuck,” he whispers. “That means she could’ve been helping him.”
“I asked her last night if she knew where he was. She said no, and she swore to message me if she saw him.”
“If she’s scared, swearing might not mean much.”
“Please don’t get mad at her or anything.” I plead. “When this is all over, I’ll still need a job.”
“I thought you wanted to work with your mother again.”
She smiles nervously. “Newsflash: that costs cash.”
I almost offer to help her right now, but something tells me she’d be too proud for that. At least if I sprung it on her so suddenly. Or would she? The idea simmers in my mind.
We reach Veronica’s hut, and Siena knocks on the door.
“Yes–come in.”
“Dario is with me. He’s coming in too. Are you decent?”
“Yes,” she replies.
We walk into the hut together. Veronica is sitting on the edge of the bed, her laptop open on her knees. I don’t know the woman well, but she seems skittish, her gaze flitting all over the place, the laptop shifting around as she attempts to balance it on her fidgety legs.
I lean against the wall, thinking about what Siena said. I should question Veronica, but I don’t want to push too hard.