ME:
Status?
It takes Rocco two seconds to respond.
ROCCO:
She’s good, Boss. Just got into the car. Headed into the city. Nico is driving.
I put the phone down. Pick up a pen. Sign a document. Five minutes later, I’m texting again.
ME:
Everything okay?
ROCCO:
All good. She’s quiet. Listening to Gia talk.
I try to focus on the port reports. On Simon. On the thirty-percent hike. On everything that matters. But all I can picture is Elena stepping out of her room in nothing but a towel. Her lips parted. Her cheeks flushed. Her eyes wide. Her mouth under mine—
Fuck.
I scrub a hand over my face. She’s going shopping. With my cousin. With a trained guard. She’s fine.
I last twenty-eight minutes before texting again.
ME:
Update.
ROCCO:
Just got to the Mall. Gia is dragging her to different styles of clothes. She looks happy.
Happy.
The word hits me in the chest harder than I expect. I toss my pen aside and stand abruptly, grabbing my jacket. Enough pretending I’m working. I make my way through the house, step into the SUV, and tell my driver where to go.
Dante opens the door before the guard can reach it. He raises a brow.
“Look who’s here. The newly married man himself.”
“I’m here to see Sofia,” I say immediately. “I missed my princess.”
Dante smirks. “Uh-huh. Sure you did.”
“I did.”
“And you definitely didn’t come because you’re missing your wife who’s been gone for?” He checks his watch.
“Shut the fuck up,” I mutter.
Dante claps me on the back, laughing. “You’re obsessed. I love this for you.”
Sofia is in the living room with Isabella, going over floral arrangements. She sees me, grins wide, and opens her arms.
“Zio Sando!” she squeals.
