I told Remo in Italian to call Mia’s husband. I worked with him at times to add the tracking devices to jewelry. I wanted him to find out which areas he was not able to get service to. Remo’s men could start there. It made sense. If we could not get in touch with them, if they could not get in touch with us, we had to start looking.
When I suggested this, Atta perked up. She nodded. “We’ll start looking anywhere the Green family has been known to go around here.”
Remo shook his head. “Ah, this is not an option. I have strict instructions to take you and Sistine to the party site.”
“I do not want to go. I want to find my—” I switched gears. “We were all supposed to go together.”
This was somewhat true. After Angelo and Atta talked, they decided to have a joint party. The men were going to meet us a little late after enjoying whiskey and cigars. Willa had agreed to this plan after she found out more Fausti men were coming. Angelo’s brothers. I did not believe any of them were attached.
Remo shook his head. “No.”
I leaned in close and whispered to Atta, “His life depends on his instructions.”
“Do we care?” she whispered back.
It felt callous to say no, but it was the truth. If I could find a way to break free from Remo and his men to look for my husband, I would. Then I would take responsibility for it later. Perhaps Remo would not even know we had left.
“Later,” I whispered to her.
Remo met my eyes and gave a subtle shake of his head. It was so subtle, if I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed it. He had heard me or read the intentions behind my eyes.
I would find a way.
“I have already called Saverio,” he said. “Men are already searching.”
Willa leaned forward and turned the music completely down. “I don’t know what’s going on here.” She drew the wordhereout. “But I don’t really care if it has nothing to do with this party for Atta.” She shot me a narrowed-eyed glare. “This is her night, and I feel like it’s being hijacked by Negative Nancy back there. No offense, Atta Girl, but your cousin is being a sour pickle.” She made a face, as if she ate something bitter, then stuck out her tongue at me.
I rolled my eyes, but I did not take offense to what she said. She was right, to a certain degree, but I would not apologize for it. Not when something could be wrong with my husband. My heart did not feel right in my chest, therefore my soul—which set my entire body on edge.
“You don’t know what’s going on, Willa. Things are…with Angelo…family things,” Atta finished with.
“Again, Idonotcare. Family issues will always be there. You only have parties thrown in your honor for your first wedding once.”
Remo slowly turned to look at her, his eyebrows pulling in. “Tell me, do you plan on marrying more than once.”
She shrugged. “How many marriages do you know of that have gone the distance? Sure, back in the day people stayed together, most of the time unhappily, but we’re not in the stone age anymore. Divorceisan option.”
“I know of plenty,” he said. “What is the purpose of making vows if you know you will break them—then there is no purpose.”
“Good for you, but it’s best to be prepared. Because in the moment, it might all seem hearts and kissy faces, but people are not birds. They fall out of love, Emo Baby.”
Remo’s face turned hard. The only way I could describe it would be a thinking face. He was truly considering her words. “It is Remo,” he said, his voice far away, as if he were distracted and only correcting her automatically.
Some Fausti family members seemed to be deeper into the Fausti bubble, as I called it, than others. Remo was deep inside. I could tell leading Mariano’s security was only one step in his position within the family. I could sense there was something different about him. Perhaps even something darker that existed in a box inside of himself. Vincenzo, his father, was the same. He must have passed this trait to his son.
My phone was clutched in my hand, and as soon as it vibrated, I hurriedly checked it. Atta’s phone rang. We both answered at the same time.
“What is happening?”
“Where are you?”
Atta and I glanced at each other.
“Annie,” Mariano said. “I had things to take care of, then our gas was stolen. Left us stranded for a while.”
“Stolen?”
“Yeah, there and then fucking gone. You all good, my Annie?”
