“How—” I can’t finish the question. How does he have this number? How is he calling me on a phone that Luca swore was untraceable?
“How am I able to reach you?” He sounds amused, like he’s enjoying my confusion. “My dear girl, I have people everywhere. Including within your husband’s organization.” He pauses, letting that sink in. “Did you really think Luca Marchetti was as untouchable as he believes?”
Panic claws at my throat. If Romano has people inside Luca’s operation, then he knows—what does he know? How much did his spies report back?
“What do you want?” I force the words out, trying to sound braver than I feel.
“Straight to business. I appreciate that.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and it makes my skin crawl. “I’ve heard someveryinteresting rumors this evening. Apparently, there wasquitea commotion at the Marchetti estate. Security breaches, a failed escape attempt, raised voices that carried to the guards outside.” Another pause. “And apparently, you and Luca had quite the explosive confrontation. Something about accusations and revelations regarding the past?”
My heart stops.
He knows. Or he suspects. Or—god, how much did his people hear?
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie, but even I can hear how unconvincing it sounds.
Romano laughs, and it makes the hair on the back of my neck rise. “Please, Giuliana. We’re both intelligent people. Let’s not insult each other with obvious deceptions.” His tone shifts, becomes harder. “I’ve always known that Antonio Conti was a potential problem. A weak link who might talk if pushed hard enough. And his daughter. Well”—he laughs again but softly—“daughters notice things, don’t they? Especially daughters who care enough to check on their troubled fathers late at night.”
My knees grow weak. He’s known. This entire time, he’s known that I might be a threat. That I might have witnessed or heard something that night three years ago.
“So here’s the situation,” Romano continues, businesslike now. “Your father is currently in my custody. I had him retrieved from Luca’s safehouse about an hour ago. Rather easy, actually—my people knew exactly where to look.”
The room tilts sideways. “No…”
“He’s alive,” Romano says quickly, like he’s doing me a favor by clarifying. “For now. But his continued health depends entirely on your cooperation.” He pauses. “And your husband’s.”
My vision blurs with tears I refuse to let fall. “What do you want?” I croak.
“You and Luca will come to a location I specify,” he instructs. “Alone, unarmed, within the next two hours.” He rattles off anaddress I scramble to memorize. “If you’re late, if you bring backup, if I detect any attempt at deception, your father dies. Slowly. Painfully. While I make sure you hear every scream.”
“You’re insane,” I whisper.
“I’mthorough,” he corrects. “And I’m tired of waiting for loose ends to potentially unravel. Whatever you told Luca tonight—whatever accusations you made—it’s clear that my name has finally entered the conversation. I’d rather deal with that problem now, on my terms, than wait for it to become something I can’t control.”
The line goes dead.
I stare at my phone, my mind racing. Romano has my father. Romano hasknownthis entire time that I might be a liability. Romano has people inside Luca’s organization feeding him information.
And now he’s forcing me to walk into what is obviously a trap, using my father as bait.
I have to tell Luca.
The thought makes me want to vomit. After everything that just happened—after our explosive fight, after all the accusations and betrayals—I have to go to him. I have to face those dark, furious eyes again and ask for his help saving the same father whose cowardice got Marco killed.
He’ll probably laugh in my face. Or worse, he’ll let Romano kill Dad just to be rid of the problem.
But I don’t have a choice.
I force myself to stand on shaking legs and move toward the door. My hand hesitates on the handle. What if he won’t listen? What if he’s so angry about Romano that he?—
No. I can’t think like that. I have to try.
The hallway is empty when I step out. Taking a deep breath, I hurry to Luca’s study, my heart hammering so hard I can feel it in my throat.
The door is slightly ajar. Through the gap, I can see Luca and Danny, both standing rigid. Luca’s back is to me, his shoulders drawn tight beneath his shirt, the fabric stretched across the broad expanse of his back. Even from here, I can see the blood staining his knuckles dark crimson against his olive skin.
“—can’t just storm Romano’s compound without a plan,” Danny is saying. “You’re talking about starting a war?—”
“He killed Marco!” Luca’s voice cracks on his cousin’s name, and I watch his hands curl into fists at his sides again. “He’s been socializing with me, shaking myhand, while knowing he ordered my death. And I didn’t know because?—”
