1
ALONZO
She’s a fucking Russian assassin.Or was. Is? Who the fuck knows at this point!
I’m still reeling, and trying to process all of that information is going to do my head in, while also trying to contain the 150-pound dog who is currently trying to race after his mistress, not understanding why she’s left him behind this way.
My heart clenches hard, even as my muscles strain to hold back Hades. If he gets away, I don’t know if I’ll ever get him back, and Rori will kill me.
My gut clenches. Fuck.
I need to get her back. I need to bring her back home. Whatever the hell this whole thing is, it needs to end. Now. Rori’s only place is here with Hades. With me.
“Hades, heel,” I order in Italian, pouring steel into my tone. At first, he doesn’t seem like he’s going to comply, but finally, he obeys, the low whines still rumbling up his throat, while gazing at the gate where the car disappeared.
“Follow them,” Nico barks sharply. “I want to know where she’s going, and I want to know who the fuck she is.”
“No,” I snap, halting everyone.
“Shut the hell up, Alonzo.” Nico seethes. “This is just as much your fault as hers. You were with her all the fucking time. You should have figured this all the fuck out. Instead, you let your dick think for you and now?—”
“Say one more word, and I don’t give a fuck who you are—I will lay you flat,” I snarl, turning my head to pin him with a glare so strong his brow arches ever so slightly with surprise. “Do not send your men after that bitch. She’ll kill Rori. You don’t get to play with her life.”
Determined, I order Hades to heel one more time, then walk inside, trusting the dog will follow. He does, but his confusion is palpable. Rori hated that I’ve been able to use commands on him and he obeys, but right now, I’ve never been so fucking thankful. Now I just have to hope that I can control him when we go after Rori.
First though, I need to get my shit together and get going. I don’t have a lot of time to figure out where they’re going and do it quietly.
I won’t risk her. Then, when I finally get her back with me, I’m going to spank her ass so fucking red she won’t be able to sit comfortably for months. Why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t she at least give me an inkling?
Because you told her you don’t want her and she was a mistake, idiot.
My gut sours. The familiar self-loathing burns with the desperation to make it right. I was an idiot, and all of this could have been avoided if I had just listened to my gut and not my head.
“Alonzo.” I slow to a stop just before reaching the sweeping staircase. I turn my head to see Pietro walking toward me,wearing a grim expression. My father isn’t far behind him, a similar one on his face.
Fuck. If they’re going to tell me not to go, it might be the first time in my life I disobey orders.
“Pietro, I know?—”
“Hold it. I’m not going to stop you. I need to talk to your father about a few things but you have my permission to do this.”
Thank God.
“I need to get my things packed. I don’t want to let them get too far ahead.” I let the urgency in my tone through. This isn’t the time to be careful around the Don.
“We’ll be right behind you in a moment.” He turns and says something quietly to my father, who nods. Papa gives me a worried look, but he doesn’t stop me when I rush up the stairs, Hades hot on my heels.
“We’re going to get her back, boy,” I tell him, glancing down at him as I reach our room. Fresh pain hits as soon as I step inside and see that her things are still here. She moved into another room after everything happened between us, but she left behind some of her clothes and her old pair of boots that I’ve never bothered to return to her.
Focus on getting her back. You can give them back to her when she’s home.
I put Hades in a down-stay on his dog bed. He whines but does as commanded.
I storm into my closet, yanking one of my bags off the shelf. I hear footsteps coming quickly into the room, and I already know it’s Massimo.
He comes into the closet. “Alonzo, are you sure?—”
“Don’t you fucking dare,” I snap, unwilling to hear whatever problem he has with my plan. “I don’t care about all that bullshit she said, or what that other bitch threatened. I’m going after her.”
