“Ok,” I whisper. “I’ll go with you.” Even if locking myself away with my mother again is the answer, I will do it to save Leo’s life.
“Good.” She grabs my arm and yanks me out of the bathroom. I can see the doors of the ballroom. My eyes land on Leo for a second – he has his back to me as he talks to another man – before my mother pulls me away. I feel my feet move me further and further away from Leo.
She makes me get into the car waiting outside for us. “You will not leave the farm ever again. Mark my words. I will keep you safe.”
My mother might mean it. She does want to keep me alive. But she’s going about it in all the wrong ways. Controlling me is not saving me.
But I don’t say a word as she drives us away from the charity event and Leo himself. If I have to do this to save my husband’s life, then so be it.
I will do anything to save the man who I care about.
Chapter Sixteen
Leo
It only takes me a few minutes to realize that something is wrong. Emma has been in the bathroom for much longer than I expect. When I knock on the women’s bathroom door, no one answers. A quick peek inside shows that she is not here.
Fuck. Did she try to run from me? Or did something worse happen?
I confront Gabriel in the middle of the ballroom. “Did you steal my wife?”
He tenses before frowning. “No. I did not.”
“You want to marry her off to Matteo when I have made it very clear that I am not giving her away. Find someone else to giveto Matteo. Where did you take her? Where is Matteo?” I look around the room but I don’t see him anywhere.
“Leo.” Gabriel places his hand on my arm but I shove him off. “What are you going on about? I didn’t kidnap your wife. I haven’t given her to Matteo.”
“Yet,” I snap.
He sighs. “She is the best choice for peace. Giving her to Matteo ensures that.”
“Find someone else,” I hiss. “You want to ruin our friendship? Because that’s what will happen if you do this. Maybe I don’t want to keep working for you. Maybe I want to be the boss myself.”
“You’d be willing to go to war for this girl?” The shock in his voice is obvious.
“I would die for her,” I answer honestly. “She is mine. My wife. Not Matteo’s. I am not giving her up. So where did you take her?”
“I did not take her. I am not responsible for your wife missing.”
“Then did Matteo try something? He worked for Alessandro. He might try and take her from me.”
Gabriel sighs, running his hand down his face. “I don’t know. But we can look into it. I didn’t realize you had real feelings for the girl. I thought you had taken her just to hurt Alessandro.”
“Originally, yes. But not anymore. I care for her, Gabriel. Hell, I might even love her. I am not going to give up without a fight. Are you willing to go to war with me over this?”
“No,” he admits. “You’re my best friend, Leo. I don’t want to lose that. I can try to find someone else to give to Matteo. But I can’t promise that. If it comes down to it, it might have to be Emma.”
“I first need to find her. If Matteo is responsible for this, then I’m killing him. And you can’t stop me.”
“Then another one of Alessandro’s men will come out and try to go to war. It’s better if we make peace with Matteo.”
“Not if he has Emma. I have to go find her. Where does Matteo live?”
“He told me he’s currently staying at a hotel in the area.”
“Tell me,” I say.
After Gabriel gives me the address, I hurry out of the ballroom and go straight to the hotel Matteo is staying at. I find the room number and pound on the door.
