Page 67 of His Assistant

“Because when Dominic wants something badly enough, the whole city usually bends around it.”

I let out a breath that almost turns into a laugh. Then my phone lights up in my hand, and my heart nearly stops. It’s Dominic. I don’t answer. Chiara sees the screen and wisely says nothing.

A minute later, a text comes through.

I’m going to get him back.

I stare at the words until they blur.

He means it. I know he means it. Dominic doesn’t make promises just because they sound good. But he promised before. He promised everything would be okay, and now my father is gone.

I type three different responses and delete all of them. Then I set the phone face-down on the couch.

“I want to go to bed,” I say.

“Okay.”

She sounds relieved. I go upstairs alone. I make it into my room, shut the door, and lock it behind me. Then I just stand there.

My father is missing. I can’t help but think about what he said to Maya when she called him.

“As far as I’m concerned, she’s dead to me.”

I press both hands over my mouth. An ugly sob rips through me so violently, it leaves me breathless. I slide down to the floor when my knees finally give up, and I cry so hard my chest hurts. I cry for Dad. I cry for Mom. I cry for the baby who is going to inherit this disaster of a life.

At some point, I make it to the bathroom and throw up. After that, I sit on the cool tile with my back against the tub and my phone in my lap. I try calling Dad. I know it’ll go to voicemail, but I need to hear his voice.

The beep sounds, and suddenly I can’t just sit here in silence.

“Papa,” I whisper.

My voice breaks immediately.

“Please come home. I don’t care what you said. I don’t care if you’re mad at me. You can be mad forever if you want. You can lecture me every day for the rest of my life. Just come home safely, okay?”

The voicemail cuts me off. I stare at the screen. Then my phone buzzes in my hand. For half a second, hope hits so hard I feel dizzy.

I see it’s a blocked number and I open the message.

You want your father back?

My whole body goes still.

Another message appears.

Come alone. No Vieri men. No Dominic. I can get you to him.

I stop breathing.

A third message comes through with an address in Brooklyn.

Then another.

One hour. After that, he moves again.

I read the messages three times.

Obviously, it’s a trap. I may be spiraling, but I haven’t lost all brain function. Whoever this is isn’t just being a helpful stranger. But I know where my father is now. I can get to him. I can put my eyes on him and know he’s alive.