Page 44 of Heartless Union

I dive around a corner and scramble over someone’s fence into their backyard. I hunker down and hold my breath, praying Dante didn’t just see me do that.

I hear him run past without slowing. Have I actually done it? Am I free?

I keep waiting, hoping the owners of the house don’t see me and freak out, until I hear Dante run past the fence again. His footsteps head back in the direction of the house.

I wait even longer until I know he’s gone for good. Then I climb back over the fence and run in the opposite direction. I need to find Rocco and save Gabriella. I was willing to die so she’d be all right, and she was willing to do the same thing. She didn’t beg for me to stay with her. She wants me to fight, so fight I will.

I can’t be the scared, docile little Lara anymore, even if that’s the version Rocco wants.

I need to be fearless, and my husband can either accept it or not.

This is the new me.

CHAPTER 11

Rocco

Idon’t waste a minute calling my brothers for help. “Carlo and Dante took them,” I tell Massimo.

“What? Rocco, what are you talking about?”

“They took them,” I growl. “Gabriella and Lara. They’re gone. They came into my house and took them. They sent other men with them, but I handled them. You and Emilio need to get over here now. We need to start looking for them.”

“I’ll be right there.”

I begin researching the license plate of the van as I wait for my brothers to arrive. It’s not hard to do when I have access to databases that allow me to gain more information than the average person. Perks of being my father’s son.

I find the van right away, but it’s doesn’t help. It’s registered as stolen. Carlo and Dante wouldn’t have taken the girls to an obvious location and without an address, I have no idea where to look for them.

Someone knocks on the front door. I hurry to open it, and what I see makes my blood run cold.

My father is standing there with my brothers.

“So, you’ve managed to get your wife kidnapped after less than a week of marriage. Bravo, son.” He pats me on the back as he walks past. I grit my teeth to keep myself from killing him right here and now.

I shoot my brothers a look. Massimo shrugs like he doesn’t know why our father is with them. Emilio offers me a slightly more sympathetic look.

“You know he has eyes and ears everywhere. He knew before we even told him,” Emilio explains.

“Do you know where they are?” I ask my father.

“Why would I know where they are?”

I glare at him. I don’t trust my father one bit, but he would never want anyone to go against his title. There’s no way he was part of Carlo and Dante’s plan.

“Use your spies,” I tell him. “Have them find Lara and Gabriella.”

Father makes a tsking sound. “I’ll do that, but it won’t be easy. How come you never told me Carlo and Dante threatened us at your wedding? I had to find out through Massimo.”

I shoot my brother another look, and once again, Massimo just shrugs. “I didn’t want you to worry,” I say, turning back to my dad.

“Worry?” he scoffs. “If someone is coming after my job, I need to know. But that’s in the past now.” He nods at the bodies of the men I killed. Carlo and Dante thought they could stop me, but I cut through the men they sent after me in an instant. I could’ve done the same to Carlo and Dante, but I couldn’t risk Lara and Gabriella getting hurt. “Impressive. At least you’re good for that.”

“Just send your men out to start looking.”

He slowly raises his eyebrow. “Did you just give me an order?”

I stifle my sigh. “I’m sorry. I just need to find them.”

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