Page 30 of Stolen By the Enemy

I'm sure the wedding didn't unfold smoothly, but maybe Emelia now grasps the reality of the world she’s stepped into.

"Luca, I've given you and your brother more than enough time. I need to know your answer. Are we making this deal, or not?”

I gulp down the last of my tequila.

The room feels heavy with unspoken tension.

The click of the glass meeting the polished surface echoes against the weight of the decision hanging in the air.

Luca’s hesitation speaks louder than any words he might utter.

His response carries the weight of consequence. “Marco, we’re in, but you have to understand—"

“No, no, no. Save the explanations, Luca. I don’t want to hear your excuses, I want to see results,” I cut him off, my tone leaving no room for negotiation. “Or do I need to deal with your sister?”

“Don’t you dare fucking touch Grazia,” Enzo says into the phone, so I assume it took so long for him to answer the phone because he was finding Enzo so they could listen to me together on speaker.

If they’re trying some stupid tracking trick, it’s useless. That’s exactly why I’m calling them from my own house, not the beach house. And I’m on a burner phone. I’m no fool.

“Well, I won’t promise not to touch her.” I laugh softly. “But I will agree not to hurt her—if you make up your mind within the next few hours. I am not a patient man. You should know this by now. And I think I am being quite reasonable in my requests.”

I take another swig of alcohol to calm myself.

I want them to know I am serious, but controlling my anger is important when it comes to keeping the deal moving forward. It’s just not something that I am very good at.

“Nothing about what you’re doing is reasonable. But we will have a solution to this soon. Give us one more day, Marco, and you’ll end up a happy man. I am getting the money sent to you today, though, so that will be sorted in a few hours. It’s not a little bit of money, and since you want it divided up and wired into separate accounts, it’s taken some time to sort out the logistics. Once we have the routes arranged, we will come to you and hand them over in exchange for Grazia’s safe return to us.”

Luca speaks slowly, like he’s trying to control his anger.

I have heard stories about how Luca’s anger has gotten him in trouble before. He’s nothing but a child with a temper.

“I don’t like this waiting, Luca. Your sister wants to go home, and I’m getting bored.”

I hear Enzo swearing in the background again.

I can tell that he is the more protective brother, worried about his sister, so I’m hoping that he will push Luca and I can be done with this whole escapade.

I am not enjoying having to deal with the Baldini men, and the longer they wait to make a move, the more annoyed I am getting with them.

I am also starting to feel increasingly bad for Grazia. What kind of brothers leave their sister in the hands of a dangerous man for so long?

No wonder she’s been so mean and jealous toward Emelia.

She hadn’t said too much to me about how she feels about the wedding, but the little bit she’s confided in me is enough.

Both Enzo and Luca aren’t fit to care for a stuffed animal, let alone a sister.

It makes me want to hide Grazia away for good, just to let her have a better life without her brothers in it.

I’ve hidden away women from powerful men before. I could keep her out of their hands for good, for her own sake.

I wonder if I should be sending them a message to speed up the process, but none of my men are in the US right now.

“If I don’t have my money today, and a timeline for your visit by tomorrow, you’re not going to like my next steps, I promise you, Luca. And make sure Enzo knows as well. I have given you both more than enough time. This is costing me more than it is worth, and I have no more patience left for you or your family.”

“One more day, Marco. Just one more. We want to be done with this shit show as much as you do,” Luca says, putting the phone down faster than I can reply.

This asshole thinks he is in charge, but he underestimates me, thinking I won’t hurt Grazia—and then the rest of their family.

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