Page 93 of Wicked Truths

Hey, where are you?

I don’t respond, so he texts again.

Please let me know you are somewhere safe.

I put my phone down on the cushion and take another bite of my dinner. I’ll deal with him after I know what we are going to do about Jax and Mom.

My phone rings, and before I look at the caller ID, I know it’s Rhett calling. I let it go to voicemail.

Everything is always on his terms. Well, not anymore. This time, he can wait for me to figure things out and then I’ll fill him in.

Uncle Tony gives me a worried glance. “Are you going to answer him, Principessa?”

“Not right now. I’m tired of them making decisions for me. I’m tired of feeling like an outsider when I’m part of the family.”

Several men whisper their support for me.

AJ grabs my fork and steals my last ravioli. “We’ve been telling you all along that you can work with us. With us, not for us. You are a Marino. You are the mafia, not those hockey players.”

I feel guilty for ignoring Rhett and not standing up for him, but I feel equal to every person here than over there with Dad and Joey.

If I was an equal, then I would have known Rhett joined the ranks years ago. I would have known about Dad buying King’s Empire.

I would have known everything that was going on and not felt blindsided.

I never would have had to sneak around and follow them to the shipyard. I never would have been kidnapped.

My phone’s notification sounds, alerting me to a new voicemail. Keeping it off speakerphone, I listen to Rhett’s message.

“Chessie, I’m so sorry. Please call me back and let me know you’re safe. I will search every house here in Savannah if I don’t hear back from you in thirty minutes.”

Rolling my eyes, I type out a message.

I’m safe, just figuring some things out. If I need to talk, I’ll call you.

He immediately responds.

Where are you?

I debate keeping my whereabouts from him, but I know he won’t stop calling or messaging until he finds out where I am.

At the restaurant eating dinner. I’ll see you after the game.

Hopefully that will pacify him and keep him frominterfering with whatever plans Uncle Tony comes up with.

The three little dots bounce, letting me know he’s typing before they disappear altogether.

He’s either on his way here, or he’s in the suite with Dad watching the game.

I put my phone away and turn my attention to Uncle Tony, who is already watching me. “What are we going to do about Jax and Mom? Is there anything we can do?”

He presses his lips together before sighing. “If Jax is telling the truth and Elizabeth really is alive, we need to confront her.”

AJ jumps up from the couch. “Then let’s book flights and head to New York. If Aunt Liz faked her death, then she has some explaining to do.”

“We can’t just barge into the Rossi’s house in New York. We need to arrange a meeting here first. Speaking of their house here, when did they move down here?”

Uncle Tony thinks for a moment before saying, “For a year and a half, I’d say. I thought you knew.”

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