Page 13 of Lord of Little Italy

"Maybe you're right."

"I'm always right." She grins. "Let me text Rachel, see when's good."

While she taps away at her phone, I watch the crowd. A guy at the bar has been staring a bit too long. Probably just attracted to Elena - most men are - but something about him sets off warning bells.

"Rachel says next month would be perfect," Elena announces. "She's got this gorgeous guest house overlooking the river. Total privacy."

"Sounds nice." But I'm still watching the guy, who's now talking to someone on his phone while looking our way.

"Bella? You okay?"

"Yeah, just..." I shake it off. Paranoia comes with the family business. "It's getting late. We should head out."

We finish our drinks, make tentative plans for the trip. It's nearly midnight when we step out into the cool Manhattan night. The street is strangely quiet for a Thursday, most of the usual crowd still inside.

"Let me call my driver," Elena says, reaching for her phone.

"Don't bother. I've got mine waiting around the corner." I hug her tight, breathing in her familiar perfume. "Thanks for listening, prima."

"Always." She squeezes back. "Text me when you get home, okay?"

"Yes, Mom." I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling.

We separate, and I start walking toward where my driver is parked. My heels click against the pavement, echoing off buildings. The street feels too empty, too still. That prickle of unease returns.

A black SUV appears from nowhere, engine nearly silent. Before I can react, men in masks pour out. I reach for my purse - for the gun I always carry - but they're too fast.

A hand clamps over my mouth. Arms like steel bands wrap around me. I kick, bite, fight with everything I have, but there are too many of them. My elbow connects with someone's nose- I hear a satisfying crunch - but then something hard hits the back of my head.

The last thing I hear is Elena screaming my name as they throw me into the SUV.

Then darkness.

Chapter 9

Tony

The scotch isn't helping tonight. Three glasses in and I still see her face - the way Isabella looked at me in Dom's penthouse. Cold. Distant. Everything we're supposed to be to each other.

Everything we're not.

It's past midnight, and my office is too quiet. Reminds of the quiet nights I used to spend brooding about my business. Before I met a girl that turned my world upside down. Before I ruined everything. Before I chose being a coward over being with her.

Two of my guys knocked earlier, something about collections in the Village. I waved them off. Let them think I'm strategizing, planning some big move. Better than knowing their boss is sitting alone in the dark, drinking himself stupid over a woman he can't have.

A woman he won't let himself have.

My phone buzzes on the desk. I almost ignore it - who the hell calls this late? - but something makes me glance at the caller ID.

Dom.

Shit.

"Yeah?" I answer, already reaching for my jacket. Dom doesn't make late-night calls for small talk.

"Isabella's been taken."

The world stops. My heart stops. Everything just... stops. For a moment, I can't breathe, can't think, can't process the words. Then reality crashes back like a tidal wave.

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