Page 14 of Coerced Queen

“Actually, it’s Mrs.De Luca now,” I admit awkwardly.The sound of that is still strange.

“Mrs.De Luca.”She hesitates.“Bertrand was just about to call you.”

“He was?”

I guess he saw the news.

“Hold on,” she says before generic music plays in my ear.

A moment later, Bertrand’s voice comes over the line.“Anya.”

Something in his tone tightens my stomach.“Is everything all right?”

“I’m afraid I have bad news.”

I go into full-on panic mode.“What happened?”

“Your mother escaped.”

ChapterSeven

Saverio

When Dante brings my phone, laptop, and clothes during the afternoon visiting hour, he tells me the news about Mary Brennan.

I bristle with fury.“How the fuck did she manage that?”

Dante scratches his head.“She stabbed the supervising nurse with a kitchen knife and stole his access card.”

That’s why I need my phone.If I had it on me, I would’ve already seen the message from my informant.

“She sure knows how to pick her timing.”Turning my face sideways to have a full visual on him, I ask, “Do you have someone looking for her?”

He watches me with a level gaze.“Anya told me not to bother.She already updated Mary’s psychologist.The police are on the lookout.Said her mother was on her own this time.”

“That woman is a disaster waiting to happen.We need to find her.”

He hooks a thumb into his waistband.“I’m respecting Anya’s wishes on this one.Besides, we don’t have the men to spare.They’re spread thinly between the hospital and the clubs.”

I think about that.Anya is right.Her no-good waste of a mother deserves her fate.Whatever comes her way, she brought it on herself.We have more important matters to focus on.

When he hesitates, I snap, “What?”

“The business took a dive.We’re battling to keep things afloat.Some suppliers pulled out.They’re scared.”

I gnash my teeth.“The Bolivian deal?”

He shakes his head.“Folded.”

Clenching my fists on top of the sheets, I spit out a curse.

“Yeah.”He pinches a forefinger and thumb together.“We came this close to signing the contract.”

I suppress my rage, bottling it down to unleash it later on someone who deserves it, someone like Morelli.There’s no point in putting Dante under fire.It’s a waste of energy to take my frustration out on him when it’s not his fault.

“Can we save the deal?”I ask.

“I doubt it.”His expression is grim.“Things are too volatile.The situation is still uncertain.As far as they’re concerned, you’re not only a new boss who needs to prove your worth but also seriously injured.You know how people talk.There’s a lot of speculation going around.Many men are wondering if you’re going to make it.”

---