Page 42 of Empire of Temptation

I could practically hear my father’s voice, berating me for my failings with my sons.

You’re too soft on them. They’ll never be able to handle the responsibility after you’re gone.

I held open the office door. Gabriele strode through, his sullen expression telling me he was unhappy with how this was playing out. Which was too fucking bad.

He was young and immature. He didn’t understand the responsibility of being a Benetti.

But he would.

I watched him settle into a chair. Whereas Leonardo looked more like his mother, my younger son was exactly like me at that age, tall and lanky. His wavy hair flopped over his forehead and down into his eyes. He was a pussy magnet, and he knew it. The guards often complained about Gabriele’s prolific sex life, saying he fucked anything with a pair of tits. I kept hoping he would find a mistress or a girl, like Leonardo, but Gabriele seemed determined to fuck the entire region.

I walked across the room and took my rightful seat behind the desk. “Explain yourself.”

“Don’t be mad. I came here because I know Niccolò is missing. I want to help find him.”

No one should be discussing Niccolò in the presence of my sons. I was trying to distance them from this. “What are you talking about?”

“Allora, Papà. I am not stupid. Leo and I both know what is going on.”

Merda! My boys were close with Niccolò and I didn’t want them involved. Because if Niccolò did talk to the GDF, there was only one way I could deal with such betrayal. “Who told you?”

My son lifted his chin. “I’m not saying. I don’t want them in trouble.”

Resting my elbows on the desk, I steepled my fingers and took a few breaths. “Our cousin is missing, but likely still in Italia. How is coming here helping to find him?”

“Because the uncles aren’t listening to me. They claim Niccolò is fine, just on holiday. But I know you’ll believe me when I say I can help.”

“And how can you help?”

“I have spent more time with him than Leo or anyone else. And he isn’t on holiday.”

I leaned back in my chair. I hadn’t wanted him to know, but now I felt as if there was no option but to tell him. “Word is Niccolò has been arrested. He was delivering product to Belgium. The GDF is hoping to turn him against the family.”

His face lost its color. “No. Impossible.”

Remaining quiet, I let him sit with the information. We all knew what this could mean.

“Papà, Niccolò would never. He’s loyal.”

“It’s all too easy to force a man against his will, especially when his life is threatened.”

“Not Niccolò. He wouldn’t do that.”

I wasn’t so sure. I’d broken the spirit of too many men to think it impossible.

Gabriele took his phone out of his pocket and began scrolling. “When was he arrested?”

“The night before I left.”

“Here’s his last text to me. This is how I know he’s not on holiday.” He handed his mobile to me.

I scanned the texts, which were about making plans to go clubbing that next night. There were a lot of peach emojis. Then Gabriele made repeated attempts to reach Niccolò in the days that followed, but there was no answer.

“So he could be in prison,” I allowed. “Which would mean he doesn’t have access to his phone.”

“Except he turned his location services off. So I think he has his phone with him.”

“What?” I handed Gabriele his mobile. “Show me. And please tell me you aren’t stupid enough to have your location turned on for the world to see.”

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