Page 65 of Lodged

Gio: Me too.

Luca: Fuck you, Gabo. I told you to take care of her. I can’t leave Karina alone; she’s due any day now.

Luca: You all better keep me posted.

My sister, Isa, has been spending the summer in Italy with Gabo, our brother-in-law. And now she’s missing. There’s no way in hell I won’t join the search to find her. Even though Gabo feels responsible for her and has mobilized his entire security team, I’ll always feel responsible for my siblings.

My plan to get Ruin back will have to wait until we find Isa safe and sound.

Chapter 29

Gio Bianchi

Turns out someone from Luca’s past had kidnapped Isa. Sometimes, I feel like my life is a telenovela. I mean, this guy, Max, even tried to blackmail Karina, Luca’s wife, back when Luca first met her. Luca ended up unmasking him and buying his family’s vineyard. Years later, the guy hadn’t moved on and decided to take it out on Isa to hurt Luca.

The crazy thing was he knew about Ruin. I mean, I only told my family and close friends about her—about us. But how heknew about her is beyond me. Maybe he hired a PI and had the entire family under surveillance? He didn’t have all the details right, but the fact that he even knew about her makes my skin crawl at the mere thought of someone watching us. I guess it’s time to get serious and hire a security detail. Now more than ever, since I’m all in on bringing Ruin back into my life.

What Max wasn’t counting on was Gabo Godoy and how fiercely protective he was of my sister. They make a fantastic couple, and even in the short period of time they’ve been together, Gabo has made it abundantly clear how much he loves my sister and what he’s capable of doing to protect her.

I ended up meeting with Gabo and Vicente in Geneva, where Max had taken Isa hostage. Gabo hired a private team to help free Isa—it was like something out of an action movie. Thankfully, we got Isa back safe and sound, and Interpol arrested Max. I suspect he’ll be behind bars for a long time. I went back to Italy with them for the night in case Isa needed me. The big brother in me needed to make sure Isa was safe and taken care of. Gabo did that and so much more. I’m happy they got together this summer. Now, both of my siblings are in good, healthy relationships.

It’s time for me to exhaust every single option to get my Ruin back, even if it means making her fall in love with me again.

“Dr. Smith,” I greet my mentor as he enters the lab.

“I take it your sister is safe and sound?” I nod as I release a deep breath.

“Yes, she’s shaken by the events, but she’ll be okay. It’s definitely a relief to know she’s in good hands,” I say as I think about how Gabo held Isa in his arms and how her face transformed with relief when she saw him.

“That’s good! Well I’m glad to have you back. What do you have in mind for the semester?” Dr. Smith asks, and it’s now or never.

“Dr. Smith, I’m so grateful for the opportunities you’ve given me. Coming to this country, to this university, has impacted my life in ways I never thought possible.” Dr. Smith sighs and takes a seat on my high lab chair.

“I knew this day was coming, you’re ready to fly solo. Aren't you?” I give him a small smile.

“It’s more than that, Dr. Smith. I need to find myself. I need to figure out what I want to do with my life before I can keep working.” He gives me a knowing smile as he nods.

“I don’t blame you, Gio. You’re not the typical scientist. There’s more to you than meets the eye.” Dr. Smith pats my back as he gets up from the chair. “Thank you for everything, Gio. Don’t be a stranger, and come visit us again.”

I give him a half-side hug and head toward HR to terminate my contract. After that, I’m going to student services to set up an endowment for Merlin MacAllister. I want him to focus on school and soccer, not on worrying about helping his family.

I’ve got that covered from here on out.

Driving the winding roads to Azalea Creek during summer is a completely different experience than it was last winter. The vegetation is green and lush, and the mountains honor their name, stretching in blue as far as the eye can see.

The first order of business is to get a hotel room. I don’t want to rent or buy a house until I have more clarity of what the future holds.

The town’s hotel sits neatly on the closest street to the highway. The building is well-kept and has a charm that can only come with the passing of time. “In the Clouds,” I read the name aloud before opening the door to enter. A small bell chimes as I step inside, and I’m welcomed by the warm aroma of freshbread and coffee. Although I truly enjoy both things, I find it odd to encounter those scents in a hotel lobby. To the left is a cozy sitting area, and to the right, a coffee station. A pot of freshly brewed coffee sits next to a tray of bread and cookies—explaining the delicious smell.

“Hello, welcome. May I help you?” A lady walks from the back of the hotel. She looks like Ines, my nanny, and has a welcoming smile on her face.

“Yes, hi. I need to rent a room?” Ugh, I’m definitely not used to doing this in person. Why did I say it like a question?

“Yes, of course. What brings you to town?” the lady asks as she goes to her desk and takes a folder from one of her drawers. This is really old school.

“I’m visiting for a while, and I’d like to get more accustomed to the town and the surrounding area.” I smile at her, but her friendly demeanor immediately changes.

“Accustomed to what?” Fuck, that’s right. I need to be careful about how I express myself here. If the way the people denied knowing Ruin back in January is any indication of how protective they are, I need to tread carefully.

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