Page 150 of Phantom Mine

“You did, Matteo. With every decision you’ve made since the day you met her.”

I stare across the bar at Valentina, as greedy for a glance at her as Enzo described. After one last look, I turn away.

He’s right.

I’m holding onto something we clearly knew had no future from the beginning. It can’t continue this way. Time to make a change.

“Set up a meeting with Marchesani for next week,” I order.

Chapter Forty-One

Valentina

For the third time today, my call to Aurora’s phone goes straight to voicemail. It’s unlike her not to immediately call back or text to let me know if she’s busy.

Anxiety gnaws at my insides. I don’t want to think that we were only friends because of our connection toFirenze, and that we won’t see each other anymore now that I no longer work there. It’s only been three days since my last shift and yet that’s the last time I heard from her.

Picking up my phone once more, I dial the number for the main VIP lounge and settle into the couch as it rings.

“Prego?” Stefano answers.

“Stefano, it’s V– it’s Melody.” I smack my palm to my forehead. Apparently three days away from the club is enough time for me to almost immediately blow my cover.

“Ah, just the person I was about to call,” he says, surprising me.

“Why’s that?” I ask, twirling my ponytail around my finger.

“Capri missed her last three shifts. I can’t be a man down at the bar for a third night in a row. I know you quit, but is there any chance you can come in and cover for her?”

I jerk upright. “She just didn’t show? She didn’t call in to say she was sick?”

“Who? Capri? No, but dancers can be flaky. No offense,” he adds, almost as an afterthought.

“Has she ever done this before?”

“Well, no…” he answers slowly, seemingly picking up on the clear worry in my tone. “But when she didn’t show after you left, I assumed she didn’t want to work here without you.”

“So you haven’t heard from her or seen her in the last three days?”

“No.”

“And you weren’t worried?” I ask, my tone rising steadily in octaves. “You didn’t think to sound the alarm?”

“Over a missing stripper? Hardly.”

I hang up on him and immediately call Matteo. There’s a ringing in my ears so loud, I barely hear him pick up.

“Cara—” he answers with a smile in his voice.

“Aurora’s missing,” I nearly shout into the phone.

Silence. “Who’s Aurora?”

“Aurora. Capri. Aurora is-–” I choke on a sob. “Aurora is Capri. She’s–she’s–”

My heart races so badly, I can feel all the blood rush to my head. My vision tunnels, my hands growing clammy. This is all too familiar, it’s like reliving a different version of two years ago.

“Breathe,” Matteo instructs through the phone. Even through the haze of my panic attack, I can hear the alarm in his voice. “Breathe, Leni. In through your nose, out through your mouth.”

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