Page 49 of Ruthless Boss

My heart skips in my chest. If I didn’t have a good feeling a second ago, it’s twice as bad now. “Tell me.”

“I’m sorry,” he says, anxiety creeping into his voice.

“Fucking tell me,” I say, looking at Massimo. His expression sobers like he’s now invested in this call, too.

“Gia has been quiet for two days. I assumed she was chilling at home, but then I realized she had a class scheduled today and never showed up. The last time I saw her was at the beach. She went into her condo, and I never saw her leave. I broke in this morning, and there was no sign of her.”

I slam my fist on the desk. “You better be fucking kidding, or it’s your ass.”

“I wish I was, boss. I got access to the security footage of her condo and saw her leave with a man. Tall, with a patch on his eye.”

A jolt of panic surges through me. “Her ex,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Yes. I already contacted the tech team, and they’re on it, trying to get better visuals on the parking lot, license plates, and what have you. I promise we’ll find her.”

“And she’d better be alive.” The weight of my words sits on my chest, constricting my lungs. I know her piece-of-shit husband must have returned more pissed than ever, wanting to take it out on her. I just hope I make it on time. He wants to fight? I’ll give him a fucking fight.

I hang up the call and look at Massimo. “Call the pilot and tell him to get the jet ready immediately.”

“What’s going on?”

I stand and slide my phone into my pocket. Opening my top drawer, I grab my favorite gun, a European-crafted pistol I bought at an auction years ago. Ciro Santini isn’t worthy of its bullets, but I need my most precise weapon to take him out. I failed to protect Gia, I realize, my heart searing with regret. I need to make things right for her. “Gia’s husband kidnapped her, and I need to find her.”

“Do you want me to go with you?” Massimo asks, surging to his feet.

I lift my hand in refusal. I can’t allow him to come with me—he has a wife, and I need him to be around in case anything happens to me because of AJ. A sour lump tightens my throat. I can’t even think of it… Nope. I’ll come out of it alive and bring Gia with me. “No… I’ll take care of this on my own.”

27

Gia

Exhaustion is a good sleep aid.

I open my eyes and see Ciro sleeping on the chair in front of me.

He was probably watching me and fell asleep.

Not watching me romantically, like Dante would. Like Dante did the night before I left Chicago.

Every time Ciro looks at me, his eyes are full of contempt. The reward must be good for him to keep me alive. I hear him shuffle in the chair and close my eyes, pretending to be asleep. The pain had subsided, and he gave me a break because he must know I wouldn’t take it for days on end. He wants to hand me over to Ross in semi-decent shape; otherwise, I’ll be of no use.

A shiver runs down my spine.

What will Ross do to me? He didn’t get his reputation as a modern-day barbarian by having compassion or giving second chances. The tales surrounding the Santinis are numerous, and all of them horrific.

“Awake?” he asks.

A chill slips down my spine. When I talk to him, I’m used to his voice, but when it disrupts my peace, his annoying tone is a brand-new torture device.

I open my eyes. He gets to his feet and looks at me. I’m gagged again and can’t speak.

“You know, my dear wife, I thought you were useless. But you leaving solved a lot of my problems. Got my dad off my back, and now I have the chance to prove myself to Ross. Who would have thought? Your plan backfired. And, of course, I’ll get rid of you.”

I swallow the bitter frustration in my throat.

Dying is one thing. Dying knowing that I helped Ciro level up in life is ten times worse.

“All for nothing.” He flashes me a smile that chills me to the bone.

---