Page 84 of Gin & Trouble

She backed away from me. “Some clothes, and they asked me if I knew where she kept her passport.”

Rather than continuing to bark at an innocent woman, I pulled out my phone and called my guilty-as-sin brother. Since Marco’s men had Frankie’s passport, I had a sneaking suspicion where he’d taken her.

The call went straight to voicemail. And so did Nico’s. I tried Marco several more times before leaving a voicemail.

“I know you have Frankie. Don’t let her leave the country until I get there.” Shoving my cell in my pocket, I headed for the airport.

25

Frankie

I watchedthe city go by from behind dark tinted glass and tried not to think about Dante—easier said than done. He had to be hurting.

Two of Marco’s team had shown up shortly after the concerned citizen had left me alone in the bathroom. They’d gotten me out of the building, into the waiting SUV, and on my way to the airport without incident.

Lucky me.

Unfortunately, they’d treated me like a prisoner of war and had taken my dead cell phone, purse, and all of my cash. Thankfully, they hadn’t found the DNA results when they’d frisked me for weapons. The report was still tucked safely in my pocket.

Marco and Nicolina stepped out of their vehicle the second my SUV came to a stop on the tarmac.

I climbed out and huddled deeper in the gigantic jacket one of the guards had given me.

As if choreographed, the couple turned to me and widened their eyes. However, that’s where the similarities ended. Nico stared as if she didn’t quite know what to say. Marco, on the other hand, cracked a grin that reminded me far too much of the man I was desperately trying to forget.

“Any problems?” Marco folded his arms.

“None. Your team are professionals.” I slid the coat from my shoulders and handed it back to its owner. “I’m ready when the pilot is.”

Marco arched an eyebrow. “I recognize that shirt. Do you not have any clothes of your own?”

“Don’t tease her.” My cousin elbowed her husband’s side before flashing me what appeared to be a genuine smile. “Frankie, I wish it were under better circumstances, but it’s good to see you again.”

I’m not sure what I’d expected from the two of them, but it wasn’t warmth and kindness. “You, too. I think I was five or six the last time your nanny brought you to visit my sisters and I.”

Marco nodded to the plane. “Let’s continue this conversation onboard.”

“Sure.” My chest tightened. Despite their easygoing manner, I doubted they’d stopped by to catch up with a long-lost cousin.

He led us up the rolling stairs and into the main cabin of the Marchionni jet.

The blonde flight attendant smiled and batted her lashes at Marco while ignoring Nico and me. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Marchionni. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Mywifeand I aren’t staying. Miss Smith is traveling alone.” Marco barely spared her a glance, but his message came across loud and clear—he wasn’t interested and Nico deserved respect. “But we would like some privacy.”

She turned the approximate shade of a cherry tomato and excused herself from the cabin.

Seating himself on a cream-colored leather sofa, Marco eyed me with an expression somewhere between perplexed and annoyed. “We need to talk.”

Nico settled beside him and gave him an amused look. “What my gruff husband means, is we aren’t here to grill you. We have a couple of questions and we’ll be on our way.”

Her Sicilian accent hit me in the solar plexus. It reminded me of my family and home and all of the ways I’d failed my sisters.

“What would you like to know?” I sank into a chair and forced myself to relax, or tried to. I didn’t quite trust their good cop-bad cop routine.

Nico turned to me. “First off, are you all right?”

I debated how to answer honestly. “I guess, as well as can be expected. May I ask where you’re sending me?”

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