Page 64 of His Broken Queen

“If I have to go get her from your house, Rocco, I will leave no one standing this time,” I shouted. “Where is she?”

“Your house.” Gio showed me his phone. “She’s pulling onto the street now.”

“Why would she go home?” I called her phone again. “This doesn’t make any fucking sense. What is she doing?”

“Hello,” she answered in a soft voice. “Don’t be mad.”

“Don’t be mad? Are you out of your damn mind? Why are you at our house? Why would you fucking go alone?”

“I said don’t be mad.”

“Luciana? I am mad, so just tell me what you’re doing.”

“Stella’s daughter called me and asked if I could get her mom’s cookbook.”

“We could have sent someone to get it.”

“She said her dad didn’t want her around you or any of your guys. I’m meeting her here to get the book. I’ll be in and out, and then I’ll be right home.”

“Why did you sneak out of the house?”

“Would you have let me come?”

“No.” I rubbed my temple.

“I’m sorry, I just…”

“Get in that car and get back here,” I shouted. “I’m not fucking around.”

“Romero, I need to do this.”

She wasn’t thinking of the emotional distress this was going to put her in if she went into the kitchen alone.She could have a panic attack. I didn’t want her there by herself.

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “I’m going into the house now.”

“Which daughter called you?”

“Carly.”

“How did she get your number?”

“I don’t know. Maybe from Stella’s phone.”

“She told you to come without me or a guard?” This didn’t sound right. “How did she even know the book was in our house?”

“I don’t know, but she can’t find it. It’s logical that it would be in our kitchen. Stella was teaching me her recipes.”

“Lu, get in the car, lock the doors, and come back here.” I glanced at Gio. “Forget about the book. Don’t go in the house.”

“I’m already in the house.”

“Get out of the fucking house now!”

“Romero, I’m…Ouch!” She screamed, then the phone sounded like it hit the ground.

“Lu? What happened?”

“What’s wrong?” Gio asked.

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