“Wait there,” I call out.
My fingers are itching to pull out my gun and shoot Frankie fucking Falcone between the eyes.
I hear Grayson’s Audi pull up, and he opens the front door, ignoring Frankie.
“What’s going on?” a concerned Grayson asks.
“Just come inside.”
I ball my fists together so hard they shake, using every bit of self restraint I have not to knock Frankie the fuck out. But I need the truth. And I also need Frankie not to suspect I know.
I look between them both.
Grayson looks clearly irritated. “Well?”
I suck in some air, putting on my best serious voice. “Rosa is fucking dead.”
I keep my eyes glued on Frankie. He stiffens next to Grayson and his jaw ticks. He keeps his eyes on the ground, refusing to look at me or Grayson.
Bingo.
“And?” Grayson interrupts.
“Well, she was our bargaining chip over the Falcones for Maddie.”
That isn’t even remotely true. Marco made clear his thoughts on his daughter.
Frankie starts to shift uncomfortably, and Grayson notices far too easily. “Do you have a fucking problem?” he asks Frankie, who rubs his hands along his stubble.
“No problem. Want me to take the body out… boss?”
“Yeah, fine. Go and get the supplies from the warehouse and come back. Grayson, you’re with me.”
I storm past them both, my restraint now wearing thin. I have to get away from Frankie. I head to my office and drop down on the desk that’s scattered with CCTV footage photos looking for Maddie.
“Should I send a condolence card out to Marco?” Grayson smirks and sits opposite me.
I shoot him a look in warning.
“What do we do now, boss?”
The door flies open, and my heart is in my throat. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping it’s not her.
“Luca, I can’t get the coffee machine working!”
She waltzes towards me, completely oblivious to Grayson. Her hair a curly mess, her cheeks flushed. My god, she looks beautiful. I can’t take my eyes off her, in that black robe that leaves very little to the imagination.
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she goes up on her tiptoes. I suck in a breath, completely forgetting who the fuck I am right now.
Grayson clears his throat, and I give him a death glare. I know I’ll have some explaining to do. But, right now, I have a semi hard cock and the woman who invades my mind is wrapped around me.
“Sorry, I heard the door go and a car leave. I assumed they’d gone. I went to make a coffee, but it’s broken, so I’ve started running a bath instead. I thought you might like to join me. I really want to taste you again, Luca. I can’t stop thinking about it.”
She looks up at me through her lashes. It takes everything I can muster not to groan in front of my best friend. Or throw him out and spread her across my desk.
I bring my lips to her ear. I can see the goosebumps appear along her throat.
“Baby, you can suck my cock any time you like. Seeing you on your knees for me, your mouth stuffed with my dick, is what dreams are made of. So go and run that bath. I’ll meet you in a minute.”
I watch as she blushes and she steps out. I run my hand through my hair as the door clicks shut. I know I’m on borrowed time with her, with everything going on right now. So, I want to make the most of it. My sliver of happiness will be ripped away if Romano was right and Frankie has Maddie.
“So, railing your captive. That’s a new one for you.”
I turn to look at Grayson, who’s biting back a laugh. It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile in weeks.
“Fuck off, it’s not like that.”
“Whatever, boss. I don’t care. What I do care about is why you lied to Frankie.”
Shit.
I pull out my phone and show him the photos of the documents Romano gave me. I can’t tell him who gave me the intel. I can’t risk Romano’s threats. I’ve sent the driver’s license to Enzo to investigate. I have to err on the side of caution, for now, until Enzo can confirm whether tracking Frankie leads us to Maddie or not.
“I think Frankie is working with the Falcones. You were right, something wasn’t adding up. He appears out of nowhere, wanting to work with me. I met with Romano Capri in Sicily. Frankie wasn’t a damn bodyguard, he was his right-hand man. He left because he had family business to attend to in New York. Every damn time, he knows exactly where the Falcones new hideouts are. He was the last one to see Maddie.”
I watch as the realization settles over Grayson, his face turning red.
“Can I do the honors when he’s back?” His teeth showing in a menacing smile.
“Why do you think you’re here?”
His fists knot, and he pounds them on my desk. “I swear to God, I will rip him limb from limb if he’s touched her.”
“I’m banking on that. How I didn’t shoot him on-the-spot back there, I don’t know. We need to get Maddie first before we kill him. I’m waiting for Enzo’s call, which should be any minute. He’s digging into him for us now. If I’ve learned anything from you, we need intel before we act.”
This is Grayson’s kill. If Frankie does know anything about Maddie’s disappearance, I don’t want to know the pain Grayson will inflict on him.
Frankie’s reaction earlier was enough to confirm everything Romano told me. Some part of me hoped Romano was somehow wrong, that he’d doctored the documents.
I place my phone down on my desk. “We are going to find Maddie. We are so close.”
He has no idea what is going on behind the scenes. I’ve seen how much pain he’s been in, not even from being shot. From losing the love of his life.
He drops down onto the sofa and throws his arm over his face.
“I need to go and check in on Rosa. Give me five minutes.” I head to the door.
“Only five? I would have put you down for lasting longer than that.” His voice is muffled through his jacket sleeve.
I chuckle and shake my head. “Around her, five is probably about right.”
