Page 71 of Texting My Mafia Boss

For twenty minutes, I sit, seething. Mark tries to talk to me. But I can’t. The stones on that man to even bring that up to my face. His hints were bad enough. But to outrightsay it.

My cell phone rings. It’s Ambra Calvi. Does Ruggero think she can talk me around or something?

“You’re wasting your time,” I tell her.

“Ettore?” she says, voice quiet.

“Yes?”

“I don’t know…”

“What don’t you know?” I ask, wondering if she’s drunk.

“My cousin is here and he’s been ranting, worse than he usually is, and when I asked him what was wrong… he hit me, very hard. Harder than usual.”

Rage coils in my gut. “Is he there now?”

“No, that’s why I’m calling. He was talking abouthitting that arrogant prick where it hurts. I know things are tense betweenour Families right now. He had men with him. And plenty of weapons. I think something bad is going to happen.”

Fuck.

“He’s never going to hit you again, Ambra,” I say, then hang up the phone. “Mark, call the estate security. Tell them to be ready.”

I call Mara, but there’s no response. I text her.

Ettore: Get Sylvie to the safe room right now.

Immediately,I call Livia.

“Yes?” she says lightly.

“Safe room, now,” I bark.

CHAPTER 25

MARA

I’m rushing through the hedge maze, my heart in my throat. Livia found me on the rear porch, telling me to get Sylvie and bring her to the pantry in the second kitchen. I was knitting, my mind flying off to impossible places—like what we’d call our baby if last night resulted in one. I took my eyes off Sylvie.

I know she loves this maze. She enjoys disappearing. It’s never been a problem before. Not until now.

“Sylvie!” I call, cursing myself. If I let this perfect little girl get hurt, this girl who’s been through enough… I can’t think like that. “Sylvana! If you can hear me, call out right now!”

Outside the walls, I hearcrack-crack-crack. It could be a car backfiring. Or it could be gunshots.

I take turnings, left, right, left, left, getting lost, turning back on myself. I feel like I’m in a nightmare.

“Mara!”

I gasp, spinning on the spot, and start rushing toward her voice.

“Mara! Mara!”

My feet thankfully have the ability to take me toward her voice, getting louder with each call. Relief floods through me until I turn the corner.

I stop, vomit climbing up my throat, shock threatening to cripple me.

Earlier today, Livia had some vegetables delivered. I remember seeing the van and the man in his crisp white outfit. I remember thinking,Wow, even delivery drivers look fancy when you’re rich. Now, that same man is standing with one arm wrapped around Sylvie, casually holding a knife in the other hand. Not a gun, there’s no way they’d let him bring one in. Has he been hiding here this entire time?