Page 52 of Greed

“Rocco,” I say. “Keep trying to trace their location on the internet if you can. Anything would be helpful.”

Rocco heads inside.

Enrico steps forward. “Eduardo, Lorenzo, and I will hit the local spots, see if anyone has any news after we asked yesterday.”

I nod and watch them leave together. I look at Andrea. “I guess there’s nothing left for us to do but search. There’s no point in us sitting here anxiously waiting for an update.”

Andrea nods. “I agree. We’ll go together.”

“We’ll take my car,” I say, leading him out to the BMW parked to the side of the parking lot.

We get in and drive. The silence stretches between us, and it’s awkward, but I feel bonded to Andrea through our shared pain. We both want our loved ones home, safe and sound, where we can look after them. After about twenty minutes, Andrea starts talking out of the blue.

“She used to get excited about Christmas, so so much.” He doesn’t look in my direction.

“Gia?” I ask.

“Yeah, it is her favorite holiday. Ever since she was a little kid, she used to get so excited for the holiday. And from when she was young, she’d always make cards and presents for everyone. I have a box full of Gia’s little treasures in my closet.”

I smile softly. “It doesn’t sound like her.”

“She’s a hard ass,” Andrea says. “And feisty. That’s my fault. I didn’t rein her in. Instead I taught her to have a mouth, and a fist to follow.”

“I know that much. She put me on my back.” I chuckle.

Andrea chuckles as well. “But inside she’s soft. She likes loving on people, feeding them, and taking care of them. She’s a natural caregiver.”

“I was surprised when she told me she did a cooking and baking vlog,” I admit. “She didn’t seem that…”

“Feminine?” Andrea laughs. “Not when you kidnap her, no. She can be seriously stubborn and full of shit. But she is; she’s very feminine. She takes care of everything at home, runs the staff, cooks and bakes. I swear she’ll be the reason I get fat.”

I bite my lip. “Gia’s special, Andrea. I know this.”

“I know you do,” he admits. “I can tell you really care about her.”

I fall silent, but Andrea continues to talk. “She also loves the dogs, and they love her so much. They won’t listen to anyone but her, and they are pining for her now. We let them sleep on her bed, but it’s not the same. And she is so good at horse riding,” his voice cracks slightly. “She’s been riding for as long as I can remember. Since she could sit in a saddle.”

I look around the streets as we drive. “I swear, Andrea, I will do everything in my power to get her back.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

GIA

The men surrounding us as Tony leers at me all chuckle at his comments. He leans in; he stinks of cheap cigarettes and beer. I squirm at the unwelcome closeness of his body.

I turn my head away from him, but unfortunately that gives him open access to drag his tongue from the base of my neck to just by my jaw. I shiver and try not to puke as his hand strokes my arm.

I glare at him, but there’s a mad glint in his eye that says he’s capable of far, far worse. He’s capable of anything and unpredictable.

His hand rests on my knee, then strokes my inner thigh. I’m thankful that Matteo gave me cargo pants and not some hot shorts or something. It’s not comfortable, but it’s less invasive than it could be.

Tony leans in and breathes in the scent of my hair, and I shiver again. I don’t want him near me. I don’t want him in my personal space. But being bound to a chair, I have little option.

Just as I think he’s about to do something worse, like touch me somewhere seriously undesirable, the door opens, and two men walk in.

“Tony,” the one calls. “We need to talk.”

Tony eyeballs me for a moment before he straightens and turns to him.