Page 33 of Paolo DeLuca
“Now wait. Let’s not jump to conclusions,” Dante chimed in. “Maybe she got sick and left. Couldn’t find Franco in the crowd to let him know.”
Paolo nodded. Dante’s claim was possible and easy to check. It was a lot less scary than Gino coming in there with doom and gloom. He retrieved his phone and dialed Lyric.
“Get these motherfuckers out of here,” he ordered while he waited for her to pick up.
After five rings, with no answer, Paolo hung up and redialed. He paced the length of his office. The longer Lyric’s phone rang only intensified the belief to Paolo that something was wrong, that she didn’t go home and was in trouble. Before Paolo ended the call, someone answered her phone.
“Hola, guapo.”
Hello handsome.The familiar voice halted Paolo’s pacing.
“Cali,” he growled.
“Are you looking for your little girlfriend?” She giggled.
“I swear, Cali, if you hurt her, if there’s one scratch on her, I will fucking kill you.” He slammed down his palm on his desk. “Do you hear me?”
Cali knew him, his reputation, and that of his family. He wasn’t fucking around. “If you want her, come get her. I’m at old city hall.” She hung up.
Paolo yelled, slinging his phone against the door. “Fuck!”
He barreled through the door, down the hall, and onto the dais. When his men saw him, they made their way to him.
“She’s got her,” he growled, barely over the music. They knew exactly who he was speaking of.
“Fuck!” Franco yelled.
“You goddamn right. I should fuck you up right now for not doing your damn job,” Paolo growled at him, taking a step toward Franco. To his credit, Franco held his ground. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Only the toughest motherfuckers were in the family.
Gino stepped in front of Paolo, putting his hands on his chest and pushing him backward, before he could get to Franco. “We don’t have time for this shit, Paolo. Any idea where they are?”
Paolo took a deep breath, trying to calm the fire in his veins so he could think straight. “She has her at the old town hall,” he informed.
“How do you want to play this?” Dante asked.
Paolo shook his head. He could barely think, but the one thing he knew was Cali was his when they got there. The bitch was done.
“I know Cali. She’ll kill Lyric if she sees any of you coming. I can’t risk anything happening.”
It was in that moment, Paolo realized how much he’d grown to love Lyric. It was quick but real.
“We’ll stay around the perimeter, on standby if you need us,” Gino responded.
“Two cars,” Dante added. “We’ll follow you.”
The crowd in Night Shade was thinning. It was almost closing, and the last call for alcohol was two hours ago. The four weaved their way through what remained of the crowd. Gino stopped momentarily to tell the bartenders to shut down fast tonight. Then they were out the door and into the night to claim the woman Paolo broke all his rules for.
