<b>34.1 </b>


    L


    The thing is, I’ve already considered it. That’s how <b>crazy </b>this has made me. I actually considered reaching out to that prick


    detective to ask him for help to find his kid. He doesn’t need to know about us, only that the girls are missing. He’d have fifty cars out there looking for her within minutes, if not more. I already know how far he’s willing to go when something matters to him. But I also know what a pain in the ass he is, and I’m not about to have him barking up my tree with questions.


    That’s an absolute end–of–the–road, “all other possibilities have been exhausted” sort of step. We aren’t there yet. After calling all the hospitals in the area to ask if they brought in any girls matching their description, there’s not much we can do but wait <b>for </b>one of them to show their face.


    And when they do? This isn’t going to work out well for either of them.


    Especially my little bird. Roger could be right. She might still have been in shock and reacting rather than thinking. That doesn’t mean I can’t be fucking furious with her and my daughter–who knows better.


    I’ve been too soft on her. Though, God knows, with a mother like hers…


    Why did it take me so long to see what I missed? I stop dead in the center of the room, and my mouth falls open when a gigantic piece of the puzzle falls into ce.


    “Motherfucker.”


    “What? Did you think of something?”


    “Yes, I fucking did. How did I not see it?”


    “See what?”


    I’m already pulling up Joe Smith’s contact information on my phone. What did he say again? I can’t remember how he described it. The line rings once.


    He picks up, his voice warm but professional. “Mr. Rossetti, what a pleasure-”


    “Thest time I spoke to you, you said Amalia’s been spending time with a kid young enough to be her son.”


    “That’s right.”


    “And you never got a good look at him?”


    “Never at his face, no. He’s tall, athletic build.“Like Luciano is–<b>was</b>.


    Roger throws his hands into the air, lost. Covering the phone with my hand, I murmur, “I never thought about it. I was too distracted. Smith told me he saw Amalia with some young guy out in public. And somehow, Luciano got his hands on a photo of Caterina and me. Now, where do you think he would have gotten that from?”


    “You think Amalia might be behind some of this?”


    “I don’t know. I only know if she’s that dead set on hurting Caterina<b>, </b>it wouldn’t matter to her if Tatiana was a casualty. She’s that fucking determined to get back at me. Hell, using Tatiana might make the hurt worse. It’s not like she ever gave a shit about being a mother.“.


    Judging by the way his mouth screws up in a skeptical smirk, he’s unconvinced. “Think about this for a second.”


    No<b>, </b>I’ve done enough thinking. It’s time to act. I want answers from that vindictive bitch. And if it means getting her off the street and out of Caterina’s path, even better.


    “I want Amalia found now,” I bark into the phone. “And the second you set eyes on her, you tell me. Do not lose sight of her. I’ll <b>pay </b>you three times your rate. Just find her so we can have a talk.”


    “Consider it done<b>.</b><b>” </b>If only everyone on my payroll could be that unproblematic.


    Once I’ve ended the <b>call</b>, Roger ventures<b>, </b>“Do you really think Amalia would do something like that to Tatiana<b>?</b><b>” </b><ol start="172"><li>172. </li></ol>


    34.1


    My hand tightens around the phone until my knuckles ache. “She already fucking told her about Caterina and me<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    His brows draw together. “When did this happen?”


    “When Tatiana was in Europe. She knew before she got home. Only two people would have reached out to her about it, and I doubt my kid would have taken a call from Luciano.” The more <b>I </b>think about it, the more sense it makes. I immediately suspected Amalia minutes after Caterina first showed me the photo. Then<b>, </b>Caterina tried to run off<b>, </b>and I didn’t think the problem through.


    Amalia gave Luciano the photo. What else did she give him? A bunch of information<b>, </b>rumors, and lies that fucked with his head until he tried to run Caterina down. Or maybe Amalia convinced him to do it because they’re fucking. I’m getting more questions than answers at this point.


    “She had someone following you,” Roger marvels, shaking his head.


    “Exactly. And once she saw pictures of us together, she could’ve started following Caterina instead. Who knows? She could be following her now.” And there’s nothing stopping her from doing whatever the hell she wants to get back at me for cutting her


    off.


    The more I think about it, the more convinced I am. She had something to do with Luciano going apeshit. It’s almost enough to make calling Charles, Caterina’s father, sound like a smart idea.


    Before I can go through with the idea, the phone rings, and my heart seizes.


    “Caterina,” I breathe before hitting the green button while Roger sighs.


    “Gianni?” her voice is small, a whimper. Before I can demand anything from her, fear in her trembling voice freezes my blood. I need you toe here right away. There’s something wrong with Tatiana.”