Page 55 of Reckless Games

My inner voice mocked me. I still couldn’t have the only person I wanted.

Jacob guided me inside the building, his hand firm yet gentle on my arm. The place was sparse, but it was safe. For now. We entered a small apartment on the second floor. It was modest, with only the essentials, but it was still better compared to the hospital and everything else I had endured.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Jacob said, setting down a bag with some clothes and toiletries. “We’ll figure out our next steps from here.”

I nodded, still in a daze. “Thank you, Jacob. For everything.”

***

Chapter 31

Lorenzo

1 month Later

“Any updates?” I asked, the weariness evident in my voice.

Giovanni sighed heavily, shaking his head. “Nothing, Capo. I don’t think any of this is worth it. We’re chasing a mirage. You need to accept that she’s no longer—”

One harsh look from me had him clamping his mouth shut as I pulled the cigar away from my lips. “Since when did you grow a spine to talk back to me?”

I knew I shouldn’t be taking any of this out on him. Despite everything, he was still following my orders. But I didn’t ask for hopeless advice. The past few months had been a blur of anger and despair. As a man who always had control over every situation, no matter what the circumstances, I was doing a terrible job. “Remember who the boss is next time you speak to me.”

“Pardon, Capo,” Giovanni lowered his head in submission.

“Leave me alone,” I demanded, and he quickly obliged, leaving me to duel with my dark stream of thoughts.

The room fell into a heavy silence, the only sound the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of paper from the desk. I took another drag from the cigar, feeling the smoke fillmy lungs and then slowly exhale, watching the wisps disappear into the air. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, constantly looping back to Angela. It had been months since her disappearance, and every lead, every trail had turned into nothing. Giovanni’s words echoed in my mind, but I refused to accept them. She wasn’t dead. I knew my woman was a fighter.

I stood up abruptly, pacing the room, my mind racing. The frustration, the helplessness, it was eating me alive. Every day without her felt like a dagger slowly twisting in my chest. I walked to the window, staring out at the city below, the lights flickering like tiny stars in the distance. The world kept moving, oblivious to my torment.

“Angela,” I whispered. My hands clenched into fists, the cigar now a forgotten stub between my fingers. I couldn’t lose hope. Not now. Not ever.

But how long could I keep this up? The constant search, the sleepless nights, the endless meetings with informants who had nothing new to tell me.

I needed her back. Not just for me, but for my empire. Without her, everything felt meaningless. I turned away from the window, the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me.

“Giovanni!” I called out, my voice echoing through the empty room. He reappeared almost instantly, waiting for my next command. “Get everyone on alert. I want no resource untapped to find her. No stone left unturned, no corner unexplored. Understand?”

“Yes, Capo,” he replied, nodding firmly before turning to carry out my orders.

I watched him leave. I would find her. I had to. Because without Angela, I was nothing but a hollow shell, a king without his queen. And I refused to let that be my reality.

***

Angela

The past month has been an exhausting blur. Thanks to Jacob, I had managed to land a job as a cashier at a small, cozy café. It wasn’t much, but it kept me occupied and gave me a sense of purpose, even if it was temporary. Living in the apartment Jacob had arranged for me had its perks, but it also meant living with the constant fear of being found.

?I stood behind the counter, wearing a red wig and colored contact lenses that turned my eyes a shade of grey. The transformation was necessary, but it didn’t make me feel any less paranoid. Every time a customer walked in, I felt a jolt of anxiety. But so far, my disguise has held up.

“Good morning, what can I get for you today?” I asked the next customer, forcing a smile as I took their order. My voice was cheerful, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t wait for my shift to end.

As I rang up the order and handed over the receipt, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the coffee machine. The red hair and grey eyes stared back at me. It was strange, seeing myself like this, but at least it meant I could walk the streets without too much fear.

“Thanks, have a great day,” I said, watching the customer leave before turning my attention to the next in line.

Working in the café wasn’t all bad. My previous experience had come in handy, and I quickly got the hang of things. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the gentle hum of conversations, and the occasional clatter of dishes—it all felt oddly comforting.

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