Page 85 of Merciless Monster

“I’m sorry Boss but she drugged me. I had no reason to think she would run. I’m sorry, Boss.”

“Not as sorry as you’re going to be when I get my hands on you. How can you be hoodwinked like this? Fuck! I’m surrounded by idiots!”

“I’ll start looking immediately, Boss.”

“You do that. And, Paolo, if you don’t have answers for me by the end of the day, then do yourself a favor and hide.”

The tight feeling I’ve had in my gut for a week makes sense at this moment. I knew something was wrong. I could hear it in Mia’s voice. She was distant, distracted, cool even. Elio kept banging on about how women need time and space and all that bullshit, but I knew in my heart that Mia was distancing herself from me emotionally.

All I can do now is wait. I can’t fly off to America again. Not now. I’ll do serious damage if I disappear again. I’ll lose face with all my investors. No. This time I have to sit tight and hope that the woman of my dreams comes to her senses.

* * *

“She’s ghosting me,” I say and throw down my phone.

“Are you sure, Dante? She could be having trouble with her cell. It happens.”

“No. There are untold ways of getting in touch with me if she wanted to. I’m telling you, Mia has given up on us. Why else would she leave LA and not tell me where she is?””

I haven’t heard from Mia since Paolo called me over a week ago. Everytime I call, I get a voicemail service. My texts aren’t going through, neither are my WhatsApps, and she hasn’t been seen on any of the other social media platforms. Mia is definitely icing me out.

The worst of it is I don’t know why. I haven’t said anything too pushy or offensive in the least, so I can only deduce from her silence that she’s having second thoughts about us.

“Dante, you have to focus. I’m really sorry to be a dick about this, but we have a very busy week ahead of us with regards to business.”

“How can I focus on work if I’m out of my mind with worry? What if something’s happened to them? What if someone took them?”

“Her family would have called you by now if that was the case.”

“I’m going to call Gina and find out if she knows anything. Give me a minute. I’ll join you downstairs as soon as I’ve spoken to our cousin.”

“Fine, but hurry up. We can’t be late for this meeting. Corelli is gunning for our family as it is. We can’t afford to give him ammunition to use against us.”

“Yes, yes, Elio. I said I’ll be right there!”

My brother leaves the room in a huff. I can’t worry about that now. I dial Gina’s number. It’s late in LA, so I hope she’s still awake. This can’t wait a moment longer.

‘Hello…” she answers in a sleepy voice.

“Gina, it’s Dante.”

“Dante? It’s the middle of the night. What is it?”

“Where’s Mia?”

“Good to hear from you too, cousin.”

“Gina, I don’t have the time for your sass right now. Where is my son?”

“I don’t know, Dante.”

“You’re lying!”

“don't you yell at me. I’m not one of your lackeys.”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

“I don’t know where Mia is, Dante. I only know that she said she was thinking of leaving town for a while to get her head straight.”

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