Page 78 of Empire of Seduction

The decision, though impulsive, felt right in my bones. I unlocked my phone and tapped to find her contact. We hadn’tspoken in over a month, but we texted every few days. Like me, she had an obsession with SSC Napoli, so we often talked about the team.

“Pronto,” she rasped into the phone.

Had she been asleep? I blew out a lungful of smoke. “Sorellina. Come stai?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“Hold on.” I heard her whisper to someone and then the rustling of sheets. She softly closed a door. “What’s going on? You never call in the middle of a workday.”

“Who is he?” My voice was sharp. “Have you asked Enzo to?—”

“No, I haven’t told Enzo. I don’t need him crawling up my ass about someone I’m fucking. And you’d better keep your mouth shut—or I’ll tell him about the time you came to visit me when you were supposed to be hiding on the yacht.”

I hissed through my teeth. That was the trouble with siblings. They had long memories and the best ammunition for blackmail. “Fine, I won’t. But is it serious?”

She snorted. “Vito. Please. Our family is very, very dysfunctional.I need to work on myself before I can expect to have a healthy relationship. Or so my therapist says.”

Therapist? Cristo Santo. I wasn’t telling Enzothat. “Good, so you can come here.”

“Thanks, but no. I’m not coming to Toronto in January. I have a weather app, bro.”

Bro? I shook my head though a grin tugged at my lips. “Not Toronto. I’m in New York at the moment and I need your help. You know I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t serious.”

The irritation died from her tone. “Of course I’ll come. Whatever you need.”

That was the other thing about siblings. They had your back, no matter what. “I’ll explain when you get here. Bring all your shit.”

“Wait a minute. I thought you meant to visit. Are you asking me to move over there?”

“I want you with me permanently.”

I could hear her breathing as she considered this. “Vito, I have a life here. Friends, a job. I can’t just up and move to another country. And what would I do there? Sit around in the freezing cold all the time?”

I didn’t want to ask it over the phone. I preferred to have the conversation face to face, when I could let her see how serious I was. “Just come and hear me out. That’s all I ask.”

“Should I be worried? Are you okay? Maz said some winery owner there has your balls in a twist. Do you need me to kick this girl’s ass? Is that what this is, V?”

“Dai, Paloma.” I rubbed my eyes tiredly.

She kept talking like she didn’t hear me. “I haven’t fought in three or four years, so I’m a little rusty, but if she’s giving you trouble, I’ll more than happily take her out.”

“This isn’t about her, I promise. I’m sending you a ticket to come tomorrow and I’ll explain everything when you arrive.”

“Va bene, va bene. But it better be first class, fratello.”

I grinned. This was almost word for word what Massimo said when I asked for his help. After we disconnected, I had one of the men arrange a ticket for her. I also let my brother know and suggested Paloma stay at Maggie’s house with him. He sent back a scream emoji, which I ignored.

That done, I continued to smoke. Why had Maggie disappeared today? I didn’t know, but I meant to find out.

fourteen

. . .

Vito

Once the SUVstopped in the gravel lot, I climbed out. Michael, Beppe, and Tommaso were waiting for me. I’d calmed down considerably on the ride, but I was still anxious to see Maggie for myself. I had to know what happened today.

---