Page 37 of Vanished in Vegas

“Babe, it’s fine,” he assured me, kissing the top of my head.

Antonio did a hand signal, in the direction of the plane. The door to the plane opened and two of Antonio’s men walked down the stairs with Uncle Tino. My uncle wore a black bag over his head and his hands were zip-tied in front of him.

They bounded down the stairs and over to us. There was a movement near one of the SUVs. A passenger door opened. The entire vibe around me intensified and I held my breath.

It’ll be okay. It’ll be okay,I repeated to myself over and over.

“Sofia, breathe.” Antonio kissed the side of my head. I didn’t trust myself to speak. I was scared out of my mind to see my father. What if–

“Oh, my God!” I squealed and took off over to the SUV. My arms wrapped around Arianna.

“You act like we haven’t seen each other in years,” she giggled, hugging me back.

“I’m so fucking happy to see you!” I said a little too excitedly.

“I’m happy to see you too,” Arianna laughed but stopped abruptly. She glared behind me. “Is that him?”

“Uncle Tino?” I asked, turning to look at Antonio, my uncle, and Antonio’s men.

“No! The fucker who fucking kidnapped you, Sofia! What the fuck!” she snapped at me. “I mean, what the– Wait? Is that the hottie from the wedding?”

Her words made me giggle.

“Yes. That’s thehottiefrom the wedding,” I replied.

“How the hell did that happen?” Arianna asked with her arms crossed in front of her chest and an eyebrow raised.

“I’ll explain, but first, where’s Dad?”

“He sends his regards,” she grinned ear-to-ear.

“What!” I gasped in disbelief. He wasn’t coming?

“Let me get this fucking dickhead uncle of ours and then I’ll give you his message okay?”

“Okay.”

We walked over to Antonio and them with my dad’s goons flanking us. Arianna stood in front of our uncle but looked at Antonio.

“Hello again,” she smirked.

“Miss Romano,” Antonio said coolie, grinning.

“Arianna? Arianna? Is that you?” my uncle gasped. “Tell these fuckers to let me go! Tell them–”

Tino’s words were cut off with Arianna’s knee to his balls. He dropped to the ground in pain.

“You fucking bitch!” Tino spat. Arianna grabbed his head and kneed him forcefully in the face. I heard bones crack from the blow. Tino cried out.

I couldn’t see his face but there was no doubt that he was covered in bed. His nose was most likely off-set from now being broken.

“Take him to the car,” Arianna ordered, snapping her fingers. One of my father’s men yanked Tino up by his bound hands.

“No! No! Please, stop!” Tino blubbered as he was dragged off to one of the SUVs, kicking and screaming.

“Leave us,” Antonio instructed his guys. Again, just like obedient servants they left without protest and went back onto the plane.

“Go back to the car,” Arianna said. My father’s men exchanged looks with one another. They weren’t as compliant as Antonio’s men. “I want to talk to my sister and him. I won’t ask again.”

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