Page 91 of Sins of Bliss

“THAT YOU DON’T ALWAYS WIN, VINNIE.”

Lowering my gaze to my lap, I realize how deeply rooted his hatred for me is. It doesn’t matter if I live or die, or if Sly lives or dies. Either I’ve lost someone I love, or the ones I love lose me. Either way, Joseph will always see me as the woman who ruined his life. In his mind, I’ve won, regardless of the outcome. There is no winning for him.

There’s just an end.

Looking up at him, our gaze connects, and the amount of malice reflected in his eyes takes my breath away, shattering my heart in the process. He truly hates me. I can see it as clear as day on his face as he sneers at me, looking like he’d love to end me right here and now.

But that wouldn’t give him the satisfaction he’s hoping for. He wants the audience. The hurt.

He wants someone else to feel the pain he’s feeling.

Tapping his pointer finger against his watch, he smirks, acting as though this is all just fun for him, while my fight-or-flight instincts start to kick in.

My heart hammers in my chest, but I hold my chin up, staring at him with an unwavering stare as he tells me, “Tick-tock, Vinnie. If Sly doesn’t show up within the next three hours, I’ll make sure he does.”

Chapter 31

Sly

The amount of people in my home while my wife is missing is a problem. Instead of continuing to look for her, everyone is crowded around my kitchen, yelling at each other while I stand against the wall, watching it in what seems to be slow motion.

It’s been four hours since Vinnie was due to arrive home. Four hours of my heart feeling like it’s been ripped from my body, and like my lungs are being squeezed with an iron fist.

And to learn that it’s not just my wife missing, but our child she carries, too? It feels as though the rug has been swept from beneath me—like the world is playing a cruel, cruel joke.

I spent hours riding around the city on my Ducati, swerving in and out of traffic as I looked everywhere I could think she might be.

Raina searched the stores she enjoys shopping at.

Cecilia searched all of Central Park on foot.

Sully and Nixon went to the grocery store where Sully ran into her, then back to her apartment to see if she turned up there.

Luciano and Enzo went their separate ways, not elaborating on where exactly they searched, but I trust Luciano went tothe places he thought he may find his sister. Lorenzo, I can’t be too sure he even looked for her, but his presence counts for something.

Wasting no time, Luciano looped his father in, and Maurizio pulled together his security team to start their search. Andstill, there has been no sign of her anywhere.

But I know who is behind this. I know it as certain as I know the sky is blue, and the grass is green.

“Think, Luciano. He’s your brother. Where could he have taken her?” Raina snaps, glaring at him from across the island. She is confident Joseph’s behind this, too.

He glares back, holding her eye contact as they play a silent battle of the wills. She swipes at a tear that falls, then crosses her arms over her chest, never looking away.

I know she feels guilty. She and Vinnie track each other through their cell phones, and Raina immediately thought of that, only seconds later to realizeIhave her cell phone. Watching the hope drain from her face was just another sucker punch to my gut.

“Have they checked his apartment? The office building he works out of?” Cecilia asks no one in particular.

“Of course they’ve checked those places. My father and his men went there first,” Luciano counters. “His car was at his apartment, too, which is unsettling.”

“Could he have hijacked Ross’s car?” Cecilia questions, the fear evident in her voice. Sully shifts closer to her but keeps his hands to himself.

“It seems like the most logical of explanations,” Nixon chimes in. “Have you tried calling him?”

“I did earlier, it just rang.”

“Try again,” Sully urges.

The sound of everyone’s voices is like nails on a chalkboard as I rack my brain about where they could be.

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