“I’ll be damned.” The words followed by an expletive left Jonathan’s mouth before he remembered he was sitting in a meeting with his boss and two clients.
The conniving little witch. To think he’d been convinced she was the sweetest, most innocent young woman he’d ever dated. To think she’d melted in his arms and kissed him for hours last night—only ten hours ago.
“Did you receive a message from the court?” Evidently, Dante hadn’t read his sister’s email or he’d have hit the roof.
“A very important one. Can we take a five-minute break outside?” He grabbed Dante’s arm and jerked him out of his chair. “Excuse us, gentlemen.”
“What are you doing?” Furious, Dante shook his arm free.
The two clients sent him worried glances. “I hope it’s not too bad for our case,” one of them said.
“No, not that bad. Come on, Cantari.” Jonathan pushed him to the door.
“What’s going on with you?” Dante asked when they stepped out.
“Check you messages. There must be one from your sister.”
“How would you know? Is that why you pulled me out of an important meeting?” he grumbled while opening his phone. “Damn it, she’s lost her mind. Dragging my grandmother back to the mafia’s territory when I did my best to bring them here. Being attacked hasn’t been enough for her.” His face turning red, Dante paced the corridor, paused and slammed the wall. “I have to go after them, get them back safely. Hell, I can’t leave my wife in her condition.” He cursed a few more times. “I’ll twist her neck for sure. I’ll lock her in her room for a week. No, for a month.”
Jonathan twitched his mouth. “Isabella is not a kid you can punish.”
“She was easier to handle when she was a child. Actually she’s always been strong-headed under her cute smiles and sweet voice.”
That was now obvious to Jonathan. Suddenly, he froze. “Where does Marco Raveno live?”
“In Palermo, we were neighbors.”
Jonathan’s fists clenched. “If he dares touch a hair on her head…” He punched the air hoping he could hit his new rival.
“Before harming her, you can be sure Marco would try his best to seduce her. He’s a good looking one according to silly women.”
Dante’s statement struck Jonathan right in the gut.
“I can’t…huh, I mean…huh, you can’t leave her there by herself.”
“I said I can’t leave now. Why don’t you go after them and bring them back?”
“Bring them back? Easy to say.” Jonathan scratched the back of his neck.
How had he been foolish enough to fall for Isabella?
No, he wasn’t in love with her. He just wanted to shake her, protect her, keep her in his arms. And kiss her till she cried mercy. Which she wouldn’t of course. She’d kiss him back and he’d beg her to stop or continue forever. “Damn it.”
“Don’t waste your time cursing. Leave right away and make sure they’re safe.”
Jonathan made a beeline to his office. With nervous fingers, he browsed Travelocity and confirmed that there were no direct flights from New York to Palermo. The shortest route was to fly to Rome and change planes to Palermo, which meant Isabella and her grandmother would be waiting in New York for a few hours.
Since it was already eleven o’clock, he wouldn’t be able to meet them in New York. Tough, he’d catch up with them in Rome or Sicily. He asked the receptionist to book him a non-stop flight from Miami to Rome while he drove home to his little apartment to pack.
Weighing every word, he slowly composed a text message to Isabella. He read it and changed it. Refusing to tell her about his plans, he edited some more, his tone changing from frustration and resentment to concern and alarm. Finally he sent his latest version.
Can’t believe u left. Why not tell me last night? So worried about u. When are u arriving in Sicily? Who is receiving u? Pl. reassure me. Jonathan
He packed, ate a quick lunch, and drove to the airport. As he parked his car in the long-term parking he heard the blip of his phone.
Sorry Jonathan. Honestly I couldn’t say a word. Afraid Dante would stop me. Had to go for my friend Emma’s sake. Arriving Rome 8 a.m. local time, then Palermo 10 am. Emma waiting for us. Don’t worry. I’ll text from there to reassure u. Thanks for understanding. xoxo. Isabella
Good, he’d land in Rome before them and would wait at the Palermo Airport. A smile hovered on his lips as he imagined her surprise. Maybe he’d have a chance to meet her friend Emma before Isabella arrived.