“Go,” I order, pointing to the guards. “Car’s ready.” I turn my back to her. I need to get back to Elise. I do not want word getting to her before I have a chance to tell her anything. “We’ll talk after you’ve followed our protocol.”
“Wait!” Anna screams, her voice shaking with anger. “Go get Santo. Get Santo! You all think he’s one of you, don’t you?” She laughs. “You don’t know a thing. Go get him and see what he tells you.”
Wait.
What?
I look to Romeo and Romeo looks back to me. We suspected Elise’s father had an insider here at The Castle, but we never found them. Romeo got rid of all our staff and started from scratch. But Santo? No way. I don’t believe for a minute Santo’s capable of betraying any of us. He’s cold and some might even say heartless, but he’s loyal to the core.
Still…
“Where is Santo?” I ask.
Romeo scowls, his eyes still on Anna Regazza. “Stepped outside with Leo.”
I call Leo, who answers on the first ring.
“Yeah, Tavi?”
“Leo, we’ve got a situation here in the Great Hall.”
“So I’ve heard.” Leo’s voice is slurred. He’s been partying hearty today after all he’s been through. “What can I do for you?”
“I need Santo.”
“Santo?”
“Yeah, Santo.” I’m running out of patience. Rome’s gone very, very still.
“He ain’t here, Tav. I think he left. And where’s Elise? I don’t see her either…”
My blood runs cold.
CHAPTER 14
Elise
“Elise? Elise, it’s time to cut the cake.” Marialena, who fancies herself my personal wedding coordinator, waves from where she stands. “Where’s Tavi?”
I glance back to the door he left through. He didn’t tell me I couldn’t follow him, though it was implied.
I’m a Rossi now. The concept both thrills and terrifies me.
Rossis get shit done.
I want to see my husband.
“I’ll find him,” I tell her with a smile. “Distract the crowd with your stunning good looks, will you?”
When Marialena grins, her whole face lights up. She looks like a model, and something tells me she’s very aware of the effect she has. “You got it, baby.” With a wink, she tugs the little sleeves of her dress down her arms, baring her shoulders, then shakes her mane of long, long hair and gestures to the DJ.
“Time for a game!”
I enter The Castle amidst groans and cheers and Marialena’s charismatic laugh.
A member of staff greets me in the kitchen, an older man with a balding head. “Need something, miss?”
“No, I’m just looking for my husband.” Husband. It feels funny calling him that, like I’m trying on a new pair of shoes that fit well but haven’t been broken in yet. I need to use his name, though. I need some clout. “Have you seen him?”
“I saw him a moment ago. Not sure where he went, though?” He frowns. “He headed toward the office, I think. Or thereabouts anyway.” He gestures in the general direction of the secretive rooms at the back of The Castle.
The office… I’ve been in every room in this house and can’t recall a room they referred to as the office. Upstairs, maybe?
“Ottavio!” I shout, but this place is huge. Though everyone but staff seems to be outside right now, quieting the usually bustling home, my voice is still swallowed by the sheer size of the place. “Tavi!”
Of course today of all days I don’t have my phone on me. Normally, I’d call or text him.
I walk past the pantry and head to the war room. He did say this was once a place for business. Someone did, anyway. But the war room is empty, and when I glance toward the entrance to the hidden dungeon, I turn quickly away. That was not a happy time in my life. I was riddled with grief and terrified, and don’t want to remember that.
But when I turn, I hear a voice. I pause. I hear several, actually, muffled. Do the voices sound strained or pained?
I lean against the door and listen.
No. This isn’t my business. I don’t care if they have a prisoner. I don’t care if they’re questioning someone or punishing them, I don’t care.
I turn quickly away and march back toward the library.
No one’s there, either.
I sigh, trepidation growing with every step that I take.
Where is he?
When I come to the courtyard, adjacent to the Great Hall, I recognize Romeo’s voice. “Secure her,” he snaps. “I do not want any more surprises until Tavi speaks to Elise.”
Secure her? Does he mean me? I just took vows to Ottavio. That means I’m free now, not…
I come to a sudden stop. I wish I could push a button and make myself invisible. I have a terrible feeling I shouldn’t be here.
No. No they’re talking about someone else.
“Elise? Elise, where are you!”
I nearly cry in relief at the sharp but familiar sound of Tavi’s voice somewhere behind me. I look and don’t see him. He’s trying to find me, then.