Page 330 of Valentino

I’m. Fine.

Everything. Is. Fine.

I shower, climb into bed and close my eyes.

Sinking into the mattress as sleep nears, I feel better knowing Anna is out of harm’s way. She’s angry with me now…but in time she’ll understand.

I can’t lose her too, she is the most important thing in my life and I need to know that she’s safe…that all of our families are safe.

Papa.

Tears well in my eyes, how did it go down?

Did Carlo just knock on the front door? He knew my father loved him.

Was it quick?

Stop.

Don’t think about it. This needs to be unpacked on the other side of this nightmare.

Now is not the time to fall apart.

Ring, ring…ring, ring….

“Fuck.” I sigh. “What now?” I glance at my phone screen.

Luigi

“What’s wrong?” I snap.

“We can’t find Anna,” he stammers.

“What do you mean you can’t find Anna?” I sit up in bed.

“She was right here beside me.” I can hear the panic in his voice. “We’re in the check-in line. I was lifting bags and I turn around and she was fucking gone.”

“Gone where?” I yell.

“I don’t know,” he cries.

“Is anyone there, has she been taken?” Panic screams through me and I dive out of bed.

“She’s not in the bathroom,” he cries. “She’s not answering her phone. We don’t know where she is.”

“What the fuck do you mean?”

“I don’t know where.”

“Find. Her,” I growl, I hang up and immediately dial her number.

The number you have called is currently unavailable.

“What the fuck?” I hang up and call again.

The number you have called is currently unavailable.

“Anna.” My heart begins to race. “Anna, answer your fucking phone!” I cry, I dial her number once more.