The Good Daughter (38 page)

* * *

“
Open it.”

Nia’s hands were shaking visibly as she reached for the small, ring-sized box.“Sandro, is this . . .” She couldn’t finish the thought. It would be too disappointing if-- She stopped that thought, too, and opened the box.

A solitaire diamond glittered at her.“Sandro, is this . . .” she began again.

“
I want you to stay in Italy as my wife.”

She’d been the last weeks in Italy, touring his country, falling more in love. “But--”

“
I could not bear it if you returned to the States.”

“
I can’t believe this. We haven’t known each other for very long.”

“
For me, the time we’ve known each other does not matter. I have explained to you about the--”

“
Yes, the thunderbolt. I remember. God, Sandro, I just can’t believe--”

“
You have not given me an answer. Do you need time to think about it?”

“
Think about it? It’s been my fantasy since we first met.”

“
And has being with me so far not turned out well?”

She gave a little laugh. “Well? It turned out better than my wildest imaginings.”

“
Perhaps to be my wife would be better than your wildest imaginings, too.”

“
I don’t know, I think my imagination has gotten better lately.”

He smiled and pulled the ring from the box, dangling it in front of her face. “Will you marry me, then?”

“
Yes, Sandro. God, yes.”

He slipped the ring on her finger.

In her sleep, Nia smiled and stretched.

“
Ah,
cara
, something makes you happy.”

She frowned. The voice didn’t sound as if it belonged to Sandro.

Something cold pressed under her chin. She opened her eyes.

Massimo hovered close to her face and she frowned. “This is twice that you have awakened me,” she snapped, trying for bravado though a chill had settled over her. Where was Angie? Why was Massimo here again?

“
Lucky you, I would say.”

He shifted and she became aware that the cold metal under her chin was a gun.
A gun!
All bravery fled her as a heavy lump settled in her stomach and tremors shook through her body.

Had they found Sandro, and Massimo had been sent to kill her?

Her thoughts must have showed on her face.

“
No, we still do not have your husband. This is between you and me.” Massimo nodded to someone over his shoulder. “Take the kid.”

Chapter 31

Angie fidgeted in his chair while Carlo ranted and paced the floor of his private dining room.

“
I can’t believe he outsmarted me.”

Irritation ate at Angie. He felt antsy being away from Nia and her son. If Massimo showed up at the warehouse, Angie didn’t think Giovanni could be trusted to do the right thing. Still, Angelo managed to keep impatience from his voice as he answered his boss respectfully. “You always knew Sandro was a very smart man.”

“
This goes beyond smart.” Carlo pounded his fist in the air. “He was diabolically clever, stealing all my fucking money like he did.”

“
And he nabbed your daughter, too.”

Carlo stilled. “He won’t hurt Marisa.”

Angie looked his boss in the eye. “You have his wife and son, can you be sure of that? A desperate man will do anything.”

“
Yeah, that’s what he said.” Carlo sounded thoughtful. “But still, other than hunting, he’s always been so non-violent. I’ve never even seen him lose his temper and he’s Italian!”

“
I’m sure a man might abandon any values he might have when his family’s life is in danger. Isn’t that how you got him to cooperate the first time?”

Carlo frowned at his underboss. “I never expected he would try anything so underhanded. He’s been like a member of my own family. I watched him grow up, for God’s sake.”

“
Frankly, Carlo, I don’t think this is just some rebellion. He is serious about wanting away from the ‘family.’ Why can’t you make an exchange and--”

“
I can’t let him call the shots!” Carlo exploded. “I’m the boss of this family; I’ve outsmarted the cops in two countries. No way a soccer superstar with a big ego is going to bring me down.”

Carlo paced to the wall and banged his fist, rattling the framed pictures of past hunting trips.

Angie didn’t back down. “That’s just it, Carlo. He is a soccer star--he has a worldwide following. You can’t just whack him out.”

“
I can take out his wife and kid--”

Angie’s blood ran cold. “I’m sure there’d be some sort of retaliation. You’d have the FBI crawling all over us.”

Carlo snorted. “As if they aren’t already. Their deaths can be made to look like an accident.”

“
As much as Sandro loves his family, if you kill them, he won’t stop until you’re dead.”

Jerking up his cell phone, Carlo jabbed in a number. “Then he’ll have to have an ‘accident’, too.” Apparently, there was no answer on the phone. Frustrated, Carlo pulled the phone away from his ear and punched in another number. “Why is no one answering their goddamned phone?” He threw the phone on the table. “Where the hell is everybody? First, Luigi disappears and now Massimo--”

The chilled blood in Angie’s veins turned to ice. “Massimo is missing? I thought he was here when you called me.”

“
I sent him to find Luigi. Now I can’t find either one of them. They don’t answer their phones. Fuck.”

“
How long’s Luigi been missing?”

“
I was talking to him when Sandro showed up and interrupted my lunch.” Carlo splayed his hand over his stomach. “I still have indigestion. It’s been hours.”

“
You think he’s in on this?”

“
Who’s in on what?”

“
Luigi. Surely you’ve figured Sandro had to have inside help. What if Luigi’s the one who helped?”

“
What! That’s ridiculous--” Carlo broke off and frowned. “Luigi wants to marry Marisa. He has no reason to plot against me.”

“
Maybe he doesn’t want to wait for you to die. You know ambition has ruined many men.”

Carlo shook his head. “Not Luigi. He’s as loyal as you are, Angie. I’d trust you both with my life.”

“
Then where is he?”

“
I don’t know, but Massimo is missing, too. Are you gonna suggest my son is plotting against me, too?”

Angie had a nasty suspicion Massimo had something else on his mind at the moment. Yet he couldn’t get up and walk out on Carlo without his permission and check the theory. The mood Carlo was in, he’d likely shoot Angie.

“
Been known to happen in other families, Carlo. A man never can be too careful.” At Carlo’s thunderous look, Angie wished he’d bitten back his response. Worry was addling his mind, making him speak before thinking. “Of course, that’s not the case with Massimo. He’s loyal,” Angie soothed. “Call the office, see what’s happening there.”

“
Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Carlo picked his phone up and punched in a third number. “Julia,” Carlo said to his assistant, “you found out anything yet? What? You got the bank president out of bed and he’s going to the bank now? Good thinking. Let me know the second you find out. And remind me to give you a little extra something.” Carlo disconnected the call and looked at Angie. “You heard.”

“
That was brilliant, Carlo. Julia’s as tenacious as a bulldog, she’ll find out about those accounts for you.” Angie stood. “I better get back to Sandro’s wife and kid. They may be too much for Giovanni--”

“
What? A woman and a little kid? Don’t you have them locked up?”

“
Yeah, but--”

Carlo waved his hand dismissively. “She’ll be fine.”

“
You know she’s escaped before.”

“
You think I’m stupid? I think she’s tired and worn down now, and too worried about what I’ll do to her kid if she tries anything.”

“
What
would
you do with her kid if she tries to escape?”

Carlo looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. I figured just threatening her would keep her in line. Maybe we’d have to shoot her if she does it again.”

“
What!” Angie tried to rein in his dismayed reaction.“There was a time when we didn’t hurt women.”

Carlo snorted. “That’s old school.”

Angie found himself inclined to believe those rumors about Carlo’s wife. “But if Nia’s dead,” Angie argued, “she won’t be much use to us.”

“
I didn’t say we’d kill her. Aim for her legs. Can’t run with shot up legs.”

Angie wasn’t going to be aiming his gun at any part of Nia’s body. He didn’t want anyone else aiming a gun either. “She’s a soccer player, Carlo. You shoot her legs and you ruin her career.”

Carlo shook his head and gave Angie a look. “Then she shouldn’t try to escape, should she?”

Just then, Carlo’s cell phone chirped. He picked it up. “Yeah?” His face turned a pasty white. “You’re sure? All gone and nothing they can do?” He paused. “Of course, they’re gonna look into it. You’re goddamned right they’re gonna look into it. How could that have happened?” Carlo laid the phone on the table and sat down hard.

“
You okay, Carlo? You don’t look so good.”

“
It’s gone. All the money is really gone.”

“
Can’t they find it?”

“
They can look where the deposits went, but if it’s a legitimate account, legitimate bank, and it looks like a legitimate transaction, I’m screwed. He said, of course, they would launch an investigation.”

Angie shook his head and whistled.

Carlo tapped his fingers on the table, then looked up. “Someone had to give them the password to get into those accounts in the first place.”

“
Maybe Sandro persuaded Marisa to talk.”

“
Marisa’s on the accounts for an emergency, but she doesn’t know the passwords to them. Just Roberto, me and Luigi . . . Now, Luigi’s missing.” Carlo frowned. “Maybe he is looking to take over the operation like you said. Why’d you say that? You heard something?”

Angie held out his hands. “Just a thought, Carlo. No, I haven’t heard nothing. You know I’d’ve told you.”

Carlo slapped a fist on the table. “Well, I got no choice now. I’m gonna have to deal with Sandro.” He jerked up the phone once again. “All right, Sandro, where do you want to meet? And who are you bringing?”

Angie looked at his watch impatiently. He’d been gone way too long.

“
Okay, Dave and Marisa and nobody else. I’m bringing Angie and Massimo and your wife and son . . . what do you mean, you’re gonna bring someone else, then? I got you outnumbered? All right then. One more man. What’s his name?”

Chapter 32

“
No!” Nia flew up off the cot after Giovanni as he stripped Daniele away from her. Her cry woke her son and the boy promptly started screaming. “Don’t take my son!”

Massimo knocked her back down. The brushed steel on the gun gleamed under the artificial lights as he pointed it in her face. The door shut behind Giovanni. Daniele’s screams faded as Giovanni walked away.

Rage shook through every muscle in Nia’s body. Yet the deadly looking gun in her face kept her from any rash moves. “What are you doing with my son? Tell Giovanni to bring him back!”

“
Cara
, you are in no position to be giving orders.”

“
Hurt him, and I’ll kill you.” Her chest heaved and her voice shook, but a calmness descended upon her.

Massimo smiled at that. “You make big threats with my Beretta shoved in your face.”

“
You don’t have the balls to shoot me.” With a quick move, she knocked the gun aside and rolled off the cot. She sprang to her feet, preparing to battle.

Fury in his face, Massimo rammed his fist against her jaw, his hand still wrapped around the black grip of his weapon. Pain exploded in her head, forcing her to stumble backward. She landed against the wall, and worked hard to keep her footing.

He didn’t shoot her, but that was little consolation with her jaw throbbing like electric volts were arcing through it. She tasted blood in her mouth, felt it dribbling past her lips.

Massimo advanced upon her. She knew she’d have to take him out fast. Her strength would never last against his. She blinked, trying to clear the pain away, but he was too fast.

He pinned her body against the wall, the cold barrel of his gun stroking against her throbbing face. “You will see soon,
cara
, just what kind of balls I do have.” With his free hand, he grabbed her right breast.