Page 84 of Dirty Mafia King

“We discovered he was missing less than five minutes ago, sir. I was about to notify you.”

“Search the woods, and get a dog to help track him.”

“The woods,” he shouts to whoever is nearby. The thump of running boots fills the line.

“If Renzo’s not locked inside the facility in the next half hour, you’re dead.” I disconnect, toss the cell phone on the dresser, and pace the room.

Fuck.

I cross the room, back and forth, but it doesn’t calm me down. “This little shit is going to ruin us,” I mutter, sitting on the bed.

“You’re a good father,” Alessia murmurs from behind me.

Stai scherzando?

For a few seconds I hesitate. Her soft expression says she’s not kidding, that she actually believes I am. Some tension eases as I reposition my body on the mattress so I’m facing her.

“I protected him,” I admit. “Indulged him and gave him choices—something I never had as a kid.”

“Renzo’s a free spirit. You nurtured that in him.”

I grunt, her assessment spot-on. “His ass should have been locked inside the dungeon the first time I discovered him with drugs. Figured it was a stage. Fucking growing pains.”

I’m suddenly tired, so goddamn tired. “He tell you what happened? How I learned I was a father?”

She bites her lip, then nods. She cares about the little shit, doesn’t she? And if Renzo’s involved her in his business, it’s likely reciprocated. Ma va’! I should have let Renzo have her. She’d be a calming influence on him.

“Know how old I was when I started caring for the twins?”

“Young,” she murmurs.

“Eighteen. What the hell does an eighteen-year-old know about raising kids? And my father was no help. He’s the reason I didn’t trust anyone with them—not the nannies, not their teachers, not the parents of their friends. Alcohol and drugs were my vices—I never expected a good-humored kid like Renzo would take things this far, and repeatedly.” I run my fingers through my hair. “Merda. If they don’t track him down…”

“They will,” she softly reassures me. “No one dares defy you. They’ll find him and help him.”

Her soothing tone relaxes me, as does her sweet face. High cheekbones. Perfect little nose. Plump, pouty lips. All framed by a halo of blond hair. Her heated cheeks and the nervous flutter of her eyelashes add to the wholesome illusion. I bet no one thinks twice about what she is or isn’t. She probably spent her life overshadowed by a greedy father and a wild-ass sister. Alessia justis, and I can’t help but find her attractive.

“And, if you visit him in the facility,” she continues, cheeks red from my regard, “and show him how concerned you are, maybe it’ll encourage him to finish rehab.”

It’s a good idea. “Tomorrow. I’ll take the helicopter.” I exhale sharply, decision made, then before I reconsider my actions and stop myself, I stretch out beside her on the mattress and curl into her.

Her body’s warm, and her hair smells like vanilla. She’s soft in every way that counts, and exactly what I need in this moment.

I nuzzle her ear. “You did me a solid. I won’t forget it.”

It takes a few minutes before she relaxes against me.

And a few more for me to fall asleep.

CHAPTER30

ALESSIA

Iwoke up in his bed, my wrists free and Bastian gone. The guards tracked my uncomfortable walk of shame back to the casita, assuming something happened because I spent the night in their boss’s bed. But what did happen is not what they think.

Bastian confided in me.

He trusts me.