Page 36

Chapter 36

Massimo

We're back on the plane speeding home, and I can't get there fast enough.

I tolerated another full day of meetings, then boarded the plane as soon as we could. I insisted Zio Marco take the bedroom as I wouldn't be sleeping. I'd stay up even though it meant I'd be up for over twenty-four hours. It would be midnight or later in San Francisco when we landed, and I was planning on sleeping with Nova in my arms.

During the flight home, I've alternated between ruminating on the Don's meeting and trying to decipher Gabe's report about Nova.

He told me about giving Nova her 'birth control' pill and her shutting down. She wouldn't even speak with Gemma; she was back to being withdrawn.

I had re-watched the security footage to see if I could figure it out. Initially, my heart had soared, watching her with Jerome, relaxed and laughing and learning to cook. Then Gemma came and snuck her a sip of the espresso. I've replayed Nova and Gabe's brief conversation repeatedly. Gabe hadn't said anything to hurt her, so my best guess is that she's interpreting his words through the distorted lens of her hellish experience with her father.

The reminder about her father brings Renzo's warning about Julien Moreau and his plans for Nova. How could anyone, let alone her father, even contemplate handing her over to a deranged animal like him?

And what the hell is the link between the French mafia and Vincenzo ?

As Renzo warned, I didn't bring up the vote again. I caught Vincenzo watching me with hooded eyes; he knew Renzo and I had gone to Tony's fights. My knuckles were split and bruised from beating on Beast, and I made no effort to hide them. But he didn't say anything.

The meetings had been tense. Not that we always get along, but this time was different. There was more scheming and plotting than usual.

The only positive aspect of this trip was that I got to speak with Zio Riccardo about Gemma. He didn't like that I wanted to lure her away from Italy, but admitted he had no intention of giving her any leadership role. Riccardo wasn't confident I could convince Gemma to move to America, though, as Italy was her home.

I, on the other hand, think my uncle is short-sighted when it comes to his daughter. He underestimates both her leadership capabilities and the one draw America has: Gabrielle Ricci.

But my thoughts of swaying Gemma to 'my side' and convincing her to be my second-in-command are forgotten the moment we land, and I see Gabe's stiff posture as he stands on the tarmac beside my vehicle. His dark eyes meet mine and dread coils in my gut. His gaze shifts to Marco and he inclines his chin in greeting.

My gut knows that something has happened while we were flying home, even though Gabe hadn't notified me. However, now that my phone is turned back on, it's blowing up with notifications from Vito.

"What's happened, Gabrielle?" Marco asks, glancing down at his phone as it lights up with notifications coming in as well.

Gabe's eyes swing back to me. "Two of Mancini's men have been spotted in the city."

Instantly, I'm rigid.

Marco looks tired but fully alert and turns to me. "That snake is getting bold and sending spies. We know he has an agenda here based on what happened with Lixin and Amazu. But if he really thinks you have kidnapped the Mancini Princess," he says in disgust, "then he'll get bolder yet."

Gabe subtly steps between us as I'm about ready to clench my uncle's throat because of his tone referring to Nova. "We shouldn't discuss this out in the open," he warns .

"Marco, go home." My voice is hard as steel, and his eyes widen in surprise. I soften my next words. "Go home and get some rest, Zio . I'll debrief you in the morning of our progress."

"We captured one." Gabe eases back, seeing that I'm not about to rip my uncle's throat out with my bare hands for unknowingly disrespecting Nova. "We're searching for the other one."

Vengeful heat pours into my blood. "Vito has him in the playroom?" Gabe nods, and I turn back to my uncle. "The order still stands. I put you through the paces with this trip. You're not a young man anymore, Zio ."

"I'm not even sixty," he grunts, but then stifles a yawn. "You're sure?"

I clap him on the back. "Absolutely. If Vito and Raf already have one, the guy is in good hands."

Marco laughs. "Call me if you need anything though." He walks off with Tony, his head bodyguard, to the waiting SUV.

Gabe walks around the front of my car while I toss my bag in the trunk and get in the passenger seat.

He eyes me as I buckle up my seat belt. "The playroom or home? Gemma is at the house with Nova, and all the guards," he reassures me because my best friend knows me well and has an idea of how deep my obsession with Nova runs. "I've also increased the security to guard the perimeter; no one can get in. Nova is safe."

My jaw tightens. I want nothing more than to go home to Nova, especially since my uncle's comment about her solidifies Renzo's warning that my family could very well not protect her if something happens to me. I need to make her my wife as soon as possible, but the urgency to fuck a baby into her slams into me like a Mack truck.

I also want to investigate why she pulled away and retreated inward again after her conversation with Gabe this morning.

But first things first. Mancini is a bold motherfucker, getting bolder by the minute, and we have one of his men.

I know whoever Mancini sends into our territory to find evidence that I have Nova won't be high-level or from his inner circle. Therefore, any information we torture out of them won't be Mancini's deep, dark secrets that I need to know, but he'll fucking do.

He'll be the proxy for my rage against Mancini.

I crack my knuckles. "The playroom."