Chapter 1
Lorenzo did not ask Marcus another question.
That came later.
First, he turned toward his wife.
Sand clung to Alina’s dress. One elbow was scraped raw, but both arms were wrapped around Lucy.
The little girl’s fingers were buried in her mother’s sleeve.
Lorenzo crouched.
His voice dropped.
“Lucy.”
She looked at him through wet lashes.
“Anything hurt?”
She shook her head.
Alina’s breathing was still uneven.
“She landed on me.”
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened.
He looked toward Ramona.
She was standing again beside the collapsed sponsor frame.
Even now, she managed a smile.
Small.
Defiant.
As if the whole terrace had misunderstood her.
“Enough theater,” she said.
Lorenzo’s eyes did not leave hers.
The capos around him went silent.
That silence changed Ramona’s smile.
Only slightly.
Lorenzo turned back to Lucy.
“What else did Aunt Ramona tell you?”
Ramona’s hand stopped at her necklace.
Lucy looked at Alina first.
Alina brushed the girl’s hair back.
“You can tell Daddy.”
Lucy swallowed.
“She said Mommy was going away.”
Lorenzo’s eyes hardened.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Ramona exhaled through her nose.
“She’s three.”
Lorenzo did not look at her.
“What else?”
Lucy’s voice became smaller.
“She said Uncle Marcus already packed Mommy’s blue bag.”
Alina froze.
Her eyes moved immediately toward Lorenzo.
“I didn't pack anything.”
Marcus’s breathing changed.
There.
Lorenzo saw it.
He rose slowly.
“Anthony.”
One of the capos stepped forward.
“Go to our suite.”
Marcus shifted his weight.
Lorenzo noticed.
“Now.”
Anthony disappeared inside the clubhouse.
Nobody spoke for ninety seconds.
Ramona folded her arms.
Marcus stared toward the doors.
Then Anthony returned.
He was carrying nothing.
His face was different.
Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
Anthony glanced at Alina.
“Her blue suitcase is gone.”
Alina’s fingers tightened around Lucy.
Anthony continued.
“So are her passport, two dresses and half the cash from the room safe.”
Marcus finally looked at Ramona.
May you like
And Lorenzo realized the shove had not been the plan.
It had been what happened after the plan started going wrong.
