Page 56 of His & Hers

Very wrong.

23

LUCAS

I nodded slowly, as the woman before me listed the qualities she believed she had to make the perfect wife for me.

"She doesn't speak English," I muttered, as she sent a panicked look to her father.

"She can learn," he offered, as I shook my head.

"I'm not interested. I'm done for today."

The girl stared at me in horror, her perfect mouth quivering in disbelief. In her mother tongue, I spoke to her quietly.

"You're perfect. Just not for me."

I walked out, suddenly annoyed.

Why did I feel like I was doing something wrong? Every leader had a wife, and a mistress if needed.

So why was my mind on one woman alone?

I made my way to a cafe where I ordered an espresso, calling Richie.

"How are things there?"

"Everything is running smoothly, Boss. We have recruited the remainder of Andre's men, took on the willing girls- and released the unwilling."

"Good," I said gruffly, my eyes closing as I tried to avoid asking the inevitable. "The girl?"

"Which girl, Boss?" he asked quietly, as I gritted my teeth.

"Alice."

"Uh, she's disappeared from our radar Boss. Her mother and father too."

I narrowed my eyes, my heart falling in my chest.

"Are you completely fucking stupid?"

"We can't locate them. They got on a private jet—”

"So she could be in more fucking danger. How can I trust you with a damn thing? You're as useful as an empty ball sack."

I was furious. I ended the call, dialing her number before I changed my mind.

Dead.

I hailed a cab, my decision made. If something had happened to her, I would never forgive myself. Italy suddenly felt like a lifetime away from where she was, and of all the reasons to be here...

Within two hours I was in the air. It had cost an arm and a leg, but there was no other option. Maybe Andre knew people; bigger people than him. It wasn't impossible.

The flight dragged, despite the many movies they had showing. The flight attendant made it clear she was available for any other distractions I may need, but I was far too irritated to even address her.

Where the fuck are you, Alice?

There was one positive. Wherever she was, she was with Leonardo Cape.