Page 75 of Valentino
“Yes. Tomasso.”
“Yeah, boss.”
“Stay close and follow Chiara home when she’s done, I want a current address.”
“On it.”
“Call me when she leaves.”
“Okay, bye.”
I hang up and catch up to the boys who have walked ahead.
This should be interesting.
ANNA
“Excuse me?” I blink, surprised.
“Is he alive?” Her eyes search mine.
“Carlo and I broke up,” I lie. “Months ago now.”
“Oh.” Her face falls.
“If he’s with you. . .” I act unbothered, “Why would you assume that I know where he is?”
“I haven’t heard from him in eight weeks.” Her teeth catch her bottom lip as if thinking. “This is the longest he’s ever gone without coming to me.” She gives a weak shrug. “You’re the only person other than myself that I know he would check in with.”
We stare at each other across the board table, her face is smug while betrayal sweeps though me all over again. “Can I ask….” Keep calm, I tell myself. “How long have you been married?”
“Seven years.”
“Seven years?” I gasp.
“It’s complicated.”
“Like how?” I snap. “Explain it to me because I am at a loss as to any situation that could be that complicated.”
She twists her fingers in her lap as if nervous.
“Please?” I say softer. “Maybe I can help you find him.”
“He worked for my father and we fell in love….” Her voice trails off.
“But?”
“My father forbade him to go near me, so we…. Snuck around and got married in secret.”
“Who is your father?”
“I’d rather not say.”
Lombardi.
“My father died but by that time, Carlo was in a relationship with you.”
Hmm…. So not Lombardi then?
