Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 99

Luca was halfway down the steps when he heard the door behind him open.

“Luca, wait.”

Antonio.

Luca paused but didn’t turn. He wasn’t in the mood for delays. His mind was on finding Sutton.

Antonio caught up, stopping beside him in the drive.

“You should’ve told me,” Luca said without looking at him.

“About Bella?”

h

Luca turned his head slowly. “Yeah. That you had feelings for her. That you’ve been walking around lately like a wounded bear.”

Antonio didn’t deny it. Just looked down at his shoes. “It didn’t seem like it mattered. Dad had made up his mind. You were always the one.”

“The one what?”

“The one who got everything. The business. The praise. The bride, sure–but the respect too. I didn’t build a fortune like you, Luca. I didn’t strike out and make my own name. I just followed the path Dad laid out.”

Luca let out a short laugh, but there was no real humor in it. “You work in the family business. That’s not nothing. You’ve kept it going. I only broke away because I hated shipping and exports. I still hate it.”

Antonio looked up. “So you really think I should marry her?”

“If anyone’s better suited to take over both businesses and keep this whole dynasty alive, it’s you. Not me. I don’t want it. I never did. I think in the long run both families will be happier with this arrangement. God, I think we both are.”

་་་་

They stood in silence for a moment before Luca clapped his brother on the shoulder. “Just don’t lie to yourself, okay? If you’re gonna, do it–marry Bella -do it because you want to. Not because you think you have to. But if the look on your face is anything to go by, I would say you are very happy.”

Antonio nodded. “Good luck finding her.”

the car, and just sat there for a second. He watched as his brother headed back

phone rang. He glanced at the

“Ricci,” he said, answering.

security didn’t waste time. “We’ve tracked Audrey’s

Luca straightened. “And?”

“She vanished.”

does that

she boarded a flight out of Milan two days ago. One–way ticket. Destination–New

York?” Surely, they can pick her up on the other

came through immigration at JFK or

1642 Wed 25 Jun

Chapter 99

his breath. “How

that now. But wherever she is, she

had a baby out there–and his woman. And no goddamn idea

her. I don’t care what it takes. Just

his veins with if–only’s pounding through his brain. If

for over a week.

was gone. And he had no one to blame but

barely seeing the driveway in front of him. The call with

phone back up and

of security

Luca said, no hesitation. “I want the best. Not

pause. “Understood. I’ll get a shortlist together

it fast.

“Yeah?”

don’t want this leaking. If a single word ends up in the press, you’ll be

“You got it.”

jaw clenched so tight his temples ached. The worst part wasn’t that Audrey had disappeared–it was that she didn’t want to be found. She’d erased herself. And that meant she wasn’t just

even say Audrey was running–because he was the one

all on

wheel, then snatched the phone back up and

on the second ring,

didn’t say