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.”

just

phone rang. He glanced at the

“Ricci,” he said, answering.

head of security didn’t waste time. “We’ve

Luca straightened. “And?”

“She vanished.”

that

a flight out of Milan two

in New York?” Surely, they can pick her up on the other side. People didn’t just vanish. Not in the

her name came through immigration at JFK or any of the other major airports. It’s

1642 Wed 25 Jun

Chapter 99

swore under his breath. “How is

wherever she is, she didn’t want to be

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

her. I don’t care

through his brain. If only he had believed her, If only

for over a week.

he had no

drummed on the steering wheel as he stared at the windshield, barely seeing the driveway in front of him. The call with

back up and dialed Ricci

security picked up fast.

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

“Understood. I’ll get a shortlist together and vet them

fast. And

“Yeah?”

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

“You got it.”

onto the passenger seat. His 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

was running–because he was the one who pushed her

all on

wheel, then snatched the

on the second ring, as always.

didn’t say anything