ALFONSO

The following morning, my heart dropped in the pit of my stomach at the news I just received from her roommate.

Claudia is missing.

My mind refused to believe such news. How could that be possible? I made sure to drop her off inside their apartment around midnight I even kissed her goodbye with a promise that I would give her a ride to their office this morning so how could Anna inform me that she was missing?

"Are you sure that she didn't go to her parent's home?" I asked Anna while pacing their small living room like a caged beast.

The distraught woman shook her head while her eyes misted with tears. "No. I already called her mother but she's not there. I didn't want to alarm her parents because I might be wrong but I am scared that she just vanished in the thin air. It wasn't like her to do that."

"Are you sure she didn't go somewhere?"

Anna shook her head, nodding at Claudia's handbag on the sofa nearby. "She will not leave this apartment without her keys and wallet with her. The only way that she can go out without her things is when someone forcibly took."

"You mean she's been kidnapped?" The thought made the blood in my veins boil. Who the fuck will kidnap her? As far as I am concerned she doesn't have enemies that will go after her.

"I think so."

I wiped my face with my palms as frustration was getting the best of me. "We have to inform the authorities about this. Claudia might be in grave danger as we speak." I let out a furious sigh. "If I catch those kidnappers I will kill them with my bare hands."

"I'm terrified, Alfonso." Claudia's best friend admitted, her eyes filled with anxiety. "What if something bad happened to my friend? We have to find her as soon as possible."

"I know," I answered gravely, already making my way to the telephone on the side table. "I will ask for my friends' help. The duke has some connections that might be useful in this situation. I will just give him a call."

With shaky hands, I tried to dial Luca's number hoping that he was in his office. Thankfully, he answered after a few rings. "I need your help," I was aware of the worried expression Anna had been throwing in my direction. "I think someone abducted Claudia here in their apartment I need you to help me find her."

I was grateful that he was ready to help me at once. When I placed the receiver back on the phone I decided to call my cousin, Piero. I knew that we might not always be on the same page with him but I knew that I could count on him when needed.

I was about to leave the apartment to start tracking down Claudia when a newcomer arrived. My eyes instantly narrowed in his direction and I had almost forgotten about his existence.

Dante, the suitor.

The scowl deepens on my face when I notice that he's holding a bouquet in his hand and a box of chocolate. Wasn't he informed about the news of Claudia and me exclusively dating since a few days ago?

"What are you doing here?" I asked disapprovingly, giving him a cold look.

He smiled pleasantly in my direction, completely unbothered by my unwelcoming behavior. "I came here because I want to see, Claudia. Last time I checked this is where the woman I've been courting resides. Where is she, by the way?"

"She's not here," I replied curtly. The sooner I made to this man that he no longer had the chance with my girlfriend the better. Claudia was officially done accepting suitors because she already had me.

"Where is she?" He asked curiously, looking around the small apartment. "I need to talk to her."

I bit back the curse that wanted to escape my mouth. I've already been frustrated as hell and it doesn't help that this guy added to my irritation. In the end, I let out an exasperated sigh. "That's what we want to know. She's been missing since early this morning."

The sanguine expression on his face instantly changed. There was now a murderous intent in his face that I almost didn't recognize him. "What do you mean she's missing?"

"Anna believed that someone took her into their apartment," I explained the details, though I don't understand why I bothered to do it I think because I was desperate to find her and I was willing to accept help from everybody including this man if that means we could find Claudia as soon as possible.

"Fuck it!" He unceremoniously threw away the flowers and chocolate in his hand and bellowed someone from the doorway. And in an instant, the dangerous-looking men were already in the doorway. "Gather all our men we need to find Claudia. Now."

"What the hell is going on here?" I queried looking at him and the men arrived with him.

"I don't have time to explain but we need to find her," Dante replied, raking his fingers on his hair. "I have some idea where she might be."

"Where?!" I demanded, clutching the front of his suit. "Where is she so I can inform the authorities about it?"

"No police." I could see that the men with him were about to attack me when Dante shook his head silently giving them orders. He removed my hands from his clothes, trying to straighten the crease on his suit. "Let's not involve the police in rescuing, Claudia, shall we? I can assure you that we can save her without the help of the cops."

I frowned at him darkly. "Are you out of your mind? Why would we do something that stupid?"

He avoided my gaze, unable to meet my thunderous glare. "You have to trust me, okay? I can assure you that we can rescue her."

"Who are you exactly?" I demanded, studying him from head to toe. "I have been wondering about this since the first time I met you. You've been sketchy from the start."

Dante took a deep breath while giving me a pleading gaze. "Look. This is not the right time to discuss this matter. We have to save Claudia first and then I'll answer your questions once she's finally safe."

"I don't trust you," I informed him. I have to make sure that he knows that I don't trust him even if he's confident that he can rescue the woman I love from her captors... My eyes narrowed in his direction. "Wait. Don't tell me that you're the reason why Claudia is missing right now."

He avoided my gaze, my eyes started to fill with a red haze. I was about to attack him with my fist but the burly men with him stopped me from attacking their boss. "I hate to admit but that might be the case."

"You son of a bitch," I hissed at him, trying those men were still trying to stop me from doing something violent with this bastard. "Just what kind of life do you have for Claudia to be a drag on your mess?"

He was about to argue but then he decided to close his mouth and gave me an apologetic look.
"I didn't mean to let that happen that's why I tried so hard not to let her be in my personal life."

"So you're lying to Claudia all along?"

Dante winced visibly at my accusing tone but I didn't have time to be sympathetic I just wanted to find out about the trust in my girlfriend's disappearance. "I just don't want her to be dragged into the mess of my life but what I feel about Claudia had been genuine. I might lie to her about my personal life but what I feel for her is real."

"I don't believe your bullshit," I said, trying to release my arms from the death grip of his cohorts. "I don't know if I can trust you with this matter. It's better if you involve the cops in rescuing Claudia."

"If you want her safe you have to trust me even if it was the last thing you want. My family is the only one who can assure her safety right now. I will bet my life just to bring her back safe and sound." He held out his hand in my direction. "Can we call it a truce for now?"

I eyed his extended hand guardedly. "Who are you exactly? Can you be at least honest with me with your real name?"

He was silent for a moment mentally debating if he should answer my question or not but after long deliberation, he exhaled a deep breath. "Very well, my name is Dante Marchesi. I am from Sicily. My Famiglia will handle saving Claudia from our enemies."

"Oh, wait..." For the first time, Anna joined the conversation with her wide eyes directed to the man in front of me. "...Marchesi? Is that your surname? Don't tell me that you are a member of that powerful clan from Sicily?"

"Yes," Dante answered meaningfully. "I am a member of that family."

"What's going on here?" I asked, completely lost to their exchange. I looked at him and then at the silent woman sitting on the sofa until now.

"He's a member of one of the most powerful mafia clans in Sicily, Alfonso." Claudia's best friend informed me drily. "I don't know how Claudia managed to associate herself with the likes of him. I mean, he's a very dangerous man. He was that kind of man your mother warned you about if I had known his background I would not let him set foot in our apartment from the start."

"I know that you didn't like me but aren't you too harsh with your remarks, Signorina Anna?" Dante questioned, raising an eyebrow at the woman on the sofa.

She gave him a haughty look, shrugging indifferently. "I am just stating the truth."

I cleared my throat to stop their growing debate. "Look. Can we stop this conversation and let's rescue Claudia first? I think we're just wasting our time arguing here when we should be on our way to find my girlfriend's whereabouts."

Dante was about to say something but then he decided to keep it to himself whatever that was. "I need to go. I will inform you guys when we have a lead on Claudia's location."

"What do you mean?" I glowered at him insolently. "I'm coming with you. I will not let just sit still here and wait for your news."

"It will be dangerous." The mafia man replied, giving me a sardonic look. "A civilian man like you will just be a hindrance to our operation you better stay here and wait for Claudia's return."

"No," I said obstinately. I knew that I was being impossible here but I could not let just sit here and do nothing while patiently waiting for his news. "I will come with you. You can't stop me from coming."

He took a deep breath while pinching the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache at the moment. "Stop being difficult, will you? Your life will be in danger."

"It doesn't matter," I replied, whether he likes it or not I will come with him. I want to be there when we rescue Claudia from her captors. "My life is nothing compared to the agony of thinking Claudia is in grave danger right now."

"Stupid man," Dante muttered under his breath while shaking his head in resignation.

"I've heard that." I retorted back.

He looked at me with a long-suffering expression on his face. "Fine. Don't you dare to be inconvenienced once we're there or I will not hesitate to throw your ass in the line of fire? I don't have time to babysit you."

"I will not," I said confidently, staring straight into his eyes.

"We shall see." He answered giving me a dubious look. "Let's go."

I followed him outside the apartment and he didn't hesitate to start barking orders to the men who arrived with him. I assumed that these guys were his bodyguards of some sort. We got inside the car waiting for us outside and when the car sped away on the highway he gave me a gun as if it was nothing.

"You need that one," he said shortly, checking the ammunition on his .44 Magnum. "This will be quite bloody so prepare yourself, Orsini."

"I know that, Marchesi."