Chapter 82 Missing
GIOVANNI’S POV
I stared at the inventory manifest, the numbers blurring together as I tried to focus on anything other than the memory of Arya sleeping in my arms.
The warehouse was cold and empty, and it was exactly what I needed to clear my head.
"The shipment from Napoli arrives Thursday," Enzo said, sliding another folder across the metal desk. "Adriano confirmed the routes are clean. No complications."
I nodded, scanning the documents without really seeing them. I made sure to leave before dawn, careful not to wake her, telling myself that it was better this way.
Things were less complicated. Besides… It was a mistake.
"You know," Enzo leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips, "Jasmine has been dropping hints about wedding venues."
I looked up from what I was working on and raised an eyebrow. He smiled, tilting his head to the side.
"Handle your own relationship drama," I muttered, signing off on a transport authorization.
Enzo chuckled. "I'm serious. She showed me this place in Tuscany last week. It had gardens, a villa, you know… the whole romantic setup." His grin widened. "It made me start thinking about making it official."
My pen paused mid-signature. "You're joking."
"Why would I be joking?” He said, leaning closer. “I love her and she loves me. Why not?"
I huffed, still stunned by hus confession. “Well… I mean, if that’s what you went then you know I’ll always support you. Jasmine is a good lady, perhaps a little too good for you.”
“Whatever you say, boss.” He teases, bumping his shoulfer against mine. “Maybe when you’ve grown out of your fear, you can discuss your relationship issues with me.”
I rolled my eyes and returned to my document. "I'm not having this conversation."
"Speaking of being scared," Enzo's tone shifted to teasing, "how did things go with Arya last night? Claire said you went to check on her."
I glared at him through narrowed eyes. “There's nothing to discuss."
"Come on, fratello. I saw how you looked at her at dinner.” He taunted. “And you didn't come back to your room all night, so-“
"Drop it, Enzo." The warning in my voice was unmistakable.
Enzo raised his hands in surrender, but his knowing look said everything. "Fine, fine. But running away from her this morning? Real mature."
Guilt twisted in my gut, but I pushed it down and buried it. What else did Enzo expect? That I would wake up next to her and pretend everything was fine?
That she would look at me like I was anything other than the monster who dragged her into this nightmare?
It was better this way. She would realize soon enough that whatever had happened between them was just... a moment of weakness. Nothing more.
"I need you to handle the meeting with the Russos," I said, ending the conversation. "I want confirmation that their territory stays neutral."
Enzo sighed but nodded, recognizing the dismissal for what it was. "Consider it done." He stood, pausing at the door. "You know, Gio, maybe consider that you deserve to be happy too. Just a thought."
The door closed behind him, leaving me alone with my spreadsheets and my guilt.
I stayed at the warehouse longer than necessary, reviewing security protocols and shipment schedules that didn't need reviewing.
Anything to avoid going home and seeing her.
By the time I pulled through the gates of the estate, the sun was setting, and the house was quiet when I entered.
"Maria," I called, finding her in the kitchen. "Has Arya eaten?"
Maria looked up from the vegetables she was chopping, surprise flickering across her face. "Miss Arya? She's not back yet, sir."
Giovanni froze. "What do you mean, not back?"
"She left this morning with Miss Jasmine. They took the children on an excursion."
The words kept ringing in my ears but I wasn’t making sense of it. "She left? Where did they go?"
"I'm not sure of the specific location, sir.” She said grimly. “Miss Jasmine mentioned a nature reserve-"
i was already pulling out my phone, dialing Jasmine’s number. It rang once, twice, then went to voicemail. I tried again but it was the same result.
"Fuck," I muttered, trying to control the panic rising in my chest.
Claire appeared in the doorway, her expression
immediately wary when she saw my face. "Mr. De Santis?”
"Where is Arya?" I snapped, trying and failing to keep my cool.
She looked between Maria and me before responding. "She's with Jasmine. They-"
"I didn't give her permission to leave." I growled, causing her to shrink back in fear but I didn’t care. "Matteo hasn't even returned from Italy yet and you two just allowed her to leave? What were you thinking?”
Claire bowed her head but it was Maria that spoke. “We had no idea, Mr. De Santis. Jasmine invited her, and I thought-“
"You thought wrong." I pulled out my phone again, this time calling Enzo. He answered on the first ring.
"Miss me already?"
"Where the fuck is your girlfriend?" I snapped.
He was silent for a moment then he responded. "What?"
"Jasmine. Where is she? She took Arya somewhere, and now neither of them are answering their phones."
Enzo sucked in a breath before responding. "Gio, calm down-"
"Don't tell me to calm down!" My control finally cracked. "We have a target on our backs, and Arya is out there!”
"Wait, wait." I heard rustling on the other end, keyboard clicks. "I put a tracker in Jasmine's phone a while back. Just for emergencies. Let me check... okay, got it. They're at... oh."
My brows furrowed together, not liking the time in his voice "What? Where are they?"
"Notte Rossa. It's a club in the city center."
All I could see was red.
A club again?
She was at another fucking club while I was worried sick, imagining every possible scenario of what could have gone wrong.
And instead, she was out dancing.
"I'm going to kill them both," I said quietly, already grabbing his keys.
"Gio, don't do anything-“
I hung up, my jaw set in a hard line. Maria was saying something behind me, but I didn't hear it.
All I could focus on was the address Enzo had sent to my phone and the burning rage that was quickly replacing my earlier panic.
She had no idea that the city wasn't safe and stepping outside the protection of my name and walls was basically painting a target on her back.
Or maybe she did know. And she just didn't care.
The thought made something dark and possessive twist in my chest.
I would find her, and bring her home and then we were going to have a very long conversation about my rules.
Uh oh… possessive Giovanni is officially activated. Are we scared or excited?
If you were Arya, would you obey his rules… or challenge him?