Chapter 88: Rags and Ritches 29

Dante

“Where is she?” I tried and failed to keep my voice even. The two men lounging in front of me, looking to epitome of casual indifference did little but flick their eyes up to me and continue to sip their coffee.

Assholes.

“Take a seat Dante,” Gio said smoothly, making me want to smash his pearly white teeth into the back of his throat. He was younger than me, by a long shot and I remembered when he was up and coming.

Hell I remembered when he was nothing but a kid under his father and brothers thumb. A nobody.

Of course that had been years ago, he had taken over, shaken up the entire Family and made a name for himself. He was as feared as he was respected.

By most people anyway, not by me. I didn’t give one shit who he was or what he had built.

“Tell me where Aria is?” I asked again, my voice shaking with emotion. “Where is my wife?”

Slowly The judge leant forward. Sliding the small expression cup over the polished wood of the table. “Aria is gone.”

Wildly I looked around. There were closed bedroom doors in the suite and my bet was that she was hiding in one of them. Probably listening and plotting because that’s what my beautiful wife did.

She was as sharp as a knife.

Following my gaze Gio chuckled. “You can search all you want.” He chuckled, guessing my thoughts. “You won’t find my sister behind any of those doors.”

My eyes flashed in his direction. “Your sister?” I mocked him. “She is my wife and I demand to know where you have taken her.”

“She left.” Gio said smoothly. “On her own in the middle of the night. When.” He added quickly. “We were asleep.”

I was calling bullshit. “She got past both of you and whatever security you have here?”

They couldn’t possibly expect me to believe that could they? Did they think I was a stupid moron who was born yesterday?

Throwing back his head Gio laughed. “If you know my sister you know she is a sneaky little thing. She’s a free woman. Did you expect me to keep her prisoner for you?” Gio’s chuckle turned low and sardonic. “You did enough of that all by yourself. Aria hates to be caged and do you know what the funny thing is Dante?”

He leant forward even more as I waited for him to continue.

“You are literally perfect for each other.”

I did a double take. “Then why hide her from me.”

Crossing his arms around his chest, he settled back. “Because even though you once might have had a chance with her, I don’t think you do now. She hates to be caged, hates to be tamed. If you hadn’t -“

At my side my fists clenched. “She loves me.” I blurted but of course I didn’t know if that was true. There was definitely something between us.

The judge chuckled low in his throat. “If that’s the case you have nothing to worry about. She will come back to you, won’t she?”

I rounded on him. Taking in the dark hair and cool appraising eyes. Like Gio, the sharp edge of the Judge had been blunted when he had fallen in love and married his woman Taylor. But he was still lethal. And there was no forgetting that.

Gio as well.

My eyes swept over the judge, at the cold indifference in his eyes and the smirk on his face and I knew he knew something.

“Where is she?” I asked again and this time I aimed my question at just him.

“No idea.” He sipped at his coffee, but the smirk didn’t leave his face. “I didn’t ask what her plans were and she didn’t offer the information.”

Gio’s head snapped around , surprise tightening his face. Instantly I knew the truth. He hadn’t known either.

Catching Gio’s  look, he shrugged. “Yes I helped her. I gave her some cash and a car.”

My mouth fell open.

“And don’t bother asking about the car, she would have dumped it by now. Aria is a fucking force to be reckoned with.”

I already knew that. What had started with me wanting to take and tame her to get power had quickly turned into me wanting to tame her for a very different reason. She was a wild mustang that I desperately needed to ride.

“You won’t find her.”

Fuck. He wasn’t lying. Aria would disappear. She had the money and the contacts. If she didn’t want me to find her then I wouldn’t.

“You should have been honest with her.” The judge shook his head, almost sadly. “Aria doesn’t like to be used.”

“That’s true.” Gio chuckled. “But maybe when she comes back , it will be for a sweet reunion.” His eyes glittered as they swept over me. “After all, you are sure she has feelings for you. Aren’t you?”

They were mocking me and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it unless I wanted to pull out my gun right now and start a war my family couldn’t finish.

“Or maybe you are just praying she does.”

My lips clamped shut.

Born powerful men studied me, a flicker of shock in their eyes as they realised the truth. Gio let out a whistle from between his teeth. “Fuck, you’re in love with her aren’t you?” He whispered.

I kept my lips tightly shut. My feelings for my wife were complicated and I wasn't about to discuss them with her brother and his pet executioner.

“Well i am sure she will be back. Whether it’s to be your wife or to slit your throat when you least expect it. I don’t know.” the judge pushed himself up to standing with a stretch. “Maybe she will stay gone but I know that girl.” His eyes glittered with pride I didn’t understand. “She’ll be back and I can’t wait to see what she does. You’re in for a wild ride Dante Ritches. A real wild ride and I will have the popcorn ready.” He laughed again. Clearly amused by something I didn’t get.

“What do you mean?” I finally asked.

He paused but it was Gio who spoke. “You honestly don’t know, do you?” He asked, his head cocked to the side.

“Know what?”

“The Judge trained Aria. Ever since we were kids.” The corner of his mouth twitched. “She’s almost as deadly as an assassin as he is. And my guess is,” his eyes raked over me. “You’re going to be top of her shit list.”