I have no idea what he has planned, but I nod, not really having another option. “Understood.”
“You should have brought this information to me sooner. You should have also told Delaney.” He stops in front of me. “You should have done your job properly and kept your hands off my sister.” He pulls his hands from his pockets and reaches behind me opening the door. “I think you have good intentions, but intentions are not actions. Leave. You’ll know when you’re needed again.”
I nod and turn toward the door without question, quickly making my way out of the house and to my SUV. I decide to go out the back gate, avoiding Luca and start driving without direction. I need to find Laney. I need to suck up my own hurt and apologize to her. I need to make sure that we’re okay, because I have no idea what Capo Famiglia has planned, and it doesn’t sound like it’s anything that can help my situation. Not to mention how Laney will take the news of finding out I’m the one who told The Boss about Donatello and his indiscretions.
I doubt she’ll answer if I call or text, but I pull my phone out anyway and dial her number.
“This is Laney! If you’re getting my voicemail it’s because I’m ignoring you. Try again later and good luck!”
Her phone goes straight to voicemail, but I smile because it’s such a Laney kind of message. She said she was going to a hotel. She’ll probably go to one owned by The Famiglia, which means I can find which one she’s at. There’s a handful in the city, but she probably stayed closer to this side. She’s renting her condo out so I know she couldn’t have ran there as a last minute decision.
I try her phone again, listening to the same message play. She’s deliberately hanging up on me. I try to text her instead.
Answer the phone, Laney Girl.
I wait about ten minutes and call again, getting the voicemail on the first ring. It doesn’t even show she’s opened my message either. Fucking stubborn girl.
Pulling over, I look up the number for the hotel closest to my location, dialing the front desk. I wait for the receptionist to answer, tapping my fingers along my thigh.
“Has anyone booked a room under the last name Luciano today?” I know they’ll be honest, recognizing the last name. The only way they wouldn’t tell me is if she requested it, and I doubt she thought of that.
“No, Sir. No one under that name has been in.”
Fuck. “Is there any way to check the other locations without having to call each one?”
“Uh, can I ask who’s requesting the information?”
“Jessie Wolf Mariani.”
There’s a slight pause as she recognizes the name. “Of course, one moment.”
She must just set the phone down and not actually mute it because I can hear the tapping of her keyboard while I wait.
“Mr. Mariani?”
“I’m here.”
“Great. We have a Luciano checked into the downtown Manhattan location.”
“What room?”
“Room forty-seven on the third floor.”
“Thank you.”
Hanging up, I flip a U-turn and head toward Manhattan. I need to find my girl and convince her that she’s mine.
There’s a light tapping on my door. It’s an ominous thumping that makes my gut sink. I don’t want to deal with anyone right now. Muting the TV, I pull my knees to my chest and listen to another round of knocking. I already know who’s standing out in that hall and I don’t know how he found me, but I’m not shocked.
The tapping stops and a moment later my phone chimes in my palm as a text flashes across the screen.
Let me in Laney Girl.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I drop my phone onto the bed and stare at the door. Despite how much I’d prefer to be alone, we need to have whatever conversation he’s come to have. I stand and quietly walk to the door, opening it without looking through the peephole. Jessie’s leaning on the wall across the hall, his head lifting from his chest at the sound of the door. My heart aches at the look on his face, his baby blues scraping their way past my already weakened walls.
“What do you want Jessie?” I ran from him just hours earlier, but he found me. Like always.
His crystal eyes shift between my own before he answers, pushing himself off the wall and taking the few steps it takes to stand directly in front of me. One of his hands go to the door, keeping it open like he thinks I might shut it on him. Instead of giving me an answer, he gestures with his chin for me to back up.
I stare at his beautiful face longer than appropriate, my heart crawling into my throat with his nearness. I want my Jessie back… I did this to us, but I had to.
Averting my eyes, I release the door and step farther into the room. I watch as he shuts the door behind him and his hands push into the pockets of his joggers. “We need to talk.”
I cross my arms over my chest bringing my gaze up to his, my skin pebbling with goosebumps with the chill that snakes up my spine. I
