CHAPTER 45 - PAST ACQUAINTANCE

Romeo POV:

I have to admit, I was a bit taken back by Alina's reaction, I would have told her about Alessandra I would never have cheated or had a mistress, she knows that. I'm a bit mad right now, but I guess I have to put it all aside, we are celebrating our engagement, but I couldn't stay mad at her if I tried, I love her that much, I just need to cool off.

It's been about a half hour and Alina still hasn't come down, "Leo, please go check on Alina, she hasn't come down yet."

"Sure thing Rome, be right back," Leo says waving as he walks toward the house. I know this wasn't the best time for us to have an argument but I asked her to marry me for fuck sake, why would I want some other woman, some old flame.

"Romeo?" Dimitri, Alina's brother calls.

"Si?" I answer.

"Where is my sister?" Dimitri asks, and I sigh.

"She was supposed to be down by now, Leo went to check on her, I can't leave the guests again," I answer frowning a bit. My phone vibrates, and I pull it out, "Leo?"

"Boss she's gone," Leo says and my heart drops.

"Che cazzo vuoi dire che se n'è andata!" I walk away screaming.

(What the fuck do you mean she's gone!)

"Just that, she not here, come to your bedroom," Leo says hanging up. I make my way as discreetly as I can into the house, Dimitri on my heels, clearly having heard me. My heart is hammering in chest, I'm finding it hard to breathe. Finally after what seems like forever I reach our bedroom.

I walk in and I feel like my hands will break so hard I'm clenching my fists. I take a breath and walk around the room checking the bathroom and the closet, nothing she's not here. "Leo, check the house and the grounds she can't be far!" I scream. Dimitri is looking at me like he wants to murder me right here, but says nothing, trying to reign in his temper.

"Boss, her things are packed by the bed, but I don't think she left willingly, why would she leave her engagement ring but leave without her things?" Leo says frowning. I know what he's saying, but if I say it out loud it will be real. My hands start shaking and I remind myself once more to breathe. I run my hands through my hair pacing hearing Leo call the men to check the house and grounds.

"Romeo, I'm not going to ask why my sisters things are packed, it's clear something happened, what I want to know is who do you think took her?" Dimitri finally speaks.

I finally stop pacing and look at him. I close my eyes, to calm myself. "There's only one person bold enough and reckless enough to try this, Marcello Reggio, he was someone I never thought I would cross paths with again," I answer sitting down on the bed.

"Why are you not doing anything and the fuck is Marcello Reggio? I only know of some rich family here in Italy named Reggio," Dimitri shouts, losing his patience. I motion for him to follow me and we make our way down to the study. Where my father, Gio, Luc, Tino and Dario are waiting, we close the door for some privacy.

"To answer your question Dimitri, Marcello, was once my best friend, and he betrayed this family. He comes from a powerful family in his own right, but not as powerful as ours. They were once our allies, but got out of the business, his father wanted out but Marcello didn't," I stop and I see Dario, Luc and Leo pale, my father looking stoic.

"My father refused Marcello to join the business out of respect for his father, who didn't want this life. So Marcello, along with Drago tried to get revenge and almost had my entire family killed. His father was killed in the process, and he blamed us even more and swore he would get his revenge. We have been keeping tabs on him but two years ago he disappeared. If you think Drago Mancini was a fucking nutcase, Marcello is worse, much worse. If he has Alina, this is going to get bloody and ugly, an all out war between two families." I sigh taking a drink, "Alina means the world to me, she is my life no matter what happened between us. I will get her back, Leo has already started the search, chances are he already has Alina on a plane out of the country. In order to get her back from him I have to stay calm, this was planned meticulously," I say to Dimitri.

"This is my sister, I will fucking kill you if you don't get her back," Dimitri screams at me pulling out his gun in turn Dario and Leo pull guns on him.

"Don't," is all Dario says. Dimitri lowers his gun and I see the sadness in his eyes, it turns glossy.

"Just get my sister back," Dimitri says.

"I will, but killing me won't help you," I say turning around. Doesn't he get it, she's the love of my life. "Marcello has had this planned as I said, so we need to call on everyone we can, I think he's been in bed with the Spanish, since he was in contact with them recently, so that means he could have taken her to Spain, or even Russia, since we know the Russians can be bought for any price," I nod at Leo, Dario and Luc, they know to get on it. Dimitri nods, "oh and Dimitri, don't forget who you are speaking too, I may be Alina's fiancé, but I am still the fucking Mafia, don't you ever forget that. Alina will be back safe, if I have to die doing it," I say to Dimitri.

"Si," Dimitri says and goes off to join the boys. My father comes closer.

"Son, we will get her back. I have it on good authority, that Alessandra is involved with Marcello, his girlfriend," my father says pouring a drink.

"Yes I know, that's why I let her go, she will lead us to him, she left after Alina was taken, that was his way in. I had a feeling something was off and the men reported that she left in a hurry so we know she's involved somehow," I say shaking my head, I should have killed her, that would have been one woman I would never have minded killing.

Luc comes into the study looking every bit as worried as I am. "Romeo, all the guests have left, Jake isn't taking this well and neither is Mari. Dario is putting them along with Kelsey on a plane back to America. Jake wasn't having it, he was hysterical. I managed to get them to leave. Mom and Isabella have left to the safe house for now. Dario and Luc are speaking to some contacts and some of our moles now to see if they can find out where he took Alina. It's not the Russian Mafia, its the Spanish, so we have their help if we need it. We are pulling all favors and resources from all our Mafia underbosses," Luc says looking exhausted, it's been a few hours now no step's closer and I have no idea how to feel.

I make my way up to our bedroom and close the door locking it, sitting on the bed I let the tears roll and rage set in. She was going to leave me, she was really going to fucking leave! I throw the tumbler against the wall shattering it. Just then I hear a phone ring, it's Alina's, "hello?"

"Romeo? Where's Alina?"

"Valencia, I take it you were going to help her disappear?" I say angrily.

"Romeo let me explain," Valencia says, and I can hear the sheer terror in her voice.

"Nothing to explain, she's been kidnapped, and I want to hear nothing from you," I spit at her.

"Oh God, we will do what we can to find her," Valencia says sniffing.

"Do what you must, I can't speak to you right now, you betrayed me," I say bitterly.

"No I didn't, I would have kept her safe you know that. It would have been till she was ready to come back and I would have made sure she was taken care of in every way," Valencia says and I snap.

"Who the fuck gave you the right? Do you even know who you are speaking too? I was supposed to take care of her, but she ran again. I don't even fucking know how to feel right now. I'm supposed to look for her because my heart wants that, but she wanted to leave and had someone who is like a mother to me help her, and agree! I'm so fucking pissed!" I shout, not even sure who to be more angry at.

"Romeo, I get that your upset cherie, but I was just helping her, I care for her like I do for you. She wanted my help and I couldn't refuse her, it's not my business to tell her what to do even if I don't agree. You know she makes her own decisions," Valencia says and continues. "Romeo I can't tell you what to feel, you're conflicted by what's happened here tonight. What I do know is you love her with all your heart, bring her back and then sort yourselves out and be happy together," Valencia finishes.

"I will, I'm sorry I'm just a bit messed up right now. I will never stop looking for her, and I will find her and we will be okay," I say more to myself than Valencia.

"Romeo, she would not have left for good, I think she just needed some time, probably a few weeks to get her head around it all, don't be mad at her," She says with a sigh.

"I don't know how not to be mad right now, but I will get over it. Alina can't keep running, as much as I love her, I can't keep doing this. I had reasons not to throw that bitch out here tonight, now Alina is missing, it's all so screwed up," I say pacing the bedroom.

"Yes it is and as the smart man you are, you will sort it all out and it will turn out ok, because you're Romeo De Luca and you always get what you want," Valencia encourages me.

"Thank you, I will speak to you soon," I say ending the call. I need to find her. I strip out of my tux and slip on some black jeans a black t-shirt. I make my way down stairs and hear the reports, Luc already has it in good authority that Alina is in Spain, its been a few hours now. I need to get her back, and I need her to be ok. I will die if something happens to her.

Leo walks in along with Dario, "we have visual confirmation that a plane landed in Spain a half hour ago and they had a woman in a evening dress with them. She was seen with Marcello, it's no mistake, we also have Alessandra boarding a plane to Spain, where we have men waiting," Dario says and Leo nods in agreement.

"Well get the jet ready, we are heading to Spain, get Vince and his team to meet us, also call our French allies, we may need them," I say determined and with no room for argument. We all pack a bag and we leave to the airport, the whole drive is silent, we all know Marcello will never go quietly. He done this to hurt me, to know he can take something important from me.

I'm coming to get you baby, and this time you are never leaving again.