Luca and his escorts spread out looking for the runaway. How could she get away from them so easily? They have taken down harder targets before. Luca's anger continued the build until he turned to his men.
"Get back in the hotel, she is obviously not out here." The escorts made their way back to the hotel room with their heads hung low. They had no idea what Luca was going to do to them. After the door slammed shut they turned to face their boss.
"How could you let her get away!" He yelled at them. "She is, like this big," he held his forefinger and thumb about an inch apart demonstrated how small she is compared to them.
"I'm sorry Boss it's all my fault." The escort who was hit with the baton said quietly.
"You're damn right it is, she is what, 110 maybe 120 pounds and one hit took you down. How much force could she possibly have! Michael you're lucky I don't shoot you for this."
"Please Boss, I'm so sorry I'll go out and look for her all night if you want me to. She caught me off guard, I didn't think she would fight back." Michael pleaded with Luca.
"Good idea Michael, all of you go. Get to the streets and find her, don't come back without her or I'll change my mind on whether or not I want to kill you." he paused, "Make sure you bring her back unharmed. I don't have it in me to deal with that brother of hers." The men left the room silently with their heads still low to fulfill their mission.
Michael lead the group back outside, "Okay guys, you heard the Boss, find the bitch and bring her back."
"And don't harm her," Neil added, staring Michael down. He could see it in his eyes, that Michael was going to bring her back no matter what. She hurt his ego and he wanted retribution, but she was still the boss's wife and had to be treated like such.
"Yeah, yeah, don't hurt her, got it." Michael rolled his eyes before starting North. James went East, Dimitri went West and Neil went South following the back alley.
....
Luca ran his hands through his hair. In the past 24 hours this girl has caused him more trouble than he ever had to deal with. He would have tossed her by now if she had been anyone else.
He looked on the bed to see her phone and credit cards. She was smart, she didn't want to be found and she wasn't going to be. With no way to track her the guys were blind in a city with 3.5 million people, not including the tourists. They'd be out there all night.
He only had one lead, her family's villa. He messaged one of his guys back in the states to figure out the address, however, they were unable to find it. Of course the family kept that information locked up tight.
"Are all you guys useless!" he yelled into the phone. He sunk into the couch and rubbed his temples.
"The front desk." He said as his eyes shot open. They would know considering the family probably does most of their business at this hotel. He hurried to the lobby to find the nearest receptionist.
"Hey, my wife went to her family villa and asked me to meet her there but she didn't give me an address and left her phone here. Could you help me? It's Alessandra Valentina, her uncles own this hotel." He tried to be as charming as he could be, but by this point, all the staff knew that Alessandra didn't want to be found, and they loved her, so there was no way they were going to help him.
"I'm sorry sir, however. we do not have their personal information on file. I'm sure you wife will call from the phone there, I'll be sure to link it to your room when she does." The receptionist went back to typing on her computer.
"There isn't enough time for that, I'll be late if I wait for her to get there. I need the address now."
"I'm sorry sir, there is nothing I can do." She gave him a polite smile before going back to work. Luca lowered his voice so only the receptionist would be able to hear what he was about to say.
"Listen here, do you know who I am? I'm Luca Mazzanti and I'm demanding you tell me the address to my wife's villa before I will have more than your job. I don't care who owns this hotel, I will turn it upside down until I have my answer." The receptionist wavered in her stance, of course she knew who he was, every one did. When Luca saw her being to break, he continued to pressure her.
"Do you want to hear what I did to the last person who refused to tell me what I wanted to know?" The receptionist shook her head no, "Well, you see, he tried to take something from me and when he wouldn't tell me where he took it, I cut out his tongue." Luca paused, letting the pressure of his words seep in before continued. "He didn't want to talk to me, so now he doesn't talk at all." Luca laughed. His eyes glinting with evil.
With that the receptionist gave in and told him the address that was on file. She was shaking as she handed him the sticky note with the words written on it.
"Perfect, thank you." He said as he reverted back to his charming self. Luca sent the address to Michael before heading back upstairs to relax before dinner.
...
It was nearing 4pm when Alessandra stepped out of the small café with a take away cup of mocha.
She had been walking around for some time now and figured it would be best if she went back to the hotel. She never planned on staying away, just wanted to let him know that she would leave whenever she wanted to and that he had no control over her.
When she turned to head back she was met with a familiar face. Neil, the escort from downstairs stared at her as she began to back away.
"No, don't run please." Neil quickly said, he put his hands up so she would know he wasn't trying to threaten her. Alessandra stopped, holding her breath for what was going to happen next.
"Neil, correct." Alessandra asked cautiously. He didn't seem like the others. In fact he was a bit older, probably 40s and was more gentle than the others. He had leathery olive skin that looked like it seen years of hard work. His deep set brown eyes were calm and gentle and the wrinkles around them showed off the fulfilling life he had. He reminded her of a dad or even an uncle like figure, someone you could depend on.
"I'm sorry if I got you in trouble with your boss, but you must understand I am not used to this. This is not how my family operates." Neil stood patiently as he listened to Alessandra speak.
"I understand ma'am, however, in this family there are rules, and so far you have broken a lot of them." Neil paused and took a deep breath. "I shouldn't say this, but I going to anyway. I think you're a good person, so I don't want you to get hurt, but try not to anger the boss. Either of them. I think you know you are a challenge to Luca, but he only has so much patience, and it is wearing thin." Neil looked desperate like he was trying to save her. Alessandra nodded, thinking about what Neil said, when a devilish smile came to her face.
"You think I'm a challenge to Luca? Neil, so far you are my favorite person in this family. How about we cut a deal. Luca said you had to take me home right, but did he give you a time?" Neil shook his head.
"Good, you can come with me then. You can protect me, because I'm sure if the other three find me they wouldn't be as kind as you. I will return when I'm ready and you can tell the boss you found me and brought me back. Okay? In the mean time, I want you to tell me all about this family." Alessandra linked her arm with Neil's and began to pull him down the street towards her next destination.
"Ma'am, I'm not sure this is a good idea."
"Call me Ali, Neil, that's what my friends call me."
"I can't be your friend, you are technically my boss."
"So, that means we can't be friends." Alessandra pouted. She let go of Neil's arm and began walking away. Neil quickly caught up to her.
"I mean, I guess we could, but no one can know."
"Got it," Alessandra's eyes lit up as she gave Neil a peck on the cheek.
"Ma'am, please don't do that again, what if boss finds out." Alessandra realized the extent of her mistake.
"I'm sorry Neil, I'm used to doing that, I only meant it in an endearing way." Neil and Alessandra chatted as the strolled down the street leaving plenty of room between them. When they reached the corner, there was a little boutique that had a few dresses in the window. Alessandra stopped for a little bit analyzing them before she pulled Neil inside and she began to search the store for something specific.
"Do you know this place," Neil asked. Alessandra shook her head no, but continued to look through the racks.
"Neil, I'm going to show Luca just how challenging I can be. Dinner is at 7, which means we have a little less than three hours to find a dress and get back to the hotel." Neil saw a devilish glint in her eyes as she rummaged through the fine Italian clothing.
As Alessandra began to accumulate a pile of dresses to try on, Neil would occasionally hold one up to show her. If she shook her head yes he added it to the pile. After much deliberation Alessandra had narrowed her choices to about five dresses.
Knowing the atmosphere of the dining room she chose more formal wear, three long dresses, one with a slit up to the thigh, and then two cocktail dresses. Alessandra discarded the cocktail dresses pretty quickly as she felt they were too tight and showed more than she cared for. She was left torn between two dresses. One was a backless black satin gown. It had a high neckline that clasped at the back with a loose strand of pearls connecting the neck to the fabric that hung right below the dimples on her back. The second was a deep emerald green fitted gown. It had off the shoulder sleeves that hung delicately on her shoulders. There was a small amount of rucheing on the bodice that gave the dress some texture. But the eye catching part was the slit that went up to mid thigh. The second Alessandra put it on she knew that was the dress she would wear to dinner.
After she received approval from Neil for her selection and paid for her items she disappeared behind the changing curtain again. With the help of some of the sales girls Alessandra finished her hair and makeup with just enough time to get back before dinner started.
Neil waited patiently for Alessandra by the doors of the shop, when he saw her come out from behind the dressing curtain he had to advert his eyes because even he would have trouble not staring at her. Luca was in for a surprise tonight, he smiled to himself.
"What do you think, Neil." Alessandra twirled in a circle letting the dress fall gracefully around her.
"Boss won't know what hit him." He complimented her. After saying thank you to the sales girls they started to make their way back to the hotel. The streets had mostly emptied out by this time as everyone moved inside to enjoy dinner.
The walk back to the hotel seemed shorter than usual and with each step closer Alessandra became more nervous as to what was going to happen when she saw Luca. In Luca's eyes she committed a punishable offense and after hearing what he threatened to do if the escorts didn't bring her back she wasn't sure if she was safe anymore. Neil must have felt her nervousness because out of nowhere he stated.
"The boss told us to bring you back unharmed. Said something about not wanted to deal with your brother. You have nothing to afraid of. It is our job to protect you too, even from the boss."
"Yeah, about that, I'm pretty sure Michael wouldn't have an issue if the Boss hurt me, and I don't know the other two, and you can't stop them all." Alessandra nervously chuckled.
"Ali..." Neil stopped, testing the word before continuing. "Remember I am your escort here, it is my job to protect you with my life, I will be the one outside your door tonight, not Michael. Beisdes I have been Luca's escort the longest and I am more trusted than the other three Luca will listen to me." Neil attempted to reassure her. Alessandra cracked a small smile before entering through the front doors of the hotel.
As Alessandra made her way to the dining room she was greater by Louis's friendly face. He gave her a polite smile that said he knew of the situation and would not say anything to her. Neil did all the talking as Alessandra tried to slow her racing heart.
Louis directed them towards a private table in the back. Luca sat with his back to the wall staring down at the table. He looked incredibly handsome in his fine Italian suit. The gray suit really brought out the blue in his eyes. However, he seemed stressed. His brown hair was tousled and messy and the few strands that covered his forehead did little to hide the lines that formed. Alessandra wondered if her running away really caused that much trouble for him. When she reached the table, Luca lifted his eyes to her. He didn't say anything but Alessandra noticed his eyes widen and the lump in his throat slowly went down.