24. Lazaro

24

LAZARO

I enter the living room, my jaw clenched with frustration at Elio and Lana's meddling. They set up this meeting with Ava without consulting me, pushing forward their agenda for me to marry her. As I step inside, I see Ava sitting primly on the edge of the sofa, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

The moment our eyes meet, I notice her flinch almost imperceptibly. A flash of fear crosses her face before she schools her features into a polite mask. That brief glimpse of terror hits me like a punch to the gut.

"Miss Rinella," I greet her, keeping my voice low and even.

“It’s Ava.”

“Ava. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lazaro D’Amato.” I think back to how I’d been Danny Paine for the last few years, but now Lazaro is feeling comfortable. My name.

I move toward her to shake her hand. She takes it, but I can still see her apprehension, so I step away, deliberately giving her space. The last thing I want is to intimidate her further.

Guilt gnaws at me. Is my reputation truly so terrifying that this woman I've never met before is scared to be alone in a room with me? Or is it something else? The pressure of this arranged marriage, perhaps?

“Are you afraid of me?” My anger at Elio and Lana fades, replaced by a deep sense of unease. How can I even consider marrying this woman when my very presence frightens her?

“I don’t know you,” she answers diplomatically. I wonder if she’s been schooled by her father on how to act.

“You know my reputation, though.”

Ava nods.

I study her. “Is this what you want?”

She shrugs. “I want to make my father happy.”

“But what do you want?” If she doesn’t want this and I don’t want this, surely, we can find a way out of it.

“I don’t want to go to New York. Your brother was kind to me. I can see you have a close family. I’d be safe in the D’Amato family.”

I watch Ava as she speaks, my mind churning with conflicting emotions. While she’s afraid of me, she seems to believe Elio will keep her safe. The fact that she fears New York and perhaps her father stirs a protective instinct in me. I want to reassure her, to show her I'm not the monster my reputation paints me as. That she would be safe in the D’Amato family.

But even as that urge rises, guilt twists in my gut. Diana's face flashes in my mind, her warm smile and easy laughter. What am I doing here, entertaining the idea of marrying another woman? It feels like a betrayal, even though I know Diana and I never made any promises to each other.

I force myself to focus on Ava's words, nodding at appropriate intervals. But my thoughts keep drifting. I can't help but compare her demure, anxious demeanor to Diana's vibrant energy. Where Ava shrinks away from me, Diana has always met me head-on, unafraid.

Yet as much as my heart yearns for Diana, I can't ignore the pressure from my family. Elio and Lana's expectations weigh heavily on me. They want this alliance, see it as crucial for our family's future. And isn't that what family does? Look out for each other, make sacrifices for the greater good?

I think of how hard Lana's fought to bring me home, how relieved they all were to have me back. Don't I owe them something in return?

But the thought of giving up Diana, of committing myself to a woman who can barely look me in the eye, feels wrong on every level.

My head throbs as I try to reconcile these warring impulses. Protect Ava. Stay loyal to Diana. Do right by my family. Be true to myself. It's an impossible tangle, and I have no idea how to unravel it.

Lana enters with a tray of tea and cookies. It’s all so very posh, very polite. It doesn’t feel like me.

Lana gives me a wan smile, as if she knows this is excruciatingly uncomfortable. “It’s good to see you, Ava.”

“Thank you. You too, Ms. D’Amato.”

“Please, call me Lana.” She glances at me. “Well, I’ll leave you two to get to know each other.”

I feel abandoned by Lana when she leaves the room. But this isn’t Ava’s fault and so I do my best to be kind and gentle.

It’s an hour and half later when I escort Ava out to a waiting car and send her back to her father. I’m curious what she’ll tell him. Perhaps whatever it is will have him deciding against this marriage.

Back inside, my heart is a jumble of conflicting emotions. What I need is to see Diana. I know she doesn’t like it when I bother her while she’s working, but I need her steadying presence.

As I near the kitchen door, Matteo's voice cuts through my preoccupation. "Lazaro. We’ve gotta run.”

“What the fuck?” He’s like a bad penny, showing up each time I want to see Diana. Is it on purpose? Is this the family’s way of keeping me and Diana apart?

“Elio has lent us out to Rinella for some situation along the dock.”

I glance longingly at the kitchen door, so close yet suddenly out of reach. "Can't it wait? I need to?—”

“No. We have to get going or we’ll piss Rinella off and the whole point is to appease him. Come on.”

As we drive toward the docks, Matteo fills me in on the situation with Rinella, but I find it hard to focus. My head churns with thoughts of Diana and Ava.

We park and walk toward the meeting area at the port. The hairs on my neck rise. I have that unsettling sensation of being watched again. I glance around, scanning the area, but see nothing out of the ordinary.

"You alright?" Matteo asks, noticing my unease.

I nod, not wanting to voice my paranoia. "Yeah, just thinking."

As we make our way toward the meeting point, the feeling of being followed intensifies. I resist the urge to look over my shoulder, instead focusing on our surroundings. The docks are relatively quiet at this hour, with only a few workers milling about.

Rinella comes into view, flanked by two of his men. I cast one last look around to the shadows between shipping containers, searching for any sign of movement.

Matteo greets Rinella, but I hang back slightly, my senses on high alert. The conversation fades into background noise as I strain to catch any sound out of place.

Matteo bumps my shoulder and gives me a look to pay attention. I turn to Rinella and smile.

“You met with my daughter today.”

“I did.” I’m not sure what more to say.

Rinella’s eyes narrow as he studies me. “My daughter called when she left and said you were polite and kind to her.”

“I enjoyed talking with her.” I just don’t want to marry her.

“What’s going on that you need our help?” Matteo butts in, and I’m glad. I don’t want to talk about this impending marriage.

Rinella explains the situation. Apparently, one of his suppliers has been getting ideas about renegotiating their deal. As Rinella speaks, I realize that I’m not here for my diplomatic skills. I’m here to put the fear into this guy.

"We need to send a message," Rinella says, his eyes boring into mine. "Remind him who he's dealing with."

My stomach churns. This is what they want from me, to be the enforcer, the monster everyone fears. I glance at Matteo, hoping for some sign that there's another way, but his expression is impassive.

Rinella escorts us to a darker, more secluded part of the docks, where a few more of his men hold another man who is struggling to get out of their grip.

“What do you need us for?” I ask.

“Call it a down payment on Elio’s commitment to our agreement.”

“More like a test,” Matteo says under his breath.

I don't want to be this person, but even as I think that, I can feel the adrenaline building, coursing through my veins. There’s a familiarity to it.

The man sneers at me as I approach him.

“Do you know who I am?” I ask.

“Fuck you.” He makes a hawking sound, but I grab his face, pinching his mouth so tight it’s possible I could rip his jaw off.

“If you spit on me, you’re dead.” I push his head back hard as the men holding him laugh.

“I’m Lazaro D’Amato.”

The man blanches as my name registers with him. “You’re dead.”

“Nope. I’m here because I hear you've been causing problems for Rinella."

The man looks between me and Rinella. “You working for him now?”

“It’s more of a partnership,” I say. “He’s asked me to negotiate these new terms you’re so greedy to demand.”

“Wh–What terms? Everything is fine.”

I look back at Rinella, hoping this can be the end of it.

Rinella’s eyes are dark, full of menace. “He needs a lesson.”

Fuck.

“No… I don’t… the terms are fine. I was going to tell you that.”

“What are the terms?” I ask.

“He gets fifteen percent,” Rinella responds. “More than fair. But he decided he wanted twenty. Held some of my supply hostage for it.”

I turn back to the man. “How about you show your good will by accepting only twelve percent over the next year?”

The man gapes. “I can’t afford?—”

“Otherwise, I’m going to have to hurt you, and I really don’t want to hurt you.”

“Yes… okay…”

I turn back to Rinella. His jaw is tight. I’m certain he wants me to break this man’s leg or something. “He can’t deliver anything if he’s in the hospital,” I say.

“You get to keep an extra three percent over the year. Seems like a better deal to me,” Matteo chimes in.

“Fine,” Rinella says through gritted teeth.

I lean in close to the man, my words barely above a whisper. "Let me make this very clear. The next time you even think about changing the terms of your agreement, I'll personally ensure it's the last thought you ever have."

The threat rolls off my tongue with chilling ease. The man nods frantically, practically falling over himself to agree.

As we leave, I’m concerned Rinella won’t be happy by how I negotiated the terms. But if he wants the man dead, he’ll have to find someone else.

Rinella claps me on the back. “You’re smarter than I gave you credit for. I always thought you were just the brawn.”

I roll my eyes.

On the way back to the house, my mind is on Diana and needing to see her. Matteo drops me off and then heads off to his own place in the city. I’m told he has a room at the house he can stay in since he spends so much time here, but apparently, he prefers to live on his own. To be honest, there are times when Lana is in my shit that I can see the benefit of living somewhere else.

I burst through the front door of the mansion and take the steps two by two up to my room. I rush in planning to pull her into my arms. I skid to a halt as something feels off. She’s not here. I glance around the room. She doesn’t own many things, so it’s hard to tell if she’s gone or maybe she’s in the kitchen. I don’t see her backpack, and panic begins to build.

I storm from my room to find Lana. I make it to the living room where Elio and Piper are in an embrace.

“Where’s Lana?” I roar.

Piper flinches and guilt tightens my gut.

Elio scowls. “I believe she’s with Henry at his place.”

“Where’s Diana?” Why didn’t I ask that first?

“How’d things go with Rinella?” Elio asks.

“He’s getting an extra three percent for the next year and the man left with all his body parts intact. Where’s Diana?”

“She’s not upstairs?” Piper asks.

I shake my head. Piper seems perplexed, which gives me some relief. She’s not aware of Diana being gone. Maybe Diana is just somewhere else in the house.

I leave them and go to the kitchen, hoping to find her humming and dancing while making something. But the kitchen is dark.

“Anna.” I rap on the door to her room off the kitchen.

She opens it but holds it partly closed. I’m too panicked to be annoyed by her fear of me. “Where’s Diana?”

Her eyes look at me with pity, something I’ve never seen from her before. “She’s left.”

“Left where? For how long?”

“She isn’t working here anymore.”

"Fuck!" I slam my fist against the wall next to the door, anger and frustration boiling over. I storm out to the garage, grabbing keys to the first car and speeding out to Diana’s apartment. How could she just leave? She knows I can’t stand it when she just disappears. If she doesn’t want me, she should tell me.

I reach Diana’s building and pound on the door. “Diana!”

It’s a few moments when a middle-aged man answers. Anger turns to rage. Who is with her?

I bust in, gripping the man by his T-shirt. “Who the fuck are you?”

He’s startled and afraid, and for the first time, I relish the terror in someone's eyes. “Jim…”

I glance toward the bed in the corner, expecting to find Diana. It’s empty. I scan the studio. It’s empty too.

“Diana!” I call out, thinking she might be in the bathroom.

“There is no Diana here. It’s just me.” Jim sounds like he’s about to piss his pants.

“Why are you here? Where is she?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know. I just rented this place a few weeks back.”

It takes me a moment for his words to filter in. I release him. “It was for rent?”

He nods, stepping back. Any moment, he’s about to call the cops.

“Do you know who was here before?”

He shakes his head. “No. When my wife kicked me out, I found this listed online. I swear.”

Now I feel like shit for terrorizing this man. “Sorry about…” I point to his neck. “I’m looking for?—”

“Diana. Yes, I get that. But I don’t know anything about her.”

I move toward the door. “I apologize. I’m worried. She’s disappeared.”

“I hope you find her.”

I leave and hear him bolt the door. Fucking hell. Where is she? She gave up her apartment? Why? Was it because she was with me? Or was it because she knew she’d be leaving? Did she leave on her own or did Lana fire her since I’m supposed to marry Ava?

I make a beeline to Henry’s apartment after getting the address from Matteo. I pound on Henry's door, not caring about the late hour. When he doesn’t answer quickly enough, I pound again.

“Lana!”

The door opens to Henry looking disheveled, wearing lounge pants and no shirt. “Lazaro. What’s?—”

I push in. “Where’s Lana?” I scan the apartment and see an empty bottle of champagne on the coffee table and a trail of clothes down the hall. No doubt, I’ve interrupted them. Well, too fucking bad.

Lana appears from the hall wearing an oversized shirt that’s likely Henry’s. “Lazaro. Is something wrong?” Her concern appears real, but Lana is an acting pro.

"Where is she?" I growl.

"Lazaro, what are you?—”

"Diana. She's gone. What did you do?"

She looks at me with confusion, but I refuse to buy it. “I didn’t do anything.”

"Bullshit," I snarl. "You've been trying to get rid of her since day one."

"I swear, Lazaro. I don’t know where she is. I didn’t know she was even gone. I saw her this afternoon?—”

“When?”

“She prepared the tray for your visit with Ava.” Lana’s eyes soften in the way they do when she’s trying to lessen the blow of her next words. “Maybe she realized she didn't belong here."

The words hit me like a slap. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She sighs. “You know exactly what it means. You met Ava today. Did you really think Diana would stick around for that?"

I flinch. Fuck. Did she leave because I took the time to meet Ava? "I was just doing what the family wanted." Surely, Diana realized that.

"Were you?" Lana challenges. "Or were you trying to have it both ways?"

“Lana.” Henry puts his hands on her shoulders. I’ve been round them both enough to know he’s trying to rein her in. She can be one mean woman when she wants to be.

She blows out a breath. “I didn’t fire her or send her away. I promise you that. If she’s left, it’s of her own accord. Maybe she did it for you, Lazaro. So you can take your place in the family… marry Ava. She’s a nice woman, don’t you think?” Lana puts her left hand on my chest. Looking down on it, I see a ring I hadn’t noticed before.

I lift my gaze to hers. “You’re engaged?”

Her smile is so bright, so happy, that for a moment, that twin thing kicks in and I’m happy for her. But it quickly dissipates. “So you and Elio can marry for love, but me, I have to marry for family.” I shake my head and turn to leave.

“Lazaro,” Lana calls after me, but I slam the door behind me and head down to my car.

I drive mindlessly. The streets blur past, my mind racing faster than the car. How could Diana just leave? Without a word? Was it because of Ava? If that was the case, she would have told me, I’m sure of it. Hadn’t she done that the other night? She’d waited for me to tell me she was leaving after hearing about the arrangement. I’d convinced her to stay. I’d shown her how much I needed her. How much I loved her.

Is that why she left? Was my need for her too intense? Did it make her feel tied down? A woman who lives a nomadic life doesn’t want to be tethered to a single place or person. That explanation made as much sense as her leaving because of Ava. It also explained why she left without a word. She knew I'd try to make her stay, but clearly, she wanted to leave me.