Unspoken Obsession (Casino King #4)

34. Dante

DANTE

S ix months of married bliss has made me an incredibly fortunate man.

I still struggle every day with thoughts of my sister and what happened to her, but at least I have found peace with it.

I roll over in bed and pull my wife closer to me. She seems to get too warm and night and try to sneak away from me, but I won't let it happen. I want her right up close to me.

"I told you—" she mumbles, half asleep, "I get too hot when I'm pregnant. It happened the first time too."

"I'll turn the air conditioning up. But you aren't escaping cuddle time." I chuckle, holding her tighter in case she thinks she can wiggle away again.

"Mm. I think the morning sickness is starting. I don't feel that amazing."

She grumbles, snuggling into me despite the heat radiating from her skin and the thin layer of perspiration glowing on her forehead.

"Do you need me to help you to the bathroom?"

She props herself up on her elbows. "I had a whole baby all by myself the first time around." She says, sassy and moody.

"The first time around I wasn't there to take care of you. So, this time around I have to make up for it by doing extra."

She grins, shaking her head. She can never stay moody with me for too long because as soon as I see her struggling with anything at all I make sure I make it easier for her. I can't imagine what it is like to grow an entire baby in your body - the exhaustion and the discomfort and the weird things that happen, like the mood swings and cravings - and watching the start of her pregnancy now I feel guilt for not being there to help her when she had Damion.

"I love you, Dante. You might not have been there the first time - but I was the one who ran away, and you make every day the most special day since - oh - no?—"

She bolts out of bed and runs for the bathroom, just making it in time.

I chuckle. Even though I feel bad for her struggles, I love taking care of her and she still makes me laugh even through it all.

I walk into the bathroom and pull her hair away from her face, holding it up for her. When she is done throwing up her left lung, I hand her a damp cloth, and she wipes her face.

"Wow, that was close. You almost had an extra special morning."

"Well, as long as it isn't as bad as what happened last week - I'll be fine."

She blushes red. Last week, before she even knew she was pregnant, she threw up all over me one morning in the car.

It was the first hint that we were about to have another little bundle of joy running around the house.

Our family is growing, and I am so excited about it.

Frankie stands up and walks over to the sink to brush her teeth.

"Isn't it weird though that one minute I'm puking my lungs out and the next I'm starving and craving eggs and fried tomatoes?"

"I can't even pretend to understand what your body is going through, little fox. But if you are craving eggs and fried tomatoes, then I can make sure it is ready for you when you get downstairs."

I nuzzle my face against her neck and trace kisses over her skin.

"I think I want to have a quick shower." She says, pulling her shirt off. My eyes trace over her beautiful body.

"Take your time. I will sort out the other little monster. I think I heard him getting up fifteen minutes ago. He is probably already wreaking havoc somewhere with no supervision."

She laughs and I brush my hand across her cheek. "You are glowing. You are so beautiful." I say, then turn to walk out of the bathroom.

I walk through to the living room where I find Damion building a pillow fort with the blankets that he has dragged from his bedroom.

"Do you need help, little guy?" I ask, peeking beneath a very fluffy blue blanket.

"No, I no need help." He reassures me, his back to me and his butt pointed in the air as he tries to adjust the pillows to keep the back area from sagging.

"Are you sure?" I ask again.

"I no need help. I build a house for him."

He has been over-the-moon excited since we told him he was going to have a baby brother or sister. He has decided it's a baby boy and every day since we told him, which was only a week ago, he has asked if the baby is here yet.

I don't actually know who is more excited - me or him.

"When it's time to design the little baby's room I think you can help me. You are fantastic at this." I say, admiring the blanket fort even though everything looks as though it is about to topple over any second now.

"Yes," Damion says, but he isn't listening to me. He is so focused on his task he isn't taking his eyes off it.

"I'm going to make breakfast. I'll bring you some cereal." I say, walking towards the kitchen.

On the way to the kitchen, I hear a knock on the front door. One of my security guards is standing on the other side of the glass.

I pull open the door. "Frank, what's happening? Is everything ok?"

"Yes, sir. A courier delivered this for you this morning. We scanned it. It looks safe."

"Thanks," I say, staring down at the white, unmarked envelope he has given me.

Frank walks away, back to his post by the gates and I walk towards the kitchen, wondering what this is all about.

I flick the coffee machine on and lean against the kitchen counter as I pull the envelope open. It tears open and I reach my fingers inside to remove a photograph.

My heart stops dead in my chest. Frozen in a painful moment of shock.

Of all the things that I could have guessed might have been in there - a photograph of my sister was not one of them.

I gasp, dragging air into my lungs as I try to breathe again. My head is spinning as I sink to the kitchen floor.

The photo is still clasped in my hands.

She looks beautiful. As beautiful as I remember her, but she is older.

She is standing next to a man I recognize and my rage towards him is intense.

Nathan Lux.

The son of the man who bought my sister.

When was this photo taken?

Why is she leaning into him like that?

What the fuck is going on?

Who sent this to me?

Where is she?

Does this mean she is still alive?

I can't stop my head from spinning as the questions overwhelm me.

What does this mean?

"Dante," Frankie shouts my name as she runs into the kitchen, kneeling next to me. Her face is ashen with worry.

"What happened? Are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?" she asks, panicked, finding me on the kitchen floor.

I can't find my words or my voice, so I hand her the photo.

She has seen photos of my sister, so she knows who she is looking at - but it doesn't make sense to her either.

"Dante - where is this from?"

"A courier." I stammer. "A courier delivered it this morning."

"She looks older in this photo," Frankie says, examining the image.

She flips it over and stares at the back. "There is a number written on the back of the photo. Do you recognize it?" She holds it up in front of me so that I can see the messy scrawled handwritten phone number.

"I don't - but…" I take the photo from her again and stare at the number.

Will they have answers for me?

Frankie stands up and offers her hand to me. I take it and climb to my feet. My head is still spinning, and anxiety is flooding my body.

I put the photo face down on the kitchen table, unable to process whatever is happening right now.

"Are you going to call the number?" she asks, looking at me with knotted brows and deep concern.

"I just need a moment." I nod.

Frankie leaves me leaning against the counter and moves towards the coffee machine. She reaches up and grabs two mugs, taking her time she makes coffee while I watch her and think.

I try to piece things together to figure out what might have happened, but nothing makes sense. None of this makes sense.

I know I have to call the number, but I am terrified. I am scared because the photograph has given me hope that just maybe - Daniela is still alive. Just maybe - she really looks as happy and healthy as she seems to be in the photo.

Frankie hands me the hot mug of coffee and stands next to me without saying a word. She slips her arm around me and leans into me.

I wrap my arm around her and hold her close, finding comfort in her embrace and her understanding. She knows when I need a quiet moment, but she knows I still want her near me.

We sip our coffee. I am deep in thought and filled with fear while flooded with hope.

Finally, my heart stops hammering, and the dizziness fades and I say. "I am going to call the number. It is the only way to get some understanding."

We check on Damion who is still very busy working on his blanket fort - then Frankie follows me to the dining room where we sit at the table.

I have my phone in front of me.

Before I call, I search for the number online.

"What area code is that?" She asks.

"It's Bali," I answer, more confused than ever.

With a deep breath, I open the phone app.

Frankie calls out the numbers one by one as I punch them into the phone again, dialing.

I place the phone on the table in front of me on speaker and we both listen in tense silence as it rings.

"Lux residence, how may I help you." A woman with a thick accent answers the phone.

My heart is racing.

"Hello, I was wondering if you have a lady by the name of Daniela living there?" I ask, not really knowing what I am supposed to say or who I should be asking for.

"No, sir, the only lady who lives here is Mrs. Lux. Her name is Blake."

I glance over at Frankie whose eyes are wide with anticipation.

"Maybe she knows where Daniela is?" She whispers.

"May I please speak with Mrs. Lux - um - with Blake."

"Yes, sir. Of course. Who may I say is calling?"

I clench my jaw, unsure if I should say my real name or if it will cause them to slam the phone down on me.

Finally, I give in. Whoever gave me this number knows who I am and where I live.

"My name is Dante Russo. I am calling from Las Vegas."

The words are right in my throat.

"Ok, sir. Please hold for me while I get her."

The silence between Frankie and I as we both stare down at the phone is so heavy that I imagine if I reached out into the air, I could feel it.

An eternity goes by while I watch the call timer on my phone screen and count the seconds it is taking for Blake to come to the phone.

Will she know where my sister is?

Will she even know who my sister is?

Frankie reaches across the table and takes my hand, giving me a reassuring squeeze. I close my eyes because I cannot look at that counting timer for another second.

"Hello, this is Blake."

I gasp so loud I choke on the air that I try to breathe in.

I would recognize my sister's voice anywhere.

Tears spring to my eyes and flood down my cheeks as I cough her name.

"Daniela?" I stammer, then try again. "Dani?—"

"Is it really you?" She says into the phone. "Is it really you, Dante?" She is crying as well; her voice is thick with tears, and I can hear her breathing heavily.

Frankie is staring at me with her hand over her mouth and tears glittering in her eyes.

"It's me, Dani, I - are you - what is happening?" I can't breathe. I don't know what is going on. My sister is alive.

"The housekeeper said it was you on the phone, but I thought it was a trick. I thought - I didn't think it would really be you."

"Are you in Bali? Why are you there? Did you get kidnapped? How did you escape?" questions pour from my lips in an unorganized chaos of thoughts. I want to know everything, right now.

She laughs, and I can still hear the tears in her throat.

"Dante, I got away. They took me and someone helped me to escape."

"Tell me everything," I demand.

"Antonio Musetti's men kidnapped me. He told me he was going to destroy you by taking me away from you. The only family you had. They sold me, along with other girls, to a man in New York." She takes a moment.

"A man named Bernard Lux. A few months ago, we found out that his home was broken into, and he was murdered. A piece of news that was a joyous relief. I was held captive in his basement with about eight other girls for three months." That is an eternity.

"We went through hell. I still can't talk about what happened - but I stayed strong - because you always taught me to be strong - and then something amazing happened. One night at a party his son came to the house. His son, Nathan, never got along with his father. They hated each other. Nathan hated everything about his father. Nathan saw me at the party and when our eyes locked, it was as though we had known each other for years. A lifetime." She takes a breath, steadying her voice and calming her thoughts.

"I'm here. I'm listening." I say to reassure her.

"Nathan helped me fake my death because no girl ever leaves that house alive. He knew a body bag was the only way to get me out. He got me out then we ran away together. He gave up everything for me. We moved as far away from his father as we could. We had to change my name, get me a new identity because not only would Brandon Lux look for me if he found out I was alive - but so would Antonio Musetti." She takes a sharp breath in.

"But, Dante, if you know I'm alive then Musetti will find out too." She says, the fear in her voice a hint of the horror that she went through.

"He cannot get to you anymore, Dani. He is in the slammer, forever."

"But who told you I was alive - who gave you this number?"

On the phone, I hear a man's voice. "It was me, my love." He says.

My sister turns to talk to someone else. "Nathan - you told my brother?"

I swallow hard, waiting, listening, I am drowning and being saved at the same time.

"I sent your brother a message because I heard Musetti had been put away. I wasn't sure if it was real or some scam in the media. I trusted your brother would know if it was safe or not to be in touch with you."

I hear Dani laughing and crying. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." She says to Nathan. Then she comes back on the phone.

"Dante, if Musetti really is in jail and Brandon is dead - I can come home and visit you. I've missed you every day and thought about you every day for years."

"Nathan," I say, needing to clear the air. "Before we carry on, I need you to know that I am the one who is responsible for your father."

"Then you are the one who I need to thank." He replies, simply and calmly. There is no animosity between us. "If it is alright with you, I can have Blake - sorry - Dani, on a plane with me tonight. We can head over to Las Vegas. She talks about you all the time and I think it is about time I met her brother."