Chapter 89: 89 ~ Jace
The view from my penthouse was the kind of thing people wrote love letters about—sun dipping low over the Los Angeles skyline, gold bleeding into the ocean, the whole city stretching like it belonged to me.
It did.
Two years in LA had given me everything I wanted and nothing I needed. The Romano empire had tripled its reach, alliances had been reforged, enemies erased. My name carried more weight now than it ever had back in Italy and even New York. But the cost was silence. And the kind of silence that follows you into the night has a way of gnawing at you.
Especially when you remember what filled it before.
I adjusted the cuff of my shirt, watching the glass reflection of myself in the window. I didn’t look different—same tailored suits, same cold expression—but I was harder now. Colder. Less willing to gamble with things I couldn’t control.
That’s when the intercom buzzed.
"Mr. Romano," my assistant’s voice crackled through. "Miss Castillo is here to see you."
My jaw tightened. "I didn’t put her on my schedule."
"She says it’s urgent."
Of course she does. I scoffed. They always do.
"Send her up," I said, knowing full well I’d regret it, but curious enough not to shut the door entirely.
Minutes later, the soft click of her heels echoed across my marble floor. Caterina walked in like she owned the placed in a tight black dress that hugged her voluptuous curves, red lips, and that smile that had conned more than one man into underestimating her.
"Jace," she greeted, all warmth and familiarity, as if she hadn’t been part of a plot to have me shot and killed three years ago.
I had barely seen her since then. Not that I wanted to anyways.
"Caterina," I didn’t stand. I didn’t offer her a drink. I just let my gaze settle on her like a loaded gun.
"What are you doing here?"
"That’s no way to talk to someone you once loved?"
I let out a dark humorless chuckle.
Love.
The only woman I had ever loved...
Never mind, I thought, shaking my head to erase the thought.
"You know," she started, moving toward me, "I’ve been able to get my father off your back."
I leaned back in my chair. "Hasn’t he found another alliance for you already? Why are you still bothering me?"
Her smile faltered, but only slightly. "Jace, I’m in love with you."
A humorless laugh slipped out. "You were part of the ploy to have me assassinated a few years back."
She shrugged it off with a hint of guilt. "That’s in the past. Besides, I knew you’d get out unscathed. You’re invincible."
I scoffed, studying her face like I was reading the fine print of a bad contract. "Was I supposed to take that as a compliment? Or are you assuming I’ve forgotten?"
Maybe she thought she was talking to a kid.
She tilted her head. "I’m here because I still care about you."
"No," I said flatly, "you’re here because you need something."
Her silence confirmed it.
I rose, walking past her to pour myself a drink. She turned to follow me with her eyes, probably calculating how to keep herself relevant in this conversation.
"What is it this time?" I asked. "Money? A seat at the table? Or are you hoping to slip a knife between my ribs again?"
"You think I’m your enemy," she said softly, acting like my words sliced through her.
She could save the drama for who could fall for it.
"I know you’re not my friend." I stated, unblinking.
That shut her up for a beat. But Caterina was too practiced to stay down long. She shifted her weight, eyes narrowing in that way people do when they’re about to bluff.
"Your enemies are moving, Jace," she said finally. "You may be sitting pretty here in LA, but the game’s not over."
I took a sip, letting the burn settle in my chest before replying. "The game never ends. But you-," I turned, pinning her with a look—"you’re just another piece on the board. And I don’t play with pieces I can’t trust."
Something flickered in her eyes then — frustration, maybe fear, but she masked it quickly. "Think about it," she said, turning toward the door.
"I already have," I called after her.
She stopped, glancing back. "And?"
I let the corner of my mouth curve, but there was nothing warm in it. "If you come to me again without something I actually need... I’ll make sure you don’t leave."
Her lips pressed together, and she walked out without another word.
She should have known better than to try to come to me with her nonsense. I would not even consider whatever we had next time. She would be dealt with accordingly.
I set my glass of whiskey down, leaning with both hands on the desk as I stared at the city below. Caterina wasn’t wrong about one thing. My enemies were always moving. And maybe she was foolish enough to believe that dangling herself in front of me would be able to distract me.
It could never be possible.
But for a split second, before I shoved the thought away, I wondered if she’d heard something about Mira.
My breath hitched every time I thought of her and that had been every single day since she disappeared.
I tried reopening the search for her but all my leads came to a cold trail. I missed her more than I’d like to admit.
And no matter how far I’d come in two years since her absence, no matter how many enemies I’d buried... I hadn’t buried her. And I wasn’t sure I ever would.
~
~Few weeks later...~
There was an invitation on my office desk. An art auction. It had been a while since I attended of those and this was a good opportunity to socialize.
I picked up my phone and dialed you know who.
Tomas shuffled between LA and New York and was currently in NYC handling some dirty work.
Dario was heading Navarro Constructions. He was more of the clean faced cousin so he faced less backlash while I dealt with other business.
"Boss." he answered.
"I need a date."
I could feel his grin from behind my screen.
"Finally. I thought you’d never ask."
Every woman I had on my arm for the past year was due to his introductions. They were all casual flings, never anything serious.
And even when some of them made it to my bed, it felt like there was still a void in me afterwards. They could never scratch the itch that had been seared into my skin for the past two years of my life.
It’s crazy how one person can make you yearn more than you ever think you’re capable of.
Every time I was with another woman, all I could think of was Mira. I compared every look, every sound to what it was like when I had my fiery fireball by my side. This was torture.
~
Arriving at the auction venue, it was something luxurious, just as I expected. There was a supermodel on my arm as I walked into the hall. Marbled floors, chandeliers dripping with gold, hushed conversations filled the air. The room was filled with rich snobs. I was one of them so who was I to judge?
I scanned the room with my gaze, nursing my usual bored expression even when I had my eyes on a particular painting. I had become very interested in art over time and I collected art pieces for my growing collection every time I had the chance.
I answered some greetings and nodded politely as I shook hands with some people present. I spotted a few of my business associates. But this was not an event for the men of the underworld so I was not on high alert. I had minimal security too. I could protect myself if need be.
The main event was yet to properly begin so I busied myself with looking around. The art pieces are more intriguing than the woman on my arm so I let her go mingle even though a part of me actually wants to ditch her.
All of a sudden, I hear a voice that sounds all too familiar. I believed my mind was playing tricks on me. But then I heard that soft laughter. It was so low but I had trained my ears to remember it.
"People can have similar voices Jace. Keep it together." I muttered to myself, adjusting my cufflinks.
I went to the drink section and grabbed a glass of champagne for myself as I was slightly parched.
I picked up the drink and that was when my world stopped.
The auction’s host approached me with a grin and we shook hands while my eyes stayed glued to a particular person.
"Mr Romano it’s so nice to have you here. This is Ma-"
"Mira Valente." I completed for him sounding like I was in a trance.