Page 66 of Lost Prince

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.