Free Twist of Fate by Barbara Witek

flawlessness.
    “A long and profitable partnership.” Carlo approached and scooped the diamonds back into the pouch. “A partnership very dependent on your lovely wife. Now go.”
    Dante knew he had been dismissed. He felt the urgency more than ever to bring Kate home. Carlo continued to delve deeper and deeper underground with his business associates. Keeping him informed ensured Dante would cover any possible flaws in the contracts, making the deals virtually undetectable by the authorities. Profitable, indeed.
    Kate’s body still had not been found, assumed to be swept away by the current. He would continue to play the grieving spouse to the public while easing Carlo’s distress over her trustworthiness. Right now a consultation with his men was in order. They needed to be aware of the latest negotiations and speed their progress.
    When he reached his office, Paulie and Joey were waiting outside his door. No Kate. Not that he’d expected them to have her just yet, but while he’d driven through the city streets, he’d thought it would make a pleasant surprise. How hard could it be? He knew his men weren’t idiots, but they obviously weren’t using their heads. His secretary had already left for the day so he kept the office door open as he passed through. Dante swiped both hands through his hair and turned when he reached his desk.
    “I can’t believe you two haven’t found her.”
    “We’re trying,” Joey answered, jingling the loose change in his pocket. “There are an awful lot of trees out there.”
    Paulie smacked Joey on the back of the head. “We’re in the country, moron. Of course there are a lot of trees.” Walking to the corkboard, he placed two more pins on the crinkled map. “We’ll start narrowing the field now, boss. We’re getting close.”
    Dante paced before the map, stopping in front of the two men. They seemed to shrink at the scowl on his face. “Close isn’t good enough. Carlo is working on a new project. He needs everything in place soon, including my wife. I want her found.”
    He knew the longer she stayed missing, the harder it would be to cover in front of Carlo. The guise that she was dead kept the media focused on that rather than the connections to the Santini family. Carlo wasn’t pleased when Dante and Kate separated. Carlo liked to keep his family close. He needed her clothing business to export his product. If she didn’t come back, there’d be hell to pay for all of them. Dante didn’t want to put himself or his men in that position.
    Dante knew how Carlo’s mind worked. Being the man’s attorney made him privy to some pretty sensitive information. He also knew that if Carlo got wind of this, he’d send his own force to look for Kate. For as much as Dante wanted her to learn a lesson, for Hope’s sake he didn’t want her hurt or dead. He needed to handle this himself. This was between him and his wife. He’d get her back under his roof at any cost.
    He wondered if the man she’d met had anything to do with her changed behavior. Had she been planning this all along? Could this stranger be the reason she sent the divorce papers? The thought of her with someone else filled him with an anger he’d never known.
    “How dare she,” he growled, feeling his face burn with jealousy and rage deep within his gut. “I want her back where she belongs.”
    “Sure thing, boss, we’ll find her.” The big man turned, eager to leave.
    “Paulie,” Dante called when the two men reached the door.
    “Yeah, boss?”
    “Keep it discreet.”
    ** *
    Sam had always loved to build, and he found great satisfaction in creating something from nothing. For the first time in years, he enjoyed his job. He had Kate to thank for that. She’d always been his muse. With her back in his life, he felt invincible. Now more than ever, he looked forward to that five o’clock whistle. He wasn’t going to work his men into the ground anymore. Unless there was a deadline, he made sure