At the peak of the celebration, Elio looked to the stand in search of Valentina, so he could include her, albeit with a glance.
His eyes narrowed when he didn't see her at the spot they were seated before.
He moved his eyes all around, searching for a special hat or a very peculiar hair colour, but didn't find either of these things.
Tension instantly gripped him, and he walked over to Marcello.
"Marce?" He called out to him, with a tap on his shoulder.
Marcello, surrounded by girls from Aurivilla, turned his head behind. "Not now, Elio." He shooed him away.
"Do you want to die?!" Elio tapped his shoulders harder as he turned away from him.
"What?!" He turned abruptly in annoyance.
"I can't find Valentina," he whispered to him.
"What are you talking about? She's right the—" his words trailed, as he looked up, and saw empty chairs littered all over. "E-lio?" he stuttered.
"Check the stables, I'll check the parking lot."
They quickly weaved their way through the massive crowd of people trying to congratulate them.
Elio walked straight to the parking lot. She wasn't there. She was nowhere around there.
With a disappointed sigh, he returned to the position they had departed from, at the same time Marcello arrived.
He shook his head. "She's not in the parking lot."
"She's not at the stable either."
Panic gripped Elio as he glanced at Luciano through the corner of his eyes.
He couldn't afford for him to find out about any of this. That was a mistake, too costly.
"Let's ask the security guards around. She can't have gone too far," Elio suggested.
"Yeah, let's do that."
"Elio, Marcello!" The girls screamed for them, as they moved away.
Luciano and Salvatore exchanged glances.
"Are those two trying to escape so they don't celebrate with us from their winnings?" Salvatore asked in an accusatory tone.
Luciano chuckled. "And you suggested we open the club tonight, bills on them? Do those brats look like boys who are ready to spend their wins?"
"Leave it to me, Luce. Today, those boys became men. And they must act like it. Elio e Marcello?!" He called out at the top of his voice.
"We'll be right back!" Marcello replied without looking back.
"Those fucking brats!" Salvatore cursed.
Luciano laughed. "I told you not to bother."
"Luce!" The obsessed girls began to scream again.
"Alright, that's my cue."
Lyon, his head security fell in line, and in a flash, they had moved him through the crowd, to his car.
Luciano stepped into the halls of Neravalle with Salvatore beside him, as they discussed important details regarding the safety of his home.
They were on their way to the big lounge, when Vittorio intercepted them.
"Vitto-Vitto!" Salvatore instantly saluted.
Vittorio responded with a friendly pat on his shoulders, and fell in line beside Luciano.
"You left early," Luciano said, as they walked ahead together.
"I knew the crowd was about to go crazy. Couldn't stand the noise," he replied.
"I was just telling Luce that the Riccardo boys are starting to make noise again. They think it's odd that only Elio and Marcello bet on Flore the underdog. And she ended up winning," Salvatore disclosed.
Vittorio's nose scrunched in disgust. "Always knew those bastards were no good."
"They shouldn't be in your land, carpo. They should never have been from the start. One order, just one, and I'll flush them out," Salvatore raged.
They didn't call him the black hand for nothing.
Luciano shrugged. "I owed their father a debt, and paid my dues by allowing them to settle in Aurivilla. Unless they actually create nuisance, let them be. What's the worst thing they can do other than make malicious statements?"
"Carpo!" Salvatore whined through clattering teeth.
Vittorio silently agreed with the sentiments. The boys were filthy wimps that did not deserve to be in Aurivilla.
Luciano chuckled. "I know since you returned from Vladimir's case, your hand has been itching for more blood. There's something that might interest you. I reviewed some footage and might have an idea of the spies we have in our camp. Your job is to confirm by any means necessary."
Salvatore smiled. "Sìcarpo!" He saluted, and swiftly excused himself.
"Where are Elio and Marcello?" Vittorio asked as they entered the lounge.
Luciano shrugged. "Who knows?"
"Babe!"
"Brother!"
Daniela and Aurora called at the same time, and in sync.
Their eyes met, and they burst out laughing.
"He's my brother first, you know?" Aurora said to her, as she walked forward to welcome Luciano.
"Have your way first, and then I'll show you how to give a proper welcome."
Luciano placed a kiss on his sister's cheeks. "You two need to stop this competition," he whispered with his head lowered.
"Tell that to babe," she mimicked Daniela.
Luciana swallowed a laugh, as Daniela moved Aurora out of the way to welcome him.
She stepped on her toes to kiss him. "Hey babe—"
But just as he leaned in, his eyes caught a glimpse of someone, and he pulled away.
"I've seen you already, Natalia."
Natalia's heart skipped a beat, as she slowly raised her head.
"Good eve-ning," she stuttered.
He regarded her with an icy glare that sent cold shivers down her body.
When he had stepped into L'arenaNera, he felt as if Valentina was there. But he brushed it aside simply because it wasn't possible.
Then he saw Natalia. Her face was hidden behind a scarf, but he knew it was her.
"Stop scaring her. I brought her along with me," Daniela said.
His icy gaze shifted to her. "What gave you the right to bring her out into the crowd without my permission? Do you know how unsafe it is for either her or her friend to be spotted?"
"That's why I gave her a scarf. No one saw her, I swear! I just think she's a very nice girl, and has even made me have an open heart towards her annoying friend. Please don't be mad at me?" She pouted. "And Natalia too. None of this is her fault okay?"
His eyes moved to Aurora.
"Don't look at me. I didn't make the decision to bring her along." She shrugged.
"Please babe." She fluttered her lashes like a bird.
His shoulders relaxed, and he relented. "Check in with me first before you make such decisions next time," he warned.
"Thanks babe! And now, for my kiss."
She stepped on her toes again, but before she could get the kiss she desperately craved, Sonia ran into the lounge.
"Carpo?!" She called out.
"Ugh, what now?!" Daniela screamed, as Luciano turned his head behind to respond to the screaming girl.
"Thank God you're back. It's miss Valentina."
He turned to fully face her in a heartbeat. "What about Valentina?" He asked.
"She's no in her room. She's no!" She shook her head vigorously, worry dancing in her eyes.
Luciano's gaze met Vittorio's which was equally as confused.
"What do you mean she's not in her room?" Natalia jumped up from her seated position.
Salvatore walked into the room. "Luce? I'm just coming from the camera room. The boys are saying they might have seen a girl walking towards the elevator with Elio and Marcello."
"Cazzo!" He cursed under his breath, and began to dial Elio's phone.