Dante (Stone Society Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

call the police since he wasn’t technically
missing. She just felt in her soul something wasn’t right. Maria and Enrico had
been together since they were both fifteen years old. They were high school
sweethearts who got married the day after graduation. Rico’s welding job
provided enough money that Maria could stay home and take care of future
children. Having had several pregnancies end in miscarriages, they gave up the
hope of having children of their own.
    One
day, Maria and Rico were contacted by an old friend of Maria’s family. Jonas
Montague had a young daughter whom he needed a home for. Someone who would
raise the girl as their own, protect her with their lives, all while keeping
his secret. Even though they had wanted a baby, they were more than happy to
take in the girl. Isabelle had been a blessing to them. They raised her and
loved her until she left for college.
    Isabelle
kept in touch throughout college and medical school. Afterwards, when she
decided to move to Greece, Maria’s heart was broken. She had Rico, but the nest
was again empty. Then one day, with no heads up, Isabelle returned. The once
quiet, easy-going girl was now a quiet, withdrawn woman. A woman who had
suffered at the hands of a wealthy family. A woman who was pregnant with a
child whose biological grandfather vowed to raise him. After much persuasion, Maria
and Rico agreed to take in Isabelle’s child and love him as if he were their
own grandchild. In a way, he was.
    Isabelle
visited often, with Connor knowing his mother loved him. That had been Maria’s
stipulation in taking the baby. He would know from day one his biological mother
loved him and hadn’t abandoned him. Rico had taken to the baby as if he were
truly his flesh and blood. The two of them were inseparable when Rico was home.
As Maria picked up the phone to try Rico once more, the front door opened.
    “Oh,
Rico, I was so worried. Where have you been, Papi?” Maria covered the distance
between them quickly, smothering her husband with kisses to his face, not
giving him the chance to answer. Even after all their years together, they were
as in love now as they had been when they first met.
    “I’m
okay, I’m okay. I promise. Connor? Where’s Connor?” Rico looked around
frantically. Her normally calm husband was scaring Maria.
    “Here,
Papi.” Connor walked up, carrying a drawing in one hand. He wrapped his free
arm around his grandfather’s legs. “You are very late, Papi. Is everything
okay?” Maria and Rico could never hide anything from Connor. He was too astute,
even at six years old.
    “Yes,
my boy. Everything is fine. I just had a little car trouble is all. Now, how
about supper? I’m starving.” Maria knew by the look in her husband’s eyes there
was more to his being late than he would talk about in front of the boy. They
would wait until after Connor was in bed to discuss it.
    “Of
course. Connor, go wash up, and we’ll eat,” Maria said as she unwrapped herself
from her husband. She didn’t have to tell her grandson twice; he always did as
he was told. He placed the picture on the coffee table as he went to wash his
hands. While waiting, Maria sent Isabelle a quick text letting her know
everything was fine, and Rico was home safe. When she saw the drawing Connor
had abandoned, she sucked in a breath.
    When
Connor returned from the bathroom, Maria asked, “Connor, who are these people
in your drawing?” Maria was holding the picture up for Rico to see as well.
Their eyes met over the boy’s head. It was evident by the skill of his artwork
that two of the people were him and Isabelle. The man however…
    “That’s
me, Momma, and my father. He saves us,” Connor said matter-of-factly.
    “Saves
you from who?” Rico asked the boy, frowning. Connor knew Alexi was dead; they
had never hidden that from him. He must have conjured an image in his mind of
what the man had looked like. Maria and Rico had never seen a photo of
Isabelle’s dead