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Restitution 3

Luciano stayed at the villa with his family for three days. During that time, he made and received numerous phone calls as he contacted the people searching for Aurora and Logan. Assistant Morbidelli also stopped by on the third day to discuss the situation and the data they had collected in hopes of coming up with a plan. Claudia refused to let the two carry out their discussions in private and insisted that Caterina and Francesco also be involved.

"I wouldn't doubt Mr. Oliveria's involvement; he was disturbed by the news that you were naming Mr. Francesco as your heir. He still believes he can marry into the Baggio family." Morbidelli opined.

"Where is he, now?" Luciano asked, looking up from the report in his hand.

"Officially. He's aboard the Aztec Queen, heading to South Africa. But I've received a report placing him in Monaco."

"Where's Persephone?"

Assistant Morbidelli pulled out his phone and made a series of taps and swipes. "Puglia. Your brother...has her booked for the next three weeks. He's going to Dubai."

Luciano let out a loud sigh as he looked around the room. His eyes stopped when he met Francesco.

Assistant Morbidelli took one look at the boy, then smiled widely. "We can move up Mr. Francesco's announcement and have him tour the Mediterranean."

Cameras flashed ceaselessly, the glare dazzling Francesco. All eyes were on him after his grandfather's announcement. Several voices in the crowd called out to him to look this or that way. The boy stepped up to the podium and signalled for one of the assistants to drop the mic.

"I guess you all have questions for me. I'll try to answer as many as I can." The boy spoke nervously to the crowd of reporters.

"No more than five." Luciano said, leaning down to the mic. "He does have a yacht to catch."

"Over here! Francesco, tell us about your father." A woman in a low-cut blouse at the front shouted.

"Dad's an architect. He's not a big name, so I doubt anyone has heard of him."

"Where are your parents now? Why aren't they here?" A man standing at the back called.

"Solna. Mom's getting treatment at a hospital there."

"Do you have any siblings?"
"Is your father Swedish?"
"How does it feel to be named the Baggio heir?"
"What are your plans for the future?"

"No...Uh...Swedish descent." Francesco licked his lips. The questions were coming at him faster than he could keep up. "Um... I'm not sure..."

"Were you born in Sweden?"
"What are your hobbies?"

Luciano put his hand on the boy's shoulder and gently nudged him to the side. "Thank you for your time. Once Francesco's settled, we will arrange interviews."

Francesco stood on the deck, watching as the yacht pulled out. Persephone was the largest yacht the Baggio family owned and was used exclusively by relatives of the head of the family. He would be taking this 'tour' with Carletto and Stella. All other staff were part of the yacht's roster. Claudia also came along, while Luciano and Caterina returned to their work.

As the scenery drifted by, Francesco's mind wandered. A hollow, empty feeling settled in his stomach. He was on a boat. A private boat. A yacht! Planes, yachts, helicopters, villas, mansions, castles, bodyguards, maids, and doctors. The boy laughed aloud.

"What's so funny?" Claudia asked, settling on one of the chairs near the pool.

Pools.

"Nothing."

Just half a year ago, he thought forty-seven thousand was a lot of money. Now he was standing on a yacht that was worth tens of millions. He laughed again. *What is a million?* Richard's and Nicholas' attitude now made sense. When everything is at your fingertips and money is as accessible as any piece of paper, nothing matters. Life didn't feel real. The boy watched his grandmother sip her drink as she relaxed.

Claudia had said the only reason she had stayed in the Baggio family was because of Aurora. Looking at her now, she seemed at home on the pool chair, giving orders to the maids. Everything he had experienced with the Baggio family made Logan look poor. From Baggio's perspective, he really was insignificant. Logan didn't understand the power behind limitless wealth. Wealth and connections were superpowers.

Assistant Morbidelli and his grandfather didn't need to leave the villa to take action. A phone call or an email moved hundreds of people in several countries. They had received reports that had been compiled from all over. Was it true that he couldn't find Mom before? What about now?

Francesco stopped walking. Luciano had said Nicholas needed to be handled carefully. He had suspected Nicholas to be behind Logan and Aurora's disappearance. He knows Nicholas is in Monaco. Why am I touring the Mediterranean? The last time Nicholas kidnapped Aurora, she almost died. Luciano knew this. Why is he delaying?