by Dana Delamar
He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, his brown eyes turbulent. “Maybe you’re right,” he finally said, his voice thick.
She leaned forward and kissed him lightly. “Let’s think of this as a fling, okay?”
“Can we leave it open?” he asked. “Just entertain the possibility there could be more?”
She sighed and dropped her head back onto the pillow. “Let’s enjoy each other, and when the time comes, let’s not make it difficult.”
“Just consider it. Per favore?”
His eyes were unguarded, naked, vulnerable. Saying no would be a slap in the face. “Okay. But I’m not making promises. Do not misunderstand me.”
He smiled broadly, his face relaxing. “I understand.”
The joy on his face made her bury her worries in a smile. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. Not after what he’d done for her. But she’d been clear. When she decided to go, he’d have to accept it.
They enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, trading sections of the newspaper like an old married couple. Kate looked over at Enrico, his dark eyes roving over the business section as he sipped a cappuccino. Vince didn’t like to read the paper, but they’d shared plenty of breakfasts together, many of them like this one, quietly companionable ones where little needed to be said. Some little part of her missed Vince and thought it strange she was here with this other man, a man who was definitely not her husband. “Excuse me,” she said to Enrico, folding up her napkin and setting it beside her plate. “There’s something I need to do.”
Her voice must have betrayed her somehow. He looked at her for a moment, concern in his eyes. “Is there a problem?”
“No. I just need to check my voice mail.”
“Ah.” His face tightened, and she left before he could say anything. It really was none of his business.
Kate retrieved the phone from her purse. She’d been dreading hearing from Vince, but maybe he’d calmed down and seen how he’d overreacted. Maybe he’d agree to let her leave and get a quick divorce. Of course, if he knew what she’d done last night…. But there was no video after all.
She turned on the phone as she walked out to the terrace behind the house, trying to enjoy the view of the garden, the rolling lawns that led down to the lake. What a gorgeous day, she thought, with the sky clear and blue, the sun glittering on the water, the craggy peaks of the Alps rising high around her. But her stomach filled with butterflies as she waited for the phone to come to life.
A beep told her she had voice mail. No surprise. She pressed the button to check it, and sure enough, Vince’s voice greeted her. “You fucking cunt,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “I’m gonna slit your throat.”
She deleted the message, her fingers trembling as she pressed the buttons. There was another from him; she deleted it too as soon as she heard the anger in his voice.
So much for the quick divorce. What the hell was she going to do? She couldn’t stay with Enrico forever. She shouldn’t be staying with Enrico at all. Not if she knew what was good for her.
She had to get the hell out of Dodge. This minute.
Kate found Enrico typing on the laptop in his study. He was so absorbed she had to cough to get his attention. He started to smile but stopped. “Kate, what is wrong?”
She fidgeted for a second, not sure she wanted to ask him for help. “Vince called.”
“What did he say?”
Her heart started pounding. “He threatened to kill me.”
Enrico’s eyes sharpened. “What exactly did he say?”
Her throat closed up, strangling her next words. “He said he was going to slit my throat.” Her knees turned to jelly and she collapsed onto the chair in front of his desk.
Enrico jumped up and came around to her. He sank down on his heels, taking her hands in both of his. “Everything will be all right.”
She shook her head, grateful for the warmth of his touch, the strength of his fingers around hers. She tried to keep herself calm, but a tide of worry overwhelmed her. “What am I going to do? Where am I going to go? How am I going to live?” She pulled a hand from his grasp, covering her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks. Her eyes swam and blurred; she could barely breathe.
“Try not to jump ahead.” Enrico’s voice was low and soothing, and he rubbed his palms up and down her thighs. “There is no sense worrying.”
“How can I not worry?”
His hands stilled and he looked at her closely. “I know it is difficult. But when did worry ever solve anything?” He paused, then squeezed her knees. “You need to keep your head, Kate. Panic never helps. I am here; I will help you. You can count on me.”
She took a deep breath, then expelled it slowly. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.”
He leaned forward and kissed her, one of his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. “Anytime you need me, I will be there.” His voice was almost a whisper.
Such promise in those words, enough to send nervous flutters through her. Could he really live up to them? There was one way to find out. “I need to get away from here. Somewhere Vince can’t find me. I don’t want my parents to worry, so I can’t tell them about Vince or ask them for money—”
“Say no more. I do not want you to go, but if that is your wish, I will help you.”
“I don’t want to owe you.”
“You will not.” After a moment, he added, “Your rings should yield more than enough to cover your expenses for quite some time.” He cocked his head and looked at her. “You do not like depending on anyone.”
“After Vince, do you blame me?”
“Not all men are bad.”
She stared at him without comment, then said, “How soon can I leave?”
Enrico straightened, then sat on the edge of his desk, crossing his arms. “Your husband has someone watching the house.”
Fear spiked through her, leaving her chilled. “He does? How do you know?”
“There is a man watching the front drive. No doubt there is another watching the dock to make sure you do not leave by boat either.”
“Oh God.” Kate rubbed her arms. “He sounded so horrible on the phone. He scared me, but I was hoping it was just posturing.”
Enrico frowned. “We would be fools to dismiss him.”
She looked up into his eyes. “I can’t stay here forever.”
“It would be best to wait a few days. Let them get bored. Then we leave at night by boat, no motor, travel up the shore a ways, meet a car.” He paused, then continued. “I am not sure it is wise to take my private jet, in case your husband has staked out the airstrip, but there is no paper trail if we do. At least, not one that cannot easily be faked.”
She looked at him, considering. “You’ve done this before.”
“Not exactly. But it is best to think about these matters beforehand.”
“You really are afraid of them, aren’t you?”
“Not afraid. Cautious.”
“I don’t believe you. Who wouldn’t be afraid of the Mob?”
Suspicion ruled Kate’s gaze. Of course. The only people who wouldn’t be afraid of the Mafia were people in the Mafia. “Okay. I am a little afraid,” Enrico said.
“Only a little?” she teased.
He smiled, just a slight curving of the mouth. “Maybe more than a little.”
“Good.”
His brows shot up. “Good?”
“Now I know you’re not crazy. Or one of them.”
He was careful to hold her eyes. “If I was one of them, would we be having this conversation? Would I not have left you to your fate?”
She studied him for a second. “Perhaps. Still, you’re way too good at this.”
He grinned. “I am a businessman. I have to lie to people all the time. It is the way of things.”
She leaned back in the chair and crossed her arms, not breaking eye contact. “You should know now I hate lying. More than anything.”
Enrico felt a tremor in
his gut. Her words implied a possible future for them at the same time that they damned one. “I will never lie to you about anything of consequence.” He regretted the words as soon as he said them, wished he could take them back, could tell her there and then who he was. But she’d bolt.
“You’d better mean that.”
“Every word.” Dio, please forgive me.
“We do it your way then.” He started to turn away from her, when her voice, a brutal punch to the ribs, stopped him. “If I ever find out you’re lying to me, I will never forgive you.”
He kept his face still, twisted half away from hers. When he thought he could keep his dismay inside, he turned to her. “I know.”
“Then we understand each other.”
He hoped to hell she could understand—and forgive—him when she found out the truth. If she rejected him, he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
Or how he’d keep her alive.
CHAPTER 10
“You were supposed to get rid of Lucchesi. Not lose your wife to him!” Carlo exploded, his eyes narrowed on Vincenzo.
“Do you think that was the plan, Zio?” Vincenzo hissed.
Carlo stared at Vincenzo, a bit impressed by his anger. So he has the balls to challenge me. He looked over at Dario, who was watching the two of them with seemingly nothing more than mild interest. How I wish my own son had a set like Vincenzo’s.
Carlo smoothed his hands down the front of his shirt while he considered his words. He wouldn’t apologize of course, though he did soften his tone. “What then is the plan?” He knew full well his nephew had none. But a good capo always rose to a challenge. This would be a fine test.
Vincenzo rubbed a hand through his hair and paced across the room, stopping by the windows and looking out at Carlo’s view of the lake. If his nephew looked far off to the west, he could see Lucchesi’s villa. Where his fascinating red-haired strega was even now, with her lover. Vincenzo leaned against the sill, staring out. After a while he turned to face Carlo. “I got some ideas.”
“Are you perhaps hoping Lucchesi will let down his guard? That will not happen, now that you let him know we are watching.”
Vincenzo couldn’t conceal his shock. “What about the box you sent him in Rome?”
“Ah, but Lucchesi did not take that seriously. He thought I was teasing.” He chuckled.
“He might’ve thought that if Massimo hadn’t shown up at his hotel.”
Carlo shrugged. He rather preferred Lucchesi to know. He’d suffer from the anticipation of the blow almost more than the blow itself. “How many men did he have with him yesterday?”
“Four.”
“Hardly an army.”
“But more than he’s usually got, if your guys are right.”
Carlo patted his jacket pockets, looking for a cigar. “Still, you got around them.”
Vincenzo smiled. “That was easy. His guys seemed more for show than anything else.”
“And they say his man Ruggero is so good. His father Livio, he was good. He saved Rinaldo enough times.”
“You had a guy inside Lucchesi’s organization, right?” Vincenzo asked.
An interesting change of subject. Carlo lit a cigar and nodded. “Unfortunately, he was stupid. Lucchesi caught on to him. But a little too late.” He studied Vincenzo through the smoke curling up from his cigar. “So that is your new plan? Get someone on the inside?”
“What about his accountant? What’s Trucco told you?”
“Nothing much. He seems to think I will kill Lucchesi over his puttana of a daughter.”
“I thought you was pissed about that.”
Carlo stared at Vincenzo, his face growing hot. “I am. The insult to Toni... I will not stand for it. But I do not care to avenge Trucco’s daughter. It was his fault for letting the troia run around.”
“Trucco’s got to know more. He’s got to know a way into Lucchesi’s house.”
Carlo puffed on the cigar. It was a decent place to start, one he should have thought of himself. “Talk to Massimo. He knows how to contact Trucco.”
Vincenzo nodded, a big smile on his face. His nephew was up to something. “You are not to do anything without my approval. Capisci?”
“Sì, sì,” Vincenzo said.
Carlo bristled at the dismissive tone. Time for a reminder. He stepped closer to Vincenzo, lowered his voice to a snake’s hiss. “You remember when Giorgio and Giotto caught that squirrel in the garden?” The dogs had ripped it to pieces in front of them.
“Yeah.” Vincenzo looked away from him.
“Imagine what they will do to your balls if I let them.”
His nephew blanched, and Carlo smiled. Things always ran best if everyone remembered who was capo.
After Vincenzo left, Dario turned to Carlo. “Are you truly going to marry Delfina to Lucchesi?”
“I want them to think I agree. I will die before marrying that family to ours again.”
“A war with the Lucchesis will be costly. Just like the last one.”
Carlo looked at him, surprised he had an opinion. “What of it?”
“It would be cheaper to agree to the marriage as long as they lower the rate on the wash. And perhaps we can gain some territory too, to save Vincenzo’s face.”
On the surface, Dario was right. But he fundamentally didn’t comprehend what it took to be capo. Carlo’s hands itched to grab his son and shake him until his head rattled. “Where are your balls? Think about what Lucchesi did to your sister. To us. He spat in our faces. On our name.”
Dario shrugged. “I thought you didn’t like to waste money.”
“I do not consider this a waste of money.” He shook his head. “Will you never understand what it takes to run things? Cristo, if you’re in charge, everything will be a shambles in weeks. Will you let all the other capi shit on you?”
“If we force Lucchesi to yield, to sacrifice his principles, is that not a victory?”
Carlo took a long drag on his cigar, studying his son. Why hadn’t Toni been the boy? “Only for a coward. It is time to crush the Lucchesis for good. I will not see Enrico Lucchesi parading around an Andretti woman as his puttana, flaunting his cock in our faces.”
No, he would see him dead. The woman too. And Vincenzo would be the sharp knife between the ribs.
CHAPTER 11
Enrico summoned Ruggero to his office. He’d put off disciplining him over the lapse at the orphanage for too long. When he thought about how close Kate had come to death or grievous injury, a nauseating dread pierced him, as if he’d run out of bullets during a firefight.
When Ruggero walked in, Enrico took a deep breath. He needed a clear head for this discussion. “You know why you’re here.”
Ruggero nodded and started disarming himself, removing a 9mm from a shoulder holster, another gun and a switchblade from his jacket pockets, a small snub-nosed revolver from an ankle holster, and two wicked looking knives from sheaths on each wrist, placing them all on the desk. Enrico silently watched the process, saying nothing. Ruggero stepped a couple feet away when he was done, clasping his hands at his back, settling onto his heels to wait for Enrico’s pronouncement.
Enrico studied his bodyguard as if he’d never seen him before. Ruggero stood in front of his desk, his posture straight but relaxed. A hard slab of man, not overly large or tall, but a solid mass of muscle with a face hewn from granite. A scar that slashed across his left cheekbone spoke of a knife he took for Enrico’s father. That was when Ruggero was shadowing his own father, Livio.
He’d known Ruggero for over twenty years, and the guard had been his constant companion for the last fifteen. They weren’t friends and they never would be—Enrico was Ruggero’s boss, first and foremost. Ruggero was a little too bloodthirsty for Enrico’s taste, but until now, he’d always seemed stable, trustworthy. And most of all, loyal. If he couldn’t rely on Ruggero, who could he trust?
“I’d like an explanation for what happened yesterday.”
Ruggero m
et Enrico’s eyes. “There is none.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
“Sì.”
Had he expected anything different? The answer was classic Ruggero. But the events of the last twenty-four hours were not. The incident at the hotel in Rome. What Ruggero must have said to Dom about Kate. What might have happened to her due to Ruggero’s laxity. Most of all, the possibility that Ruggero was a traitor. The anger he’d been holding back filled his voice with venom. “You have failed me. Twice now. And poisoned Dom against me. Explain yourself.”
One of Ruggero’s eyebrows twitched, the only sign that he was rattled. “I’m disappointed in myself, signore. But how could I have turned Don Domenico against you?”
“Somehow, he got the impression that Kate and I… that my bringing her here was about sex. What did you say to Dom about what happened?”
“Nothing. Antonio’s the one who called him. I was too angry with myself to make the call.” He frowned, looking down at the floor. It was more expression than Ruggero normally showed.
“How am I to trust you again when you nearly got her killed?”
“You yourself were in danger. That’s the part I can’t forget.”
Enrico sighed. “You’re not going to defend yourself, are you?”
Ruggero didn’t move.
The man was holding something back. “Look at me.” When Ruggero met his gaze, he said, “What happened? Truly.”
Something flickered through the guard’s eyes. If Enrico hadn’t been watching him so closely, he would have missed it. But what was it? He waited for an answer and got none. “Ruggero, speak to me.”
“I allowed myself to be distracted. It won’t happen again.”
“Why were you distracted?”
Ruggero shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“What are you hiding from me?” He tried to inject the full force of his authority into the question.