And maybe today is the day she falls in love with me. I have a meeting with the Italians of the London Mafia Syndicate, that I am refusing to call the London Pizza Club as Sev Blackwood has named it, and after that I have the afternoon available to spend with Ruby.
I have a good feeling. She bought plants and put up wallpaper. That means something, surely? Practically as committing as buying a dog. She wouldn’t leave her plants to die from lack of water.
“I’ll be unavailable for the whole day,” I tell Giovanni. “Ensure I’m not interrupted.”
“Yes, Don,” he says, but his brow says otherwise.
“What is it, old friend?” I ask, but honestly, I’m half thinking about what Ruby will enjoy as a romantic day out, and half of how to hasten my meeting with the Blackwood triplets, Marco Brent and the rest of the Italians. Beyond attempting to erase pineapple on pizza from London’s restaurants, what is the point?
Community. Solidarity. All things I once wanted, but now Ruby takes up that space in my heart.
“You mentioned the marriage would be annulled. Temporary,” he says carefully.
“So is life.” I smile to myself. “And if I’m really lucky, Ruby will stick around.”
“Yes, Don.” Giovanni keeps his expression studiously neutral.
I clap him on the shoulder, then turn away. “She’s part of the family, or will be.”
I finish up my workout, and after checking up on Ruby, I decide to drive myself to the meeting of the Italian sub-group, taking the Ferrari, since nothing feels quite as Italian as a Ferrari.
Stuck in London traffic almost immediately I’m left tapping the wheel and thinking. Giovanni seems to have not warmed to Ruby. I suppose this is still about her not being Italian. Once it’s settled that she’s going to stay, he’ll accept her as part of the Angelini family. But maybe I can smooth the way. Perhaps she’d like more support, too. Spend time with Italians, not just Lucia and me, but others.
It only takes a second, and I’m calling Marco Brent.
“What is it, Clerkenwell?” he asks as soon as the call connects.
“Hear me out. I’ve got an idea.”
19
RUBY
It always feels lonely without Dante, even though there are some of his men and various members of staff in the house and grounds.
I’m just settling into drawing on my tablet while sitting on the sofa—I have a new idea that would make an amazing special edition for a cosy monster romance?—
“Get up.”
I look up at Giovanni’s barked order, surprised. He has a gun out, pointed at my side, and my heartbeat spikes.
“What’s happening?”
“You need to go into the garden. There’s an intruder. Now,” he adds abruptly when I don’t instantly comply.
Panic seizes my chest. “Is there an attack? Dante was clear that I should go to the safe room in his office if?—”
“Get up. Before I drag you up, little whore,” he hisses. Giovanni lunges and a gun barrel is against my throat before I know what’s happening. “Come quietly, and this will all be over soon. Scream and I’ll kill you right now.”
And that’s when I begin to freak out. Because Giovanni is far bigger than me, and Dante is out, and oh-my-god-oh-my-god. I don’t like this.
I don’t dare test Giovanni’s threat, and I’m frozen.
Could Dante return? No. He left for a meeting ten minutes ago. He’ll be hours yet. And if anyone else comes, who’s to say they’ll even side with me?
“I don’t understand,” I whisper, getting to my feet when he drags me up by one arm, wrenching it painfully. I’m trembling with fear.
“You’re not good enough for him,” he says as he marches me out of the house and into the garden. “Not of his heritage, or standing. What do you bring to this union? Nothing.”
