Out of the corner of my eye, I see the woman behind the reception desk eyeing us warily. I don’t want to cause a scene, any more than I have. I drill a sharp look at Ciro. “Let him go.” Rummaging in my purse, I find a pack of tissues. I walk to the man I was just kissing. “I’m sorry about this.” I dab at his nose before pressing the tissues into his hand. Ciro lets him go upon a nod from my brother. “It was nice to meet you,” I say, stepping back. “I hope your nose isn’t broken.”
“Boss. What do you want me to do with him?” Ciro asks.
“Nothing,” I hiss, shooting daggers at Ben’s bodyguard. I swing my gaze on my brother. “This is nothing to do with him and he knows nothing. Let him go now, Benny.”
Ben nods, walking over to where the two men are standing. Ciro hands Ben a black wallet.
“Hey, that’s mine!” The guy’s nostrils flare as he makes a swipe for his wallet. Ciro grabs both his arms, yanking them behind his back.
Ben removes his driver’s license and takes a pic on his phone. Tucking the license and the wallet into the front pocket of the man’s jacket, Ben narrows his eyes at him in a way that is scary. I know that face. It’s when Ben readily allows all the darkness inside him to shine bright. It’s been known to make grown men quake in their boots. “She was never here, and that never happened. Breathe a word of this to anyone, and I’ll kill you.”
The man gulps, instantly understanding the danger, and I feel like shit for placing him in this position.
“I’m sorry,” I repeat before Ben takes my hand, almost dragging me outside.
My errant bodyguard is there, waiting by the car. Smart fucker clearly called my brother instead of my husband.
“Get a cab,” Ben says, barking at Gino’s man. “I need to speak to my sister in private.”
Ciro gets into the passenger seat, beside our driver, while Ben and I climb silently into the back.
“Start talking,” Ben says, through gritted teeth, as soon as the privacy screen is up.
The car glides seamlessly into the busy early evening traffic, and I stare forlornly out the window. I don’t think there is much reason to keep this from my brother. So, I turn around and tell him what I discovered when I found Gino.
“That fucking bastard,” he seethes. “How dare he parade his whore around town.” Made men are told to revere and respect their wives. That means being discreet with their whores and mistresses, among other things.
“She’s no whore.” I clasp my hands on my lap. “She could be Juliet’s doppelganger, and they are clearly besotted with one another. At least I know now why he has been ignoring me and refusing to let me visit.”
“He was at the meeting I just left,” Ben explains. “I was going to question him, but your message made me hold back. Now, I wish I hadn’t.”
“Don’t get involved.”
“You’re my sister, and that cunt doesn’t get to treat you like this.”
“This is really nothing new, except the women he has bedded before were always transient. This woman is different.”
He turns to face me. “I know your relationship is not what you wanted, and I know it’s no great love affair, but you said he treated you well. Every time you are together, it seems amicable and respectful.”
A sad smile creeps over my face. “It’s all an act. We are who we need to appear to be in public. We should both get Oscars.”
“How bad has it been, Nat? And I want the fucking truth.”
“He doesn’t abuse me, if that’s what you are asking. But he’s neglectful, and he only cares insofar as I’m the boys’ mother. They love me, and I love them. I’m the one who has raised them. That is probably the only thing that might save me now.”
Ben growls. “Gino will not harm one hair on your head. I don’t care who this woman is. It ends now. You’re his wife, and he will treat you with the goddamn respect you deserve.”
I reach out, unknotting my brother’s clenched fists. “You will not mention this to him. Not until we know more.” I have been stewing on this all afternoon, and I have finally made my decision. “Can you hire a PI for me? I want to get proof of his affair.”
“For what gain?” Ben asks.
I shrug. “I may need it as ammunition. Before I do or say anything, I need to know who she is and what I’m dealing with.”
Ben purses his lips, and his brow creases as his brain churns the idea. “Okay, but I can’t let him run all over Chicago with a woman who isn’t his wife. Not just because I’m liable to blow his fucking head off for mistreating you. Things are precarious and he’s our main man on the ground. He needs to keep his fucking head in the game.”
“Can you talk to my bodyguard? Make him keep quiet?”
“He won’t tell anyone shit. You gave him the slip, and as far as he is concerned, Gino could kill him for his ineptitude.”
