“Wow. That’s…brutal.”
She shrugs. “I have seen little which convinces me otherwise.” Her all-seeing eyes penetrate mine. “Have you ever been in love?”
I slowly shake my head. “Thought I was once, but in hindsight, it was more of an infatuation. I was only a kid, and she was a gold-digging bitch.”
“What happened?”
I grind my teeth to the molars, the subject still a sore point for me. “One of my so-called best friends stole her from me senior year of high school. He was fucking her behind my back for months before I found out.”
She tilts her head to one side, her brow furrowing. “How the hell did that happen? I can’t imagine any woman cheating on you. She must have been insane or blind or plain stupid.”
I dart in and press a hard kiss to her lips. “It was a blessing in disguise. It never would’ve worked out, and at least I found out my friend was nothing more than a self-serving disloyal prick.”
“Who was it?”
I decide to tell her part of the truth, as a test of sorts. “Cruz DiPietro.”
Her eyes widen. “I expect you are aware I know him and his wife. I wondered why they declined our wedding invitation with what appeared to be a flimsy excuse. I guess now I know the reason why.”
“If I’d had my way, he wouldn’t have been invited at all, but he’s the DiPietro heir, and there is protocol to maintain.” I knew he wouldn’t attend. We go out of our way to avoid one another atmafiosoevents, and I rarely attend them anyway.
“The woman you thought you were in love with can’t be Cruz’s wife Anais, because I know her, and she’s too young to have been in high school with you.”
“It’s not Anais. Rita was Cruz’s first fiancée. He got her killed three months before they were due to wed. I’m surprised no one has said anything to you about her. It was quite the scandal at the time. She was pregnant when she died, and her pregnancy was the only reason Cruz was given permission to marry her because she didn’t have the right pedigree to wed an heir.”
“I don’t think Anais knows anything about her,” she muses, looking deep in thought.
I spot an opportunity and jump in. “You sound close to her.”
She pins me with a cool look as she stares at me. “We are close. Not as close as I am with Nicolina. I feel more protective of her than anything.”
Interesting. “How is it you know Cruz and Anais?”
“I met Cruz at amafiosoevent in Cincinnati a few years ago. Later, I discovered he was married to Anais.” She eyeballs me without blinking. “You may not know this, but Renzo used to work for Saverio Salerno in Vegas. He was one of hissoldatiuntil he discovered his ties to the Contis and Philly. When Saverio kicked him to the curb, he came to me, and I hired him. It was Renzo who introduced me to Anais. He had been there while she was growing up, and he was fond of her. He kept in contact with her after he left Vegas.”
That aligns to what I read online about her underboss, and I’m glad she is being truthful with me. I snort out a laugh. “Guess there is no accounting for taste. She’s a vapid, self-obsessed, power-hungry slut who disrespects her husband by fucking around behind his back. It’s ballsy but stupid. However, I like her for that fact alone. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.”
A mix of emotions briefly flits across my wife’s face. “I heard those rumors,” she admits. “Does everyone know?” Concern is evident on her face, and it’s clear she cares for Anais, which is odd, because I can’t imagine Catarina putting up with the spoiled princess’s legendary attitude. She isn’t one to suffer fools or a self-obsessed prima donna.
“Only those at higher levels,” I confirm. “If Cruz wasn’t poised to take over from his father in a couple of years, he would probably have her killed, but he can’t afford to take her out right now. It would cause trouble with the Accardis and the Mazzones and be problematic for The Commission because Don Salerno would not handle it well. Everyone knows he’s a reckless fool who would start a war he couldn’t win purely to avenge his daughter’s death.”
“Whose side would you be on?” she inquires.
“Whoever is opposing Cruz,” I honestly admit. “I don’t care about the circumstances or the right or wrong of it. I will always stand with whoever stands against that double-crossing thieving bastard.”
ChapterSeventeen
Catarina
“This is beautiful, truly beautiful, and not at all what I was expecting,” I truthfully admit, staring at the stunning rock pool and magnificent outdoor space surrounding Massimo’s large modern bungalow.
“I’m glad you like it. I spend a lot of time outside,” he supplies, coming to stand beside me as I survey the gorgeous landscaped grounds and the forested area that rims the property on all sides.
“It feels safe here and peaceful.” I wasn’t relishing the idea of living in Massimo’s home, but there really was no other option, short of buying a new property, and I’m too busy for that. Now, I’m glad I agreed to this. I haven’t even seen inside but already this feels…right.
“There is access to my private beach through the woods,” he explains. “I usually go running on the beach every morning if you’d like to join me.”
“I would like that. Keeping fit is important to me.” Not just for my physical health but also my mental state.
