“Babe.” Gia reaches across the table to hold my hand. “You’re drop-dead gorgeous, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. You have that whole willowy model look going for you. I would kill for your figure.”
“We should swap,” I joke. “Then you wouldn’t need to have surgery.”
“I can’t wait to reduce these puppies.” She casts a glance at her large chest.
“And I’d love to increase mine.” I peer at my modest B-cup chest.
“You’re perfect, Lise. It’s Caleb’s loss, and you are worth a million of the skanks he usually hooks up with.”
“He has hooked up with supermodels and actresses and other celebrities,” I remind her. “Most are not skanks.”
“None of them mean anything, Lise. He flits from one woman to the next like they’re a dying breed.”
“Except forher.” I pout, like always when I think of that horrible woman. I don’t know how Caleb has put up with Anais for years. Gia told me it’s revenge because Cruz stole Bettina from Joshua, but that was years ago, and Caleb still sleeps with her, so I’m not sure I buy it.
“He can’t stand Anais,” Gia reminds me before getting up to grab the two trays with our takeout coffees.
“It hasn’t stopped him having sex with her. If she’s the kind of woman he’s into, I never stood a chance. I just wish I’d realized it earlier and not wasted so many years pining for him.” I take one of the trays, and we walk back toward the elevator, waving at a couple of people we recognize on the way.
“Are you going to give it up to Seb?” Gia keeps her voice low so no one overhears.
“I don’t know.” I was saving myself for Caleb, but that dream died a death last year. “After waiting this long, I don’t want tojust give my virginity to anyone, and this thing with Seb is still new.”
“How does he feel about that?”
“He’s been decent about it. I explained, and he said he won’t pressure me, and he hasn’t. We mostly only kiss.”
Gia’s features soften as we step into the empty elevator. “I’m glad he’s letting you set the pace, and you shouldn’t feel under pressure to lose your V-card.”
“Says the girl who spontaneously gave hers up to Cristian DiPietro.” I grin at my bestie. I remember the morning after when she was gushing to me about it. “Maybe I should give him my V-card. I bet that would seriously piss Caleb off.”
“It would but we both know you’d never do it. You wouldn’t willingly hurt him even if he deserves a dose of his own medicine.”
“I couldn’t do that,” I readily agree as the doors ping at the lower level. “I wish I could be as heartless as Caleb, but I refuse to lower myself to his level. I’m not going to compromise who I am just to get even no matter how tempting it sometimes seems.”
“And that is why you are one of the sweetest, most authentic people I know.” Gia smiles at me. “The best revenge is cutting him out of your life and moving forward. Seb might not be the one, but at least he’s helping you to heal, and in time, you’ll forget all about Caleb Accardi.” She presses a kiss to my cheek. “I bet you’ll find your Prince Charming when you least expect it. Just like how it happened for me.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her I’ve given up on ever finding true love because, if this is what it feels like when it all goes wrong, I want no part of it anymore.
Chapter Three
Caleb
“How bad is the damage to Rinascita?” I ask as soon as we are all settled around the conference table in Commission Central. We came directly from the hospital after checking on our injured men, making a pitstop at the penthouse to drop Gia off. Outside, traffic is already building in Manhattan though it won’t be sunrise for another forty minutes. None of us have slept, and everyone looks exhausted even after showers and a change of clothes.
“There is significant damage to the roof and the top floor, but the lower levels are intact, and the structure seems solid,” Massimo explains.
“We called the various management teams, and everyone will work remotely for a few days until the engineering team inspects the building and ensures it’s safe,” Fiero adds before shooting Massimo a knowing look.
Our president clears his throat. “There was another casualty.” His gaze dances between my brother and me. “The Accardi cruise liner docked at the port was also targeted. They couldn’t save it.”
Joshua and I exchange troubled glances. “We had security staff on board. Did they get out safely?” my twin asks.
“You lost two men. They were on the top deck when the first bomb dropped. They died instantly according to thecapoon duty. Several others have minor injuries or suffered smoke inhalation. We sent them to the hospital before we left to come here.”
“Why are we only hearing about this now?” I stifle a yawn as I swing my gaze from Massimo to Fiero.
“Yourcapocalled Marino, and when he didn’t pick up, he called Joshua.”
