Why the fuck would Una do that? She definitely knew who Antonio was. She knew I hated him. She had to have known that I wouldn’t like it because she kept it hidden from me, and she never hid the men she dated.
Gi’s eyes fill with tears. “Tommy, you didn’t, did you? She said you told her to do it.”
I pull her into my arms, my hand on the back of her neck. She melts against me, sobbing quietly into my chest. “No, baby. I didn’t know anything about it.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. A new text from the burner number with a time and place. If I’m going to get there on time, I have to leave now.
My stomach knots. I don’t want to leave her right now. “Baby…”
She steps back, wiping her nose. “You have to go. She’s texting you, isn’t she?”
I show her the message from the unknown number. “No, this isn’t Una. No secrets, baby. I promise.” She looks down, rubbing her stomach, and I tip her chin up. “No. Secrets. Ever. Okay?”
Instead of that making her feel better like I intended, she bursts into tears. It kills me to see her like this. I kiss the top of her head gently and run my palms up and down her arms. “Come on, baby. No more crying. I’ll be back soon, and we’ll do whatever you want, okay?”
The look she gives me says she’s not sure she believes me.
42
Giovanna
Tommy hasn’t been gone long when a soft knock sounds at the bathroom door, followed by a woman’s voice that I don’t recognize.
“Hello?”
I don’t move. I’m sitting on the bathroom floor, leaned against the tub, staring at the ceiling until the paint starts to blur. The tile is cold against my skin, but I’ve been here long enough that I’ve almost gone numb. I took a bath an hour ago and then just…didn’t leave. There’s nowhere to go. I’m not hungry. I’m not allowed to leave this damn apartment. So here I am. Naked. On the bathroom floor.
The knock comes again.
I sigh under my breath. Great. Now I have to kill someone while I’m naked. At least I’m dry.
When I finally push myself up, my thighs stick to the tile with a wet pull. I grab the towel hanging on the back of the door andwrap it around me, then reach for the gun sitting on the counter. At this point, it feels natural in my hand.
The woman calls out again, her voice carrying down the hall. “I don’t mean to disturb you, but Olivia sent me over. She said you might need a few things, so I thought I’d—”
She cuts off when I whip open the door, the gun aimed at her face.
It may not be Una, but that doesn’t mean I know her. And how did she get a fucking key? Maybe she’s another one, another woman Tommy face fucked while we were apart.
She freezes, then raises one hand slowly. “I’m Siena. I’m Matti’s…fiancée. I’m also unarmed, so if you wouldn’t mind lowering the weapon so we can make this a fair fight, I’d really appreciate it.”
Matti’s fiancée? Tommy mentioned that Matti had a fiancée, but I didn’t really believe it. It’s like saying that unicorns exist. Or that Vin could sleep with the same woman two nights in a row.
The thought almost makes me laugh.
I don’t lower the gun. “Tell me something that proves who you are. Make it good. You only get one shot.”
Siena tilts her head, thinking. “Hmm. Okay. There’s this bitch, Valentina, who hangs out with the guys. Or works for them; it’s not always clear. But she’s been trying to fuck Matti since the day I met him, and I can’t fucking stand her. But I recently learned she’s mildly tolerable when she’s on drugs, so who knows. She may be redeemable.”
That earns a dry snort out of me. I lower the gun. “She did fuck him, you know.”
Siena grimaces. “Yeah, I’m aware.” She lifts her hand and points to the bag she’s carrying. “Anyway, I come bearing gifts. I don’t know what Tommy has stocked here or if you cook, but I brought some pastine. Are you Italian?”
I frown. “Yeah. Why?”
“Then you know good pastine when you taste it.”
“It won’t beat my cook’s.”
