I'm still wiping blood from my hands when Luca's phone rings.
He picks up. “Valentina.”
Her name stops my breath.
In an instant, all my attention is on him, wanting to hear the conversation.
It’s rude.
In any other scenario, I’d leave the room or stand aside out of respect.
But I won’t be denied knowing what’s happening with Valentina.
"Everything's fine here. He's adjusting." Luca's eyes flick to mine.
I stand paralyzed between wanting to grab the phone and knowing I can't.
"The wedding…" Luca's jaw tightens. "Yes, I'll be there."
My chest constricts.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Luca asks, his voice growing concerned. "You don't sound?—"
He pauses, listening. His face morphs into a dangerous sneer. "What did Maksim do?" he growls.
My blood freezes. I move closer, straining to hear her voice on the other end. All I catch is a muffling of words.
"He did what? And Alessandro allowed this?"
I'm inches from him now. My mind races through horrific possibilities of what Maksim might have done to her.
He meets my eyes. "Well… that's interesting. But if he'd said no, that could have been worse."
More silence, and I’m about to come out of my skin.
“Yes, I agree. Be strong, okay?”
That’s it? Be strong?
When he hangs up, I don't wait for him to speak. "What happened?"
"It's family business," Luca says dismissively, tucking his phone away.
I fight the urge to grab him by his expensive suit lapels. "With all due respect, Don Dante, I'm trying to be diplomatic here. I respect your position and your authority, but Valentina is my life. If something's happening to her, I need to know."
Luca studies me. For a moment, I think he's going to tell me to go fuck myself or worse, put a bullet in my head for my insolence.
Instead, he gives a slight nod. "Maksim found out she's not a virgin."
“Oh, fuck. He’s going to…” I have no idea what Maksim will do, but it’s not good.
“Thanks to you, of course. I could kill you for this, you know.”
“You’d kill me for loving her but not Maksim for abusing her?” I have nothing left to lose now.
He watches me, and I wish I knew what he was looking for.
“The wedding is off, right?” I ask as I realize that this could be good news. I could send for her.
