He goes to sit at the other end of the sofa. Pulling my legs up under me, I lean against the back cushion and turn to face him. It's impossible to miss the weariness in his expression.
"Has something happened?"
"Lorenzo's woman was attacked last night."
Shock courses through me. "What?"
"Her ex-boyfriend got out of prison a few days ago. He came after her."
"Adriano Martelli." I stitch together the fragments of conversation I overheard in the car the other day.
"Yeah, the piece of shit hit her. He would have raped her if I hadn't interrupted him."
Bile rises at the back of my throat.
"Fuck. Is she okay?"
"She's bruised and shaken. The asshole firebombed her restaurant before he took off. We could have been burned alive."
I sip my Scotch as I try to digest what he's told me.
"Why were you at her restaurant?"
His mouth twists. "Not to fuck her, if that's what you're worried about."
Until this moment that possibility hadn't even occurred to me. "It wasn't, but I am now."
Damiano shakes his head. "Fidelity matters to me, Violetta. I will never touch another woman, just as you'll never let another man touch what's mine."
How does he manage to make that sound both reassuring and utterly infuriating at the same time? I let it slide because there are more important matters at hand.
"So why were you there?"
He runs a hand through his thick, dark hair. "Lorenzo was being an asshole, refusing to share information. I thought Lucia might tell me what I wanted to know."
"What did you want to know?"
"It was nothing important, just an issue involving my cousin Gio. He's in town for a couple of days." Damiano lets out a tired breath. "It's a long story."
Since he clearly doesn't want to elaborate, I let it drop.
"So what happened to the restaurant?"
"Burned to the ground."
Oh, no. "It's been in her family for decades." My voice catches as I speak. Although I don't know Lucia Lazaro, I can't help sympathizing with her loss.
"The restaurant can be rebuilt."
"But that could take years. The insurance company will want to investigate before they pay out."
Damiano waves a hand dismissively. "It will be rebuilt and open for business within the year."
"Ah, right. Mafia contacts."
"And Lorenzo's money. He'll do anything to make her happy."
"That must be nice." I hate that I sound so wistful.
