But I am happy she’s heret last. This past month has been the longest in my life and now that I’m with her, it’s as it was always intended to be. She’s passed out from what I hope is shock. The police take our information and allow Ridolfo and I to leave with her. The fresh air should bring her around.
My plan is to head to the hospital if she’s not up in a few seconds. Ridolfo and I exchange a worried look, hoping Valentina wasn’t targeted as well.
I find it hard to believe someone would take them both out at the most public event of the year, but I have to consider all the options. Valentina being harmed isn’t an acceptable outcome.
She’s mine, and I’ll kill any man who harms a hair on her head.
By the time we get to my car, she’s coming around. She must’ve just fainted.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she replies.
“I’ll take her somewhere safe,” I tell Ridolfo. He shakes my hand. I thank him for taking care of Luciano and I carry Valentina to my car.
“Where is Ridolfo? He’ll take care of me. I have to go see Papa.” Her voice is frail, vulnerable. She’s in no shape to go anywhere but home. “I can walk,” she protests.
Ah, my bluebird is feisty once again.
“Your Papa is at the hospital and Ridolfo will go check on him. You need to remain hidden until we figure out what the fuck happened,” I grumble.
“Oh.” It seems to have sunk in that she might be in danger.
I strap her in my sports car, and we leave the cityscape behind as we drive the hills to Fiesole and my mansion.
“You can’t mention where I live, I’m in the middle of some personal stuff right now,” I caution her. “Besides, it’s best to not advertise where we live as a rule.”
She nods looking out the car window as the sun has set and darkness is falling.
A tear slips from her eye, and she sniffles.
My phone dings. I look to see a text from Tommaso. Luciano is dead.
What a fucking nightmare. During the commotion I saw my grandfather at the bar and wondered what he was doing here. He never mentioned he was going to be here. Did he kill Luciano with a drug? Everything was under control. He has no reason to eliminate Luciano, and I hope to God Giovi is okay in Sicily.
“Valentina.” I wipe the tear from her cheek. “You need to call your brother and tell him what happened. He might not be safe.”
“Oh, my God, you think a hit has been put out on my family?”
“We can’t rule it out, can we?” I glance at her to check her coloring, she seems fine.
I like asking her questions. It gives her an opportunity to come up with her own answers without being micromanaged. I trust we’ll arrive at the same conclusion. That strategy produces a pliable woman, one that’s not resentful or angry.
Valentina opens the small purse she’s had with her all night and takes out her phone.
“Giovi, Papa is in the hospital, he collapsed at the party. I think you may be in danger. Be very careful, promise me.”
I can make out Giovi’s voice. He’s rattling off in a Sicilian dialect that I can’t follow very well, but I can imagine with a great deal of certainty that he’s worried over his father. He has to batten down his fortress and selected his best men to protect him, men he can trust.
Valentina fires back at him before she kisses into the phone and hangs up.
“He’s going to hole up in the compound and send others out to investigate.”
“Good.” I hope no one else dies tonight.
It’s going to be a long night. I park my car in front of my castle, for lack of a better word.
“You live here?”