“Days, maybe. I’ll let you know.”
And just like that, he dismisses me to join Savio over a chess set on the coffee table.
Samira is elderly but assertive as she puts her hand on my back to move me along.
I follow her as I’m exhausted. My feet seem to be walking themselves, exposed to the cold marble floors, and we pass a room roped off like a museum. Maybe it is one. This appears to be an old house with some rooms updated and some rooms are still under renovation. I gather this is a large mansion and the work to keep up with it must be constant.
“This way.” Samira leads the way down a hall and opens a door. The room has a small fireplace, and the wood beams overhead have been painted and pair well with the color on the walls. The cream drapes over the windows are thick and should block the morning light. The bed is huge and elevated with an inviting comforter and plush pillows. I even have my own bathroom with a claw foot tub and a bidet.
“Do you need anything?” Samira asks while she stands ready to close the bedroom door.
I see plush towels in a pretty rack in the bathroom and I realize I’d love nothing more than a hot bath and sleep. I didn’t eat dinner but I’m not hungry.
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
“I’ll see you in the morning then.” She leaves, closing the door behind her.
I text Giovi to make sure he’s okay.
He’s fine but I can tell he’s worried.
I peel off the dress I never want to wear again and leave it on the floor. I run water in the tub until it’s hot enough to boil lobster. It feels good to soak and when it cools down, I slide under the water so I cannot be heard and scream so no one will hear me. I come up for air and my cry’ are more of a wail. Papa is gone. A killer is on the loose and I’m in a strangers mansion, but he’s to be my husband.
To top it off, I don’t want that dark-eyed devil downstairs to feel obligated to ‘save’ me from myself or anyone else ever again. I don’t need his help. I don’t want him to be with me out of some obligation he’s stuck with by a contract with my father.
I’m not a chess piece. I’m a smart woman who wants to be swept off her feet with love. Until that happens, I’ll never be happy.
I cry and moan in grief and shock. Then I pull myself together. This is the last time I cry for anyone.
The hot bath was amazing but the bedgasm from the most comfortable mattress, crisp sheets, and fluffy comforter greet me an hour later. It puts me into a sleep so deep and dreamless, I’m reluctant to ever wake up. Dreamland is uncomplicated.
19
Massimo
Icarry the chessboard from the coffee table, and we head towards what used to be a sitting room but it’s more of a den now. It’s the one room in the house that looks and feels totally manly with a black leather couch with stud trim, two high leatherback chairs that are more reminiscent of Capone’s era than mine.
“What’s your next move?” Savio asks.
I try to pretend he’s referring to the game sitting between and tell him he can start, but he doesn’t move.
“God only knows, man. You saw some of those men, they looked like they would use her to get favors from her father or just use her, and not in a good way.”
“Like you’re not.” He sips his drink and looks comfortable in his favorite chair. He’s like a dog with a juicy steak bone when he’s got me on the hook. It doesn’t happen often, so I can’t say that I blame him.
“What?” I swirl the cognac under my nose and inhale deeply, appreciating the caramel and vanilla notes.
I tip my head, sizing him up.
“He owed us. If it wasn’t the debt combined with his involvement with the oligarchy, he wouldn’t have shown up on our radar at all. Grandfather had a good idea. I just saw an opportunity to sweeten my own pot and get the same result. Maybe a better one.”
“Ha, I know you. You’re claustrophobic on a long dinner date and she’s a flight risk. She has some spunk for a principessa.” He grins at me, knowing there’s more to this story.
“Does she? Seems to me she’s got a target on her back and her father is dead.”
Savio straightens in his chair. “Fine. To be continued. I go first.” He slides the first pawn.
I rise early,call Grandfather, and tell him I saw him at the wedding.