Salvo started to follow me, but I guessed Ugo stopped him.
Once inside my room, I headed to the bathroom and ran a cold face cloth under the tap then dabbed at my face. A moment later, the bedroom door opened, and Ugo looked in.
“What’s going on?” His body filled the doorway.
“Anna came out of nowhere, and I pushed her buttons to attack me in front of the uncles.” I stopped to look at him over my shoulder. “Wait, you knew that was the plan. Why’re you questioning me?”
“I’m not talking about Anna. I’m talking about Salvo.”
“Oh, that.” I waved him off. “He told me he liked me, and I figured since I’m supposed to belookingfor a husband, I might as well pick the lesser of all the evils.”
“Lesser?” He scoffed. “Sienna, no. You have no idea who you’re playing with.”
“He’s been nothing but nice to me.”
“Right,” he stepped farther into the room, “he’s playing you. He’s been putting up with Stefano for years, and now he sees a way in. He’ll seize the opportunity, and he’ll stop at nothing to get it. Don’t let him fool you. He’s more dangerous than Stefano ever was.”
“But this is all an act. I’m not really going to marry him. I just want to use him as a buffer to keep the other men away so I can focus more time on how to take the family down.”
“What would Elio think of this?”
That got my back up quickly. “Elio is too busy on his date to care what I’m up to.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“I know,” I admitted and gritted my teeth to try to keep my head on straight. “I know.”
“He’s the darkest side of evil, Sienna,” he warned harshly. “He and Elio go way back, and I know that once Salvo got word of who you were and that you once dated Elio, he saw an opportunity, and he isn’t going to let it go by. Ask Elio about him sometime. He’ll tell you some stories that’ll make your hair stand on end.”
“Okay, I hear you.”
“Oh, damn, if Elio finds out that Salvo is your pawn in this game—”
“Then don’t tell him.”
“Thanks for the advice, but I like my head where it is.”
“Look,” I winced as I touched my lip with the cloth, “Elio is doing his part his way, and so am I. If Salvo thinks he can get to Elio by dating me, then make sure Elio doesn’t bite. Elio isn’t supposed to care anymore, so make him prove it. I can’t be the only one taking hits here.” I rolled my eyes at my pun.
“I don’t like this one bit.”
“I know.” I squeezed his arm to let him know I’d heard him, and I’d take what he said to heart. I most definitely would be more aware.
That night, I tossed and turned in bed until I couldn’t take it anymore. I slipped on a robe and headed to the kitchen for some water. Soldiers lined the perimeter of the yard and cast creepy shadows wherever there were huge windows. I was just glad they were outside and not inside. Just as I rounded a corner, I heard voices and came to a stop, tucking myself into the corner of the room as they drew closer.
Oh, no…
“Look I get you’re not happy with me, but the silent treatment is a little juvenile, isn’t it?” Ugo muttered as he fiddled with his tie in the reflection of the driver’s mirror.
“I’m not mad at you,” I murmured from a million miles away.
“You’re something.” He let out a long breath and settled back down into his seat. “Because two nights ago you had your hands up ready to fight whoever, and now you’re here but not really.”
“I’m just processing.”
“Are you purposely trying to act aloof?”
He shook his head at me as I went back to staring out the window and watched as the raindrops hit then stretched out thin against the glass.