“That’s fine with me, and I’m sure it will be with Giada, but is everything okay?”
“Niccolo called and told me the situation with Donati was ‘contained,’ whatever that means. And surprise, surprise, Donati called and wants to meet with me. This time, I agreed.”
My brows dip. “That’s weird.”
“It’s questionable timing, but I’m guessing he now wants help dealing with Niccolo.”
“He seemed more concerned about you than about Niccolo when I talked to him.”
“Niccolo has a way of shifting the dynamics in his direction.”
“And he won’t tell you what’s up, I guess.”
“Not a chance in hell. But on a positive note, Carlo got proof that Gallo hired the men who attacked us last night.”
“Are you going to get him fired?”
“I’m going to give him thirty days to leave town first.”
“That is more than most people would do.”
“It’s more than I would have done a month ago.” He pulls me to him and kisses me. “Just remember. You’ve made me a better man.” With that very odd statement, he releases me and starts walking. I follow his path. I decide we’ve come way too far for me to read into that, and rather than chasing it in circles, I’ll just ask him about it later.
I head on to the kitchen, and find a pot of coffee already made. Filling a cup, I doctor it my way and sit at the table. After texting Giada and setting up our afternoon, I’m left with hours to read and write in my journal. I start flipping through it, reading my underlined notes and looking at one butterfly drawing after another, until I freeze. A page is torn, a portion of it missing.
I stand up. How could a page get torn? I flip several more pages and find another that’s torn. I don’t remember what was written there. Who the hell took those pages because I didn’t black out and take them myself. No way. I did not. Someone took them. I sit down again and start making a list of all the people who might have been near my journal.
Adriel
Giada
Nathan?
Matteo?
Marabella, though she isn’t really a consideration.
Who else?
Carlo?
Once again, I have too many question marks.
At two forty-five, I’m in the main foyer waiting for Giada when my cell phone finally rings. “Kayden! I’ve been dying to know what’s going on!”
“A fucking gaggle. I moved the shooting range reservation to four o’clock, so take her shopping or whatever you want beforehand. You have your credit card I gave you, right?”
“Yes. What does ‘a fucking gaggle’ mean?”
“Gallo tried to play dirty. He told Donati I dumped the men and tried to use our phone records to prove it. Then I was forced to prove he hired them. He’s now suspended and angry, and that makes him dangerous. I’m sending Sasha to lick his wounds.”
“Sasha knows Gallo?”
“She’s about to and I don’t know why I didn’t connect them before. If anyone can contain that man’s anger, she can. But Donati is my main concern. He was acting nervous, and he doesn’t do nervous. Niccolo contained him, but he’s still afraid I’m going to find out what he did. And I am. So I’ll meet you at four.”
We end the call right as Giada appears, looking adorable in a long bright pink jacket and pink pants. “This is how you go to the firing range?” I ask, laughing.
She struts to the front door. “This is how I get the hot men at the firing range looking in my direction.”