“I thought this would be harder.”
“You give me coffee and cake, and I’m good.”
“If only everyone were that easy.” Rosa laughed, turning her back to me to tackle the dishes.
For a minute, I allowed myself to get lost in the domestic bliss because it wouldn’t last. Tomorrow I’d have to go to work, probably with a bodyguard, and pretend there wasn’t an entire group of people who would love to see me dead.
The doorbell sounded through the house, and I put down the last bite of coffee cake and followed Rosa to the door. Adriana was already there, stuck in a standoff with a pissed-off Nicki.
“I told you. I need to get something from the office.”
“And I told you, Luca isn’t here, and neither is Aldo. Come back when they are.”
Adriana started to close the door, but Nicki stopped it with her hand. “Can you drop the scorned woman act for one fucking minute and—”
“Nicki?” Rosa’s firm voice carried through the foyer, and Nicki’s tan face blanched. I bit back a laugh at the epic turnaround.
“Rosa. I—uh. Luca asked me to grab a folder for him.” Nicki’s eyes darted behind Rosa, landing on me, and her lips pressed together. The flicker of worry in her eyes and her timid words made me uneasy.
She was lying.
“You know I don’t let anyone in the study when Luca isn’t here.”
“But—”
“No, dear. Have Luca text you when he’s back, and you can come by, maybe even have dinner with us.” Her voice was soft, but her tone was bitter.
Nicki’s eyes widened as she nodded, pulling her hand from the edge of the door. Adriana shut it right in her face and then swung around to us. “The nerve of that bitch to come in here like she has every right.”
“She’s always been an entitled princess. You can thank Gabe and Dante for that.” Rosa turned to the kitchen, leaving us to follow if we wanted to hear what she was saying. “And I doubt she came here for a folder.” Rosa tilted her head with a smirk. “I found one of her little lacy pieces in a guest room this morning. I’m guessing she didn’t want us to know she snuck away with that blond boy.”
My eyes went straight to the cupboard that held the trash can. “Oh. That’s—”
Rosa laughed as she sat back down, picking up her mug. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything. Although, you better warn that boy. Nicki’s always been one to dabble where she shouldn’t.” She lifted an eyebrow at me. “But she’s never been involved with anyone while she did it. I don’t think Aldo would appreciate his fiancée . . .” she waved her hand.
“Right.” I sunk into my chair and sighed. “He’s been warned.” Picking at the small bit of coffee cake left on my plate, I struggled to find the words. “So, Nicki has a history of screwing around with taken men?”
Adriana snorted as she poured a cup of coffee. “It’s kind of her M.O.” The two women shared a heavy look.
“We don’t have to talk about this,” I said, despite itching to know more. I had my suspicions, but I wanted confirmation.
Rosa shifted in her seat and cleared her throat. “No. Now might be the best time to have this conversation.” She pursed her lips, her red manicured nails tapping the side of her coffee mug. “Marrying into the Moretti family is wonderful, but there are a few unfortunate realities.”
“One of them being the Nickis of the world trying to fuck their way into the top spot,” Adriana said as she sat down.
“Adriana.” Rosa admonished but still slid her a piece of coffee cake.
“What? Do you think she slept with Dante because she loved him?”
“They did date in college.”
“I’m not talking about my Dante.” Adriana bit back, and Rosa’s cheeks flamed. Immediately, Adriana softened. “Sorry,” she reached across the table and squeezed Rosa’s arm, “but if we’re having this conversation, we need to be honest.”
Rosa patted the top of Adriana’s hand and then gave me a gentle smile. “As much as I want to believe Luca isn’t like his father or brother, I think it’s best for us to be brutally honest. Being the head of the Moretti family will make him the mark for many ambitious women, and at a certain point, the temptation may become too much for him to ignore.”
Nausea twisted my gut. “I see.” I didn’t, really. I couldn’t see Lucaevercheating on me. Call it naivety, but he was as obsessed with me as I was with him. He took care of a dead body for me. His father’s dead body.
Come on.