“We should’ve been done here an hour ago.” Sonny taps his fingers on my desk. “We need to discuss tomorrow night.”
“We’ll discuss it as soon as I’ve picked some stones.” I watch as Giuseppe lays out some more diamonds on his black velvet tray.
“These are a mix of princess cut and Asscher cut. Each are excellent color and clarity. Very few inclusions and nearly colorless.” He hands me a loupe.
“Give me that.” Lito swipes it from me and plucks up the largest stone, inspecting it with a critical eye as I peer over the others on the tray.
Red flops on a sofa and groans. “How did this go from an ‘I hate her’ situation to an ‘I must give her the perfect wedding ring’ situation? Did all this happen while I was stuck with the feds? Is this what I missed?”
“I knew this would happen.” Sonny shrugs.
“What?” I turn from the diamonds to look at him. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
He gives me a wry expression. “Come on, Mateo. The file you kept on her? The way you practically stalked her for years before you ever met her? And then how you were so single-minded about the plan to crash her wedding and take her from Horatio, no matter the cost?”
I shake my head. “That was part of my plan for revenge. Not—”
“Sure, but how did it just so happen you seized upon your plan when you realized she was going to be married off to someone else? You could’ve struck before then. You’ve had years to think over how you want to make the Fontanas and Manchellos suffer for what they did, but you didn’t act until she was on the table.”
Benny whistles. “Holy shit. The old man is actually onto something.”
“I told you not to call me that,” Sonny snipes.
“No, wait, wait, wait—” Red sits up and puts a hand out like he’s just had a eureka moment. “Remember how we’d go out to clubs and shit and get mad bitches, but Mateo would sit and be broody. Which, I mean, was great for attracting some choice women, don’t get me wrong, they love strong, silent types almost as much as they love gingers.” He grins. “But maybe that whole time he was mooning over Lucretia?”
“He was.” Sonny nods.
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” I wave a hand as if I can cut through their bullshit.
“This is like when the stripper’s been teasing you the whole goddamn night, but then in the champagne room she finally takes off the g-string and you see the whole world.” Benny shakes his head. “Holy shit.”
“That’s one way to put it.” Sonny glowers.
Lito hands me the large stone and the loupe. “This one. Look.”
I take it, happy to have a distraction from the idiots who are still yammering on about bullshit. The stone is perfect, not a blemish in sight.
“Oh, I knew as soon as I met her.” Lito smiles smugly. “Clear as day.”
“Shut up, all of you.” I hand Giuseppe the stone. “This one in the center, and I want the square ones all the way around the band.”
“Excellent choice, Mr. Milani.” He hesitates and points to my finger. “And for you?”
I look at the band. “Just whatever will go with hers. No stones. But not so plain as this.” I hold up my finger.
“Very well.” He starts packing up. “I’ll send a prototype of the setting this afternoon, and if you approve, I can have them finished tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
He bustles from the room, his black case giving no hints that it holds a king’s fortune inside.
When I hear laughter, I turn my head toward the sound. I know it’s Lucretia. I feel like I’d recognize her voice even if I were in a sea of people.
“She’s in the kitchen with Carter,” Lito explains.
A spark of jealousy flares in my chest. Why is she laughing with him? She should be laughing with me. I can be funny. Surely.
“We should talk about the wake—” Sonny snorts a laugh. “If you can call it that anymore. She’s going all out with black flowers and mourning colors. Even the invite the courier brought listed specific mourning colors for all guests.”
I raise a brow. “Is that so?”
Sonny flips through some papers on my desk and hands me the invitation.
I glance over the particulars, then turn to Lito. “Call whatever shop sells fancy dresses and have them visit this afternoon. I want Lucretia in something bright and bold.”
Lito smiles and rubs his hands together. “I love it when you go full asshole on other people.”
Sonny sighs in his long-suffering way. “You’re starting shit before you even get there?”
“As if you’re surprised?” I rise and head to the door.
“Wait, we need to talk about our plan,” Sonny squawks.
“I’ll be back.” I hear her laugh again, and now I’m hurrying along the hall.