His Two Hidden Masks: Steamy International Billionaire Romance

Chapter 23

My second marriage to Roberto Bianco was scheduled to take place at eight p.m. on the steps of the Doge”s Palace. I didn’t need a wedding dress this time. I needed a mask and a costume worthy of a ball, and a Man of Honor to help me get it.

Roberto and I agreed to each share our plan with one person. I recommended Roberto enlist Lissa. I knew from experience she was trustworthy.

I thought Roberto would object, but he readily agreed. She was responsible for making sure Roberto made it to the steps of the palace on time.

I, of course, enlisted Leo as my Man of Honor, one more time. The conversation did not go as well as I expected.

“No,” Leo said, his face incredulous.

“What do you mean, ‘no,’” I said. “Did you not understand everything I just told you about Street Entertainment? They are going to destroy the company, and worse, shut down hotels, restaurants. People will lose their jobs. Families will be hurt.”

“I heard all of that, and I now say ‘fuck no,’ Bella. You can’t marry him. You don’t love him.” Leo leaned across the table, his arms crossed and resting on the white tablecloth.

“Leo, this isn’t just about me.”

“I don’t care what happens to your family. You can’t sacrifice yourself for them. Your father has been a shit.”

“He has not always been shitty.”

“Bella, come on,” Leo said, rolling his eyes. “Your father was a ghost in your childhood. He is a workaholic, and apparently, a serial cheater as well.” Leo sighed. “Fuck him and all those nannies.”

“My father is a bad husband, which is undeniable,” I said. “But he is my father, and I can’t let this happen to my family. I do this and I can choose what happens next.”

“Really?” Leo asked. “You believe he will let that happen? He has not supported you, not one day. I don’t know how you can’t see it. Look at how he treated you after Roberto. Think of Bella Baci.”

“I know,” I said. “I agree it’s not without risk. I just can’t let the Street family win.”

“Is this about you winning, or more about James and Dylan losing?”

“I don’t want to talk about Dylan,” I said.

“Fine, Dylan is off limits. Why do you think you can trust Roberto? Do you really think he is going to let you marry him and just let you go.”

“I do.”

“That is fucking insane.”

“It is fucking insane. What is even more fucking insane is that there is something else I haven’t told you.” I took a breath and exhaled. “This is not easy to share.”

“What is it?” Leo said, his tone shifting. He reached across the table and held my hand. “What the fuck haven’t you told me?”

“Before Sara died, Roberto was in love with my sister.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Leo said, dropping my hand in shock.

“He had a key to Sara’s room. He gave it to me. They were together. But there is more.”

“More?” Leo sat back in his chair and raised his Aperol Spritz to his lips draining the entire glass.

“Roberto believes that my sister didn’t die of a blood disease, Leo.” I took a breath. “He says that he went to the hospital and read records that prove she killed herself after arguing with my father.”

Leo’s eyes wide, he leaned forward, his hands over his mouth in shock. “Holy shit, Bella. I mean, that’s terrible. It’s horrible. I’m so sorry. And you think it’s true?”

“I do. I believe him,” I said. “I feel sick thinking about her pain. My whole life, my parents lied to me, Leo, both of them. I don’t know why they didn’t trust me with this truth. It makes my whole life in Venice feel like a lie.”

My eyes filled with tears. “I knew losing Sara was a tragedy but it is so much worse than I ever knew.” Tears choked my voice. Leo grasped my hand.

“Bella, I don’t think you should make any decisions today.”

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. “I don’t have time to wait. I may not understand why my parents did what they did, but I know that allowing the Street family to betray my family does not feel right to me either. I have to stop the vote.”

“Like have a second wedding,” Leo said, managing a laugh.

“Right, a second wedding.”

“Did anyone every tell you that you are masterful at burying the fucking lead, Bella?” Leo squeezed my hand. “How do you not start with this revelation about Sara, darling?”

“I don’t know. It’s awkward. How do you say, I believe my sister killed herself and she was in love with my ex-fiancé, who by the way, I need to marry again.”

“Well, when you say it that way, it does sound ridiculous,” Leo said. We both laughed so hard, tears poured down our cheeks until we were calm again.

“Why did Sara kill herself? Oh, my God, Bella,” Leo said.

“I don’t know. Roberto thinks she had an argument with my father. She called him, saying she wanted to die, and when he got to Venice, she was gone.”

“Holy shit, Bella.” Leo shook his head inhaling through his teeth. “You know this is incredibly fucked up.”

“My parents didn’t know about Sara and Roberto. He said they met in secret.”

“Really? You think two teenagers are that good at keeping secrets?”

“I believe him. I found a necklace in Bella’s room with their initials, the one she wore in her birthday portrait.”

“Oh. My. God,” Leo said, shaking his head. “That sad painting in the lobby?”

“Uh, huh,” I said. “That is the one.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird he wanted to marry you the first time?”

“Of course, it’s weird,” I said. “I think he was trying to recapture something. He was happy with our family, and then Sara was gone.”

“That is a pretty big omission.”

“I always knew something wasn’t right between us. I’m not happy about any of this, but knowing the truth helps. I was right. Things were not okay.”

“That is an understatement,” Leo said. “So, your plan is to marry Roberto this time. But you aren’t really marrying him. It’s just for the vote.”

“Once we get married, our combined voting power will create a majority and we can block the acquisition. My father adjusted his succession plan when we got engaged, and he hasn’t changed it back. James Street won’t expect it.”

Leo looked up at the cafe canopy overhead, a half-smile on his face. “Do you remember when we used to talk about finding our true loves?”

“Yes,” I said, taking a sip of my Aperol Spritz.

“And for years I told you that I loved Anna Da Vada.”

“Until you finally confessed to me that you loved her brother, Dom,” I said.

“And you pretended to be surprised, which was so sweet of you, because we both knew that you already knew. You could tell, because I lit up when Dom paid attention to me. You knew that the idea of him made me happier than anything I’d ever imagined, and you wanted me to be happy.”

“I did,” I said, “and I still do.”

“I know you think you are doing the right thing, but I have seen the way you look at Dylan Street,” Leo said. “You light up. You literally glow, and I don’t want to see that beautiful light go out ever again.

“If you marry Roberto, for whatever reason, you are going to lose Dylan. I know you said he lied, but he was in a very difficult position.”

“I’ve already lost him.”

Leo raised his hands in the air. “Shhhh, Just tell me, do you love him?”

Did I love him? I wanted to say ‘no,’ and shut this line of questioning down, but the answer was more complicated. “I don’t know.”

“Bella,” Leo said. “Don’t be afraid of your feelings. You said yourself you were right about Roberto. Why don’t you trust yourself now?”

“I do trust myself,” I said, my eyes filling with tears again.

“Hear me out. I know that David is a lying, cheating, dickhead who I should forget exists, but last night I cried myself to sleep, remembering how good it felt to be kissed by him.”

“Oh, Leo. I’m sorry. I am such a self-absorbed ass.”

“No, you aren’t. Your problem is that you aren’t self-absorbed enough.” Leo laughed.

“You have spent years taking care of everyone else, trying to be so good, so quiet. Big, but not too big. Powerful, but not too loud. I know Dylan hurt you, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t something worth saving there.”

“Are you trying to save what you have with David?”

“Oh, fuck, no. He can suck a dick and die, which probably suits him just fine. Seriously, he would love to go out that way. So do you?” Leo said. “Do you love Dylan?”

I nodded, biting my lip. “I loved him. For a moment I really loved him, but it doesn’t matter. He lied to me, Leo. He knew about the acquisition and the plan to eviscerate all of my family’s assets. He knew these things and did nothing. He also has secrets.”

“I can’t imagine there is a billionaire alive on this planet without secrets, honey,” Leo said.

“He’s Strand, Leo,” I said.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“The musician. It’s him. The night we saw him perform? That was Dylan.”

“And you texted me later and said you left with him,” Leo said, inhaling and looking around the restaurant as if he had been transported to another dimension.

“You know, I wasn’t totally sure where you ran into him. None of us ever saw him arrive at the club.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

Leo exhaled. “So many questions.”

“You can’t tell anyone. He told me. I don’t know why. He’s going to leave Venice and he’s retired, so his secret doesn’t really matter.”

“Oh, my gosh. He was singing to you, wasn’t he?” Leo’s eyes were so wide.

“He’s leaving. It’s over.”

“And you are totally sure that you want to marry your sister’s ex-boyfriend, instead of pursuing the hot billionaire with a secret rock star identity.”

“The hot billionaire who lies and keeps secrets and has real problems?”

“We all have problems.”

I smiled and swirled the last of my Aperol Spritz in my glass before downing it. “I have thought through all the options. I see no other way to fix things. I appreciate you, and everything you are saying. I really do.”

“I hear you,” Leo said. “But one last thing. One last question. I swear.”

“Leo, I can’t. I just can’t think about him.”

“Last thing, for me. Please answer for me.”

“Fine.”

“If there were a way for you to stop the acquisition and be with Dylan Street, would you choose it?” He slowed down his voice, pausing between every word. “Don’t lie. Give yourself a second.”

I didn’t need a second. I knew the answer. “Yes,” I said, swallowing. “Yes, I would.”

Leo nodded and smiled. “Okay, we’ve gotten to the truth. So, when is this sham of a wedding?”

“Tomorrow, eight p.m. at Doge’s Palace.”

“Oh, yes, the offering of love.” Leo smiled. “If you want me to be there, and you want my help making this happen for you, I will be there.”

He nodded his head and twirled his hands, as if he were doing a royal bow at the table.

“Thank you,” I said. “I need help with my dress.”

“Of course, you do.” Leo stood up and stretched his arms skyward. “Come on, come on. Get up. If we are going to make you look like a love goddess in twenty-four hours, we have work to do.”

“I don’t think I need ‘love goddess.’ Remember, this is a marriage of convenience.”

“I don’t care what you call it. You are going to look gorgeous when you give your heart to Mr. Have-and -Not-Hold until you crush the competition.”

“Thank you, Leo.”

“Strand? Really?” Leo said, hands raised.

“Yes, really.” I laughed and paid the bill.

Leo turned to leave and pivoted right into the path of another guest. The man was tall, and my first thought was that he looked like Aqua Man.

His wavy, auburn hair was tied into a man bun. He wore a plaid shirt, black vest, and tats covered his neck and knuckles. He was rugged and smoking hot.

The man caught Leo with both hands. He held him by his elbows in an awkward embrace.

“Well, hello, sailor,” Leo said, looking up at him.

“Are you all-right?” he asked Leo, his voice low.

Leo blinked at him, not speaking.

“He’s fine, thank you,” I said, jumping in when Leo went silent. “I’m Bella. This is Leo. Thank you for catching him.”

“Yes, thank you,” Leo said, a dizzied smile crossing his face.

“You are welcome,” the man said. “I’m Ari.”

“And are you in town visiting from somewhere, Ari?” I said.

“Iceland,” he said.

“Of course, you are.” Leo sighed, smitten.

“Dining alone, I see,” I said, nodding to the waiter behind him. He stood waiting by a table set for one.

“Yes,” Ari said. “I arrived today. It’s my first time in Venice.”

Leo pulled out a card from his back pocket. “I work at the Lido Glass Factory and have lived in Venice my whole life. If you would like someone to show you around, call me. I’d be happy to take you anywhere.”

The man looked at Leo, his serious expression softening into a sweet smile. He looked like an enormous, fierce, but cuddly, red bear.

Leo linked his arm in mine and we walked out of the restaurant. “Call me,” Leo mouthed the words to Ari over his shoulder.

“Do you have a crush?” I said, leaning into him.

“Of course, I do,” Leo said. “That man is gorgeous, but for the next twenty-four hours I am all Man of Honor, all the time.”

“You know you can go back and flirt with him some more.”

“Some more, I never.” He paused. “I was flirting. He was into me, right? I was getting a vibe. Did you feel the vibe?”

“I felt the vibe. You two vibed so hard.”

“I knew it.” Leo looked so satisfied. He took a breath and squeezed my hand. “And now, you are Cinderella and I am your fairy Godmother. Your mother took all the fun out of your last wedding, and if you are going to marry the wrong man, you are going to look hot-as-fuck doing it.”