Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Valentina
A s I came awake, I instantly regretted all my life choices. Fuck, my head hurt.
And my stomach . . . Oh, no. No, no, no.
I rolled into a ball, hoping to prevent myself from puking. Why did I drink so much wine at book club?
My stomach twisted and I had to do some deep breathing. Ugh. Stop thinking about wine.
I must’ve fallen back asleep for a few minutes. When I came to, I felt slightly better. At least the nausea had passed. The headache had eased slightly, too.
I rubbed my feet into my sheets. The soft fabric felt amazing on my skin. Too amazing. Wait, were these my?—
In a blink it all came rushing back. Book club, the restaurant, wine. Luca . Holy shit, Luca. He’d carried me out of the restaurant.
My eyes flew open.
A strange room filled my vision. A ceiling that was too high, too white. Gold fixtures. Large windows. A huge bed with gray sheets and a gray duvet. A divan was in the corner with a folded pile of what looked like my clothes on top.
I clutched the sheet around me. I was wearing only a bra and panties. Did Luca see me like this? God, please no. How much lower could I sink in that man’s eyes? Between the troubles at the restaurant, then finding me drunk at book club, he must really think I’m a mature and responsible adult. Jesus.
At least he put me in a guest bedroom alone.
Please let this be a guest bedroom.
I lifted my head off the pillow slightly. Shit! There was a head-shaped indent on the pillow next to mine. Did he sleep next to me?
Flashes of last night stabbed through my aching head.
Me, falling onto his bed. “Wow, this place is nice.”
Luca, handing me two pills and a glass of water. “Take these.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so, fiore mio.”
“Does ‘fiore mio’ mean ‘pain in my ass?’”
“No, bella. It does not. Get under the covers.”
“This sweater is too hot,” I said, whipping it off and throwing it onto the floor.
“I will leave you now,” he said, turning to go.
“Noooo, Luca. You have to stay.” I lunged for his arm. “Please. Don’t leave me.”
Oh, God. I’d begged him to get into bed with me. He’d protested, but I pushed. “What if I get sick in the middle of the night and no one is here to help me?”
“Then you will call and I will hear you.”
“No, Luca. I need you in bed with me. I won’t feel safe without you.”
He’d stared at me for a long time after that, but finally relented. He’d stripped out of his clothing and I really, really wished I remembered every single detail about those few minutes. But it was fuzzy, like my brain was telling me that I couldn’t handle the full memory. Wide shoulders, narrow hips. Chest hair. And . . . had I asked the brand of his boxer briefs?
“I don’t know,” he answered, looking at me like I was crazy. “A personal shopper in Roma takes care of my clothes.”
I closed my eyes in humiliation. Finally, I went home with a man—except it was to sleep off too much wine. I was so lame, while he was handsome and sophisticated. And older. And possibly in the mafia.
Yikes. I had to escape.
I pushed up onto my elbows, then did some more deep breathing. Fuck, I felt awful. Where was my phone? The only thing on the bedside table was the half-finished glass of water. Did I bring my purse with me? Damn—my phone and purse were still at the restaurant. I left them in my office during book club.
Great job, Val. Mom would be so proud.
Crawling out of bed, I grabbed my clothes and hurried into the bathroom. There were way too many mirrors and bright gold fixtures for my liking, but I made the best of it and tried to get presentable. There was a new toothbrush waiting for me, which made me feel even worse. This was obviously something Luca did a lot, while this was my first time going home with a man.
And I could hardly remember any of it.
Had we . . . ?
No, I instantly knew nothing had happened. There were no marks on me, no aches or pains. I was fairly certain I would feel something if I had sex for the first time last night.
But wait, hadn’t I asked him about it?
“Do you want to have sex with me, Luca?”
“No more talking. Try to sleep.”
“Please, say yes. I’m tired of wondering what it’s like.”
There was a great pause from his side of the bed. “A man like me would ruin a woman like you. Stay far away from me, fiore mio.”
Oh, god. Just when I thought I couldn’t feel worse .
I placed my palms on the marble countertop and closed my eyes. He must think I’m a complete idiot. I had to get out of here, now .
A minute later I was back in the bedroom, searching for my shoes. I couldn’t find them. Maybe they were downstairs? I ventured along the upstairs hall, desperate to find someone to give me a ride home. I checked all the rooms, but the second floor was empty.
I went downstairs, but the house was deathly silent, not a soul around. Where were all those security guards from the other night?
“Ciao, signorina.”
I jumped at the deep voice and spun around to find Luca’s guard. I remembered him from the night I brought over dinner. Relief filled me. Now I could leave and never see this place or any of its inhabitants ever again. “Oh, hey. I’m so glad to see you. Can I trouble you for a ride home?”
He frowned. “Come. Signore DiMarco awaits.”
“No, that’s not necessary. I’m sure he’s busy. I’d rather?—”
Waving me toward a pair of French doors, he began speaking in rapid Italian, which I didn’t understand. Did this man not speak much English? I tried again. “No, please. I need to get home.”
He kept gesturing toward me, walking backward, and I knew a lost cause when I saw one. This man worked for Luca, so there’d be no getting around seeing his boss.
Resigned, I followed. “Okay, but just for a minute. I really have to go.”
“Va bene, va bene. Andiamo!” He led me through the dining room and out through another set of doors, where we ended up on a gorgeous terrace. Just beyond was a rolling green lawn and the river moving slowly in the distance. It was the perfect view.
Except for someone with a hangover.
I shielded my eyes and tried to breathe through the pain in my head.
A chair scraped on stone. “Ah, there you are.”
Luca came toward me, a black t-shirt stretched across his chest. Light loose pajama bottoms covered his lower half, and his feet were bare. I couldn’t help but study his long feet, which were the same olive skin tone as the rest of him. In general, feet were gross. But Luca’s feet? Totally sexy.
Do you want to have sex with me, Luca?
I looked away. This man did not want me, probably because I was constantly making a fool of myself in his presence. Now I was ogling him like I had the right? I needed to pull it together.
“I apologize for being undressed.” He lifted my face in his hands and kissed my cheeks. He smelled like coffee and mint. Softly, he said, “Buongiorno, Valentina.”
God, that accent. If I weren’t so miserable, I would’ve melted into a puddle on the floor. “Um, hi.”
“Come, sit. Have something to eat.”
“Oh, I shouldn’t. Really, I should go. You’ve already done far, far too much.”
“Nonsense. Come, have caffè and a roll.”
He took my elbow and began leading me to the table. Short of digging in my heels like a small child, I didn’t have much of a choice but to follow him.
He pulled out a chair for me, so I plopped down awkwardly. Luca walked over to his seat and gracefully lowered himself down. “Aldo will bring you a cappuccino. Until then, there are pastries and juice.”
I don’t know what I expected, but this was no casual breakfast with a box of donuts and a carton of juice. There were china plates, tiny juice glasses, and sterling silver flatware. A crystal pitcher of orange juice rested on the table next to Luca’s electronic tablet. Was this how he spent every morning?
He filled up my juice glass. “How do you feel?”
“Shitty.”
“I’m not surprised. Eat something. It will help.”
A cup and saucer appeared at my elbow. I glanced up and found Aldo there. “Allora, signorina,” he said and put a cappuccino down in front of me .
“Thank you.” Normally, I would dump some sugar into my coffee and savor it, but this wasn’t that kind of morning. I had to get through this quickly. The sooner I finished, the sooner I could leave.
“Here.”
Luca placed my phone next to my plate. I exhaled in relief and set down my cappuccino. “Thank you. I felt totally lost without it.” I picked up the device and unlocked it. “How did you get it from the restaurant?”
“I had Roberto bring your things over last night.”
I paused, my finger hovering on the glass. Roberto? “Wasn’t he busy closing up the restaurant?”
Luca made a noise that sounded close to a snort and lifted his tiny espresso cup to his mouth. He should’ve looked ridiculous drinking from something so small, but somehow didn’t.
He didn’t answer and I couldn’t let it go. “Wait, did you snort because he wasn’t closing the restaurant?”
“First, I never snort.” He threw back the rest of his espresso and set the demitasse cup down. “Second, I don’t have any idea what he was doing. People usually do what I ask, bella.”
A rush of hot and cold shivers went through me, like a mixture of both fear and attraction. It was a strange reaction. Thrilling, but unnerving, as well.
I should have known better, though. If Luca was a mobster, I needed to stay far away from him. My mother never spoke about what my father did for a living, but it was obviously something shady. He had money, lots of it, and tried to give her some over the years, but she refused to take it. She said money comes with strings, and she didn’t want him in my life in any capacity.
Stay away from men who want to control you, Val.
Mom said this so often that I should have it cross-stitched onto a pillow. But I couldn’t think about any of that now, not when I was so hungover.
Glancing at my phone, I found a bunch of texts from Sam waiting for me. They started not long after Luca drove me here last night.
ARE YOU OKAY
PLS CHECK IN
HE CARRIED YOU OUT OMG
OFFICER & A GENTLEMAN STYLE
I frowned. What was she talking about? Was that a book?
I looked up at Luca, only to find him staring at me intently. My mouth turned dry under his intense stare, which probably caused me to blurt, “What does officer & a gentleman mean?”
His lips twitched. “A movie. Richard Gere. Debra Winger. From the 1980s. A romance. You would like it.”
A romance? What the fuck, Sam!
I went back to my other texts. These were from Maggie.
GIRRRRRRRL
I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
IF HE HURT YOU
ROBERTO SAID LUCA’S SOLID BUT
FR … TEXT ME NOW
I texted them both back.
I’M OK. HUNGOVER BUT OK
Sam was no doubt busy at the café, so I didn’t expect a response. But three dots appeared immediately in my thread with Maggie.
JFC YOU SCARED ME
ARE YOU HOME
NO, I’M AT LUCA’S
OH SHIT
CALL ME WHEN YOU GET HOME
I WANT ALL THE TEA
There was no tea. Unless you count me making a total fool of myself.
I gave her a thumbs up then set my phone down. “I really should get going. Are my shoes by the front door?”
“Your shoes are being washed.” He began buttering a delicious-looking round pastry, which he set on my plate. “ Mangia , Valentina.”
I had to admit, I was a sucker for a good pastry. I picked up the roll and took a bite. Tender and delicious, it tasted of vanilla and a hint of citrus. The top had a light dusting of sugar. “Is this brioche?” I asked through a bite.
He was frozen, gaze locked on my mouth. “Sì,” he said absently. “ Brioche à tête. ”
Did I have food on my face? I wiped my mouth with a napkin and tried to get us back on track. “Wait, why are my shoes being washed?”
“Because you vomited on them last night.”
The roll fell from my hand and landed on the plate with a thud. Oh, my god . Closing my eyes, I muttered, “I’m so sorry. I’m giving up wine, I swear.”
“Nonsense. Wine is one of life’s greatest pleasures. But you need to drink less of it at one time.”
I couldn’t look him in the eye. This elegant gorgeous man had watched me vomit last night. On my shoes. And I had no memory of it whatsoever. I sent up a prayer that the terrace would open up and swallow me whole. “Please tell me I didn’t puke in your house.”
“No, you vomited outside. As I was helping you out of the car.”
The way he said it caused my head to snap up. I studied him, but his handsome face gave nothing away. No, dear god. No . “If you tell me I puked on you, I will literally jump into that river and disappear.”
“Then I guess I won’t tell you.”
I propped my elbows on the table and dropped my head into my hands. Holy shit. How could I ever look at him again? I puked on him . It was mortifying.
He chuckled. “Do not look so ashamed, bella. Now you and Gabriele have vomited on me. It’s an honor.”
Honor?
I scooted back and stood. “I really need to go. I have to get to the restaurant, but I need to shower first.”
He waved his hand. “I informed Roberto that you would not be in today. So, relax. Finish your breakfast.”
“No, I really . . .” I exhaled heavily. “Thank you for all of this, but I need to get home.” I reached for my phone. I’d order a car to come and pick me up.
“I’ll drive you.” He placed his napkin on the table and rose out of his chair. “Let me dress first.”
“It’s okay. I’ll order a car.”
His hand suddenly covered my phone, lowering it. “Valentina.”
He waited, still and quiet, so I glanced up at him. His intense dark stare sucked me in, trapped me. He stood so close that I could see his morning scruff, the long lashes framing his eyelids, and I had no desire to move away. Instead, every beat of my heart urged me closer.
His fingers swept across my jaw, then brushed the hair back off my face. It was done so tenderly, so sweetly, that I actually felt my insides quiver.
Then his big hand cupped the back of my neck to hold me in place, and the heat from his large body sank into my bones. It was like we were in our own little bubble, and the resistance melted clean out of my body. I probably would’ve agreed to anything right then, as long as he kept staring at me like this .
His deep voice turned soft. Seductive. “Let me take care of you. Let me drive you home. Va bene?”
“Okay,” I whispered.
He didn’t release me right away. Instead, his fingers pressed into my skin, tightening. It wasn’t painful or intimidating.
No, this had the opposite effect.
I felt safe. Precious. Like I mattered. It almost seemed as if he was holding onto me because he didn’t want to let go.
Then it was over.
He blinked and the moment was broken. Releasing me, he stepped back, his face wiped clean of any emotion. “Aldo will bring you more cappuccino,” he said on his way to the terrace doors. “I’ll only be a minute.”
Luca
I was fucked.
As we drove back to the mansion after dropping Val off, I knew this like I knew my own name.
I need you in bed with me. I won’t feel safe without you.
She’d begged so sweetly that I broke one of my rules for her. I never slept overnight in the same bed as a woman. It was both dangerous and too intimate. Yet I’d climbed into bed with Val and actually slept.
Do you want to have sex with me, Luca? Please, say yes. I’m tired of wondering what it’s like.
Madre di dio, a virgin. I should be strung up and shot for the things I wanted to do to her.
“Check your phone.” Aldo’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. “Leo is trying to reach you.”
I unlocked my phone and didn’t bother reading the messages. I hit a button and rang my oldest son .
He picked up right away. “Papà, he’s missing.”
I could hear the worry in Leonardo’s voice. “Who?”
“Gabi.”
I froze, phone to my ear. “Explain.”
“We’ve been looking for him all day. He disappeared overnight.”
How could Gabriele disappear? The boys were never alone, guarded almost at all times. “Have you checked?—”
“Papà,” he interrupted. “I’ve checked everywhere. No one has seen him. And his cars are here.”
My chest squeezed so hard that I couldn’t breathe. Was this something to do with Segreto? Had Palmieri taken my youngest boy?
Or, was it one of my countless enemies?
The edges of my vision wavered, my mind reeling. It was my greatest fear as a father, that I would fail to keep one of my children safe. But the guards were supposed to keep an eye on both boys. So, what the fuck happened?
I would skin someone alive for this.
I heard talking. It was Aldo, so I glared at him, but he was grinning into the mirror, speaking to someone on his mobile. What did he have to be so fucking happy about?
I returned my attention to Leonardo. “Who was the last person to see him?”
“He was at the club with some of the boys. Cameras show him leaving with a guard around midnight.”
I wasn’t surprised Leonardo had pulled security footage. My boy was so smart. My mind raced as we pulled up to the gate. I would need to get on a plane immediately. There was no time to lose.
Instead of waving us through, one of the guards approached the car. That was odd. Aldo lowered the car window and rested an arm on the frame. “Che cosa?” he asked the guard.
“Papà, are you still there?” Leonardo asked in my ear.
“Yes,” I answered. “I’ll be on the jet within the hour.”
The guard was saying to Aldo, “They just showed up. We didn’t know what to do. ”
Someone was here? “Who showed up?” I barked.
“What is going on there?” Leonardo said in my ear.
“Gabriele is here, Don Benetti,” the guard said, peeking into the back seat at me. “Inside. He arrived about ten minutes ago.”
“What the fuck!” Leonardo shouted, obviously overhearing.
I clenched my jaw, hard. Cazzo madre di dio! Gabriele was here in New York. Relief and anger warred inside me. My fingers squeezed the glass and metal rectangle in my hand. “Gabriele has been found,” I gritted out as Aldo started up the drive. “He’s here with me, apparently.”
“That stronzo!” my oldest son hissed. “I thought he was dead.”
“He might still be, when I get through with him,” I said softly. “We will speak later.”
I rang off, then tapped my mobile absently on my leg. The stupidity, the sheer recklessness. If I had done something like this, my father would’ve beat the shit out of me.
“He brought a guard with him,” Aldo said from the front seat. “They flew private under an assumed name. He did it smart.”
“You knew?”
“I found out a minute before you did. Don’t be too hard on him. You know how sixteen-year-old boys are.”
No, I didn’t. Because at sixteen I did everything my father told me, never daring to take a step out of line. He’d been cruel and ruthless, determined to mold his oldest boy into a powerful don.
I locked all that away as the car pulled up to the front door. I got out and tore up the steps. The entry was empty, just the usual dry fountain surrounded by gold cherubs.
“Gabriele!” I called. “Where the fuck are you?”
“Ciao, Papà!” My youngest son appeared at the top of the stairs, a wide smile on his face. One of the soldiers was with him and his downcast expression told me he was smart enough to be worried.
I pointed at the soldier. “I will deal with you later.” To my son, I said, “Get in my office. Now.”
“Papà,” Gabriele said with a heavy sigh as he came down the steps. “Don’t be angry with Totò. I didn’t give him a choice.”
I didn’t want to hear it. At the very least this soldier should’ve informed Sergio with what was going on.
“Follow me,” I said and started for my office. I was furious. At a time when I already had too much to deal with, now Gabriele had to act out, too? Didn’t he realize the danger in leaving home, let alone coming here with only one man to protect him?
I could practically hear my father’s voice, berating me for my failings with my sons.
You’re too soft on them. They’ll never be able to handle the responsibility after you’re gone.
I held open the office door. Gabriele strode through, his sullen expression telling me he was unhappy with how this was playing out. Which was too fucking bad.
He was young and immature. He didn’t understand the responsibility of being a Benetti.
But he would.
I watched him settle into a chair. Whereas Leonardo looked more like his mother, my younger son was exactly like me at that age, tall and lanky. His wavy hair flopped over his forehead and down into his eyes. He was a pussy magnet, and he knew it. The guards often complained about Gabriele’s prolific sex life, saying he fucked anything with a pair of tits. I kept hoping he would find a mistress or a girl, like Leonardo, but Gabriele seemed determined to fuck the entire region.
I walked across the room and took my rightful seat behind the desk. “Explain yourself.”
“Don’t be mad. I came here because I know Niccolò is missing. I want to help find him.”
No one should be discussing Niccolò in the presence of my sons. I was trying to distance them from this. “What are you talking about? ”
“Allora, Papà. I am not stupid. Leo and I both know what is going on.”
Merda! My boys were close with Niccolò and I didn’t want them involved. Because if Niccolò did talk to the GDF, there was only one way I could deal with such betrayal. “Who told you?”
My son lifted his chin. “I’m not saying. I don’t want them in trouble.”
Resting my elbows on the desk, I steepled my fingers and took a few breaths. “Our cousin is missing, but likely still in Italia. How is coming here helping to find him?”
“Because the uncles aren’t listening to me. They claim Niccolò is fine, just on holiday. But I know you’ll believe me when I say I can help.”
“And how can you help?”
“I have spent more time with him than Leo or anyone else. And he isn’t on holiday.”
I leaned back in my chair. I hadn’t wanted him to know, but now I felt as if there was no option but to tell him. “Word is Niccolò has been arrested. He was delivering product to Belgium. The GDF is hoping to turn him against the family.”
His face lost its color. “No. Impossible.”
Remaining quiet, I let him sit with the information. We all knew what this could mean.
“Papà, Niccolò would never. He’s loyal.”
“It’s all too easy to force a man against his will, especially when his life is threatened.”
“Not Niccolò. He wouldn’t do that.”
I wasn’t so sure. I’d broken the spirit of too many men to think it impossible.
Gabriele took his phone out of his pocket and began scrolling. “When was he arrested?”
“The night before I left.”
“Here’s his last text to me. This is how I know he’s not on holiday.” He handed his mobile to me .
I scanned the texts, which were about making plans to go clubbing that next night. There were a lot of peach emojis. Then Gabriele made repeated attempts to reach Niccolò in the days that followed, but there was no answer.
“So he could be in prison,” I allowed. “Which would mean he doesn’t have access to his phone.”
“Except he turned his location services off. So I think he has his phone with him.”
“What?” I handed Gabriele his mobile. “Show me. And please tell me you aren’t stupid enough to have your location turned on for the world to see.”
“Dai, Papà. I’m not so stupid. Niccolò and I use this app and we have our locations turned on only for each other.” His thumbs moved rapidly, then he showed me the screen. “See this? He switched it to ghost mode.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I believed what Gabriele was saying. “When?”
“I don’t know, but he was last active the morning you left. Which means he wasn’t in prison.”
I would need to call Sergio right away. But first, I owed Gabriele an apology. “I’m sorry I doubted you. This is helpful, figlio mio.”
He sat back, a grin splitting his face. “So does this mean I can stay with you here in New York?”
“I’m afraid if I tell you no that you will hire another plane to bring you back.”
“Probably. Grazie, Papà.”
I held up my hand. “It’s not up to only me. You must ring your mother and ask her permission. If she says yes, then you can stay.”
“I will.”
“And ring your brother. You scared him half to death by disappearing.”
“Yes, Papà. I’ll do whatever you say, whenever you say it. I won’t cause a bit of trouble. ”
“You’ll do whatever I say? Even if I confine you to the house and grounds?”
His enthusiasm dimmed considerably. “But why would you, when no one knows who we are in this town? They told me you are going by the name DiMarco.”
“Because it’s safer. And you don’t question my orders, figlio mio.”
“Will you tell me why you are here?”
“No—but not because I don’t trust you. I need to sort some things out first.”
“Okay, but I’m here to help. I’m worried about Niccolò, too.”
I sent him off to ring his mother and brother, then I stared through the window, thinking. If Niccolò wasn’t in prison, then why had Rossi lied about it? It was possible Rossi had been given false information from Palmieri, but the more likely scenario was that Rossi lied to me. But why? Just to find Flavio Segreto?
I didn’t like being used. I liked being lied to even less.
I needed to find out how these pieces were connected. And something told me Flavio Segreto was the key.