Chapter Five
“I can’t believe he’s bringing Christmas here,” Elsie said, holding her mug of hot chocolate as she stared at the beautifully decorated tree.
Massimo had them delivered yesterday, along with the decorations from the main house. She had once told him she would love to spend Christmas at the cabin and it would seem this was going to be that year. Also, he’d kidnapped her and there was no way she would get free.
She took a sip of her hot chocolate. It was starting to cool down, but she liked to take her time with her drink, spread the calories. Also, she put way too much whipped cream over the top.
“The man’s a legend,” Romero said.
She glanced at her brother-in-law. Massimo had warned her that his brother was not always an easy man to get to know, or love. She and Romero had hit it straight off. At first, he’d been hesitant, as he believed any woman after his brother was a gold-digging whore. One evening together was all it took, and Romero had told her she was a good woman. He knew she loved his brother, and that was more than enough for him.
She did love Massimo. That hadn’t changed.
But Isabella, fucking woman. She couldn’t get her head away from what she’d said. The last thing she ever wanted to do was hurt Massimo. Was being married to him causing him problems? Isabella had told her that the Elsies were the whores and mistresses within their world.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Romero asked.
She shook her head. “I really don’t.”
“You know, it helps to talk about it.”
“I bet this sucks for you. You having to babysit me, while Massimo goes out to do whatever he does. If he has work, then we could just go back to the house.”
Romero chuckled. “So you can run away again, and maybe this time go someplace he might not be able to find you?”
Elsie hoped her face wasn’t as flushed as she felt it was.
Her brother-in-law smiled from ear to ear. “You see, Elsie, my brother is aware of how you’re feeling. He knows if he gives you enough space, you would run.”
She sat down in the seat opposite him. “Can you blame me? I mean, we’re talking about Isabella—”
“I hate to interrupt whatever bullshit you’re about to say, but Isabella, and pardon my language, is a cunt.”
This made her gasp.
Romero opened his arms, although he did it slowly, and she imagined he did so as not to spill his hot chocolate.
“I think it is only fair that someone says it. She has gotten in your head, so maybe she’d be a good spy for the government or something.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Elsie asked.
Romero was silent for several seconds, and they might have even been minutes, which irritated her. Before she met Romero, she thought she had a lot of patience, however, he was proving time and time again, she didn’t have as much as she hoped.
He took another long sip of his hot chocolate.
“Don’t hurt yourself,” she said, not wanting him to burn himself on his coffee.
“That is more than fine. Delicious as always, Elsie. So, where was I, ah, yes, we’re talking about how good Isabella would be to work for the government or something similar.” He shrugged.
“You’re not being funny.”
“I’m not trying to be.” He leaned forward and put his mug on the table. She had put a coaster down, and like always, Romero ignored the coaster. “Think about it. Isabella is causing a rift in your and my brother’s marriage, for what? An idea? A hint that maybe they would have been a better couple?”
“It’s not just about them being a better couple. You cannot deny other people wanted that union.”
“You’re right, they did want it, but there are more ways to do business, and I can promise you, Elsie, not once has my brother looked at Isabella the way he looks at you.”
This made her stop and she stared at Romero. “What?”
“You heard me, and like my brother, I don’t make a habit of repeating myself, although right now I’m guessing he is breaking his rules for you. From the moment my brother met you, you’re all he has thought about. He even broke important meetings to make sure he was at the café the same time as you. You’re the first person I have seen him act like a complete asshole over. Isabella is nothing, but you’re making her something by pushing him away.”
“Did Massimo put you up to this?” she asked.
“Fuck, no. All Massimo wanted me to do was keep you company while he took care of business. Trust me, if he could, he’d have already taken care of Isabella, but he can’t just do that unless he is willing to start a war,” Romero said.
“What do you mean?”
“Isabella is a daughter of D’Angelo. There are rules in place that in an odd way protect us all, but it also means we must go through the proper channels to deal with problems that arise. Don’t get me wrong, from time to time, someone can be killed with absolutely no consequences. Then there are times, when a death, well, let’s just say, is more trouble than it is worth. If you keep pushing Massimo away, he will respond, and in doing so, it could guarantee us all a painful death.”
Elsie took a deep breath.
“If you loved him, you’d give him a chance. I promise you, his word is his vow. He doesn’t break his word.”
She knew Massimo was like that, but Romero was right. Isabella was messing with her head, and allowing her to live in her mind was ruining her marriage. She tried to run away.
“Do you still love him?” Romero asked.
“Yes, of course. I love him more than anything in the world.”
“Then trust him the way he trusted you.”
“Trusted me?”
“Do you really think there wasn’t a risk bringing you into the family? The cops could have tried to lure you to their side. I know we have a lot of the force in our pocket, but there are some who would love any opportunity to take us down.”
“I would never do that.”
“But there was always a risk, and my brother trusted you.”
Elsie had no idea.
“So maybe, why don’t you give him the same trust he has shown you?”
****
Massimo arrived back at the cabin and it was late. He saw Romero outside, smoking a cigarette.
“You’re going to freeze your ass off for a smoke?” Massimo asked.
“Can’t do it inside. It’s a smoke-free zone.”
Massimo chuckled. It was a habit he’d never taken up. He also didn’t like his father’s cigar smoking either. He was more of a whiskey man himself. Also, Elsie didn’t like the smell of cigarette smoke.
“How was business?” Romero asked.
He sighed.
“That’s good.”
“D’Angelo has noticed funds missing from his account,” Massimo said.
“Okay, but why would he come to you? Funds missing … shouldn’t he be handling that himself?”
“He believes he is too close to the problem.”
Romero stared at him. “Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?”
“You’ve already told me she has a problem. She likes to spend money, and Isabella’s account is always empty. What Franco doesn’t know is how she is doing it. He hasn’t given her access, which means there is someone who either knows the account details, or is hacking into his system and transferring money, although they’re doing it without a trace.” He reached into his jacket pocket. “Which is where you come in.”
He pulled out the information and handed it to Romero.
“I already made some calls, but I have a feeling I know what is going on.”
Romero threw his cigarette to the floor and stomped it out, taking the piece of paper from him.
He waited for his brother to read through the information.
“That’s not possible.”
“I know,” Massimo said. “Anyone who looks at this information would instantly suspect my wife.”
“Holy shit, Massimo. According to this, Elsie is stealing fucking money that doesn’t even belong to her. The family would fucking kill her.”
“I know, but look at the dates,” Massimo said.
Romero glanced over the paperwork, checking out the dates. “Why do I know those dates?”
“That was the date of our honeymoon. Elsie had no way of communicating with the outside world because she had given me her cell phone. Also, look at her date of birth. It’s incorrect. There are little errors, but someone looking to frame my wife wouldn’t think of these little details.”
“Fuck, Massimo, someone is trying to kill your wife. If this gets out, they will come for her, you know that, and they will find any excuse to use whatever means they can.”
“I know, but I also know it is not my wife.”
Romero nodded, folding up the piece of paper. “What do you want me to do?”
“I need you to link this to Isabella. She is the only person who has a real vendetta against my wife, and I need you to do it quietly.”
“Does Franco even suspect his daughter?”
“I’m not aware of it, but as you said yourself, Isabella has an allowance that is immediately gone once she gets it. There is only one explanation. She is stealing from her father and trying to frame my wife, and I need you to prove it.”
“On it,” Romero said.
“Also, be careful.”
“Will do. You need to keep her here. If you bring her back, Isabella might already have plans for her.”
“I’m not leaving this cabin until I know my wife is safe.” Also, he’d also decided that when she had forgiven him enough, he was going to get her pregnant, which meant she had no choice but to trust him.
Romero hugged him and then turned to leave.
Massimo watched his brother climb in his car, and then crank the ignition. He waited until he knew he was safely on his way before going back inside.
Locking the door behind himself, he thought about what he’d discovered. He didn’t like the fact he had to play it safe to keep his wife safe. Isabella had made an enemy out of him before today, but now she just guaranteed he was going to do everything he could to eliminate her.
“You’re back,” Elsie said, startling him.
He turned to find her sitting in the window seat. She had a blanket wrapped around her, and she looked so cute, and sexy as well.
“I thought you’d be in bed,” he said.
“I was tempted to go and get some sleep, but you know I don’t like to not be up, especially when you’ve gone out to work. I like to be here to see you.”
He stared into her pretty brown eyes.
The fairy lights on the tree glowed softly, and the fire glistened in the hearth and it was already dying down. They didn’t need to use the fire for heat, but it was nice to have.
“I missed you,” he said.
“I missed you too. Is Romero coming back?” she asked.
“Not tonight. I’ve given him some work he needs to catch up on.”
Elsie stood. “That’s good.”
And then she dropped the blanket to reveal she’d been completely naked underneath.