Chapter 41 Massimo
MASSIMO
“So I know it’s too late to be thinking about this, but as I was getting ready, I realized we don’t have masquerade masks for tonight,” Liana says, walking out of the closet.
I can’t help but stare, taking in her fucking astounding beauty in a silver one-shoulder dress that molds to her body and has the highest fucking slit I’ve ever seen. It’s too fucking high, but I can’t bring myself to say anything because she looks too damn good.
I grin, the memory of the first night we met popping up in my mind.
Liana tilts her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just reminiscing,” I say as I walk toward her, my hands behind my back.
“Reminiscing about …?”
“You wore silver the last time we wore masquerade masks.”
“Ahh, yes that’s right. My silver sequin dress. That was a cute one. I made it for one of my classes where we had to work with challenging material.”
“And it works out because it matches the mask I have for you tonight.”
Her brows rise to her hairline. “When did you have time to go get a mask?”
I let out a humorous breath and take my hands out from behind my back to show her what’s in them.
Liana’s eyes widen. “Is that …” she says, taking the silver mask into her hands. “You kept this all these years?”
“Are you really that surprised?” I say lightly.
“What about—”
I pull out the mask I wore that night from the inside pocket of my suit jacket, and Liana smiles, shaking her head. “I shouldn’t be surprised, and yet I still have no words.”
“I had to keep something of you from that night. I just didn’t realize we’d be using these ever again.”
“Will you help me put it on?” she asks, holding the beaded mask out to me.
I take the delicate fabric from her, then she turns around and I place the mask over her eyes, tying it in the back.
I stretch the string on my mask and put it over my head. When Liana turns around, she gazes into my eyes.
“Damn. This does bring back memories, huh?” she says.
“The good ones, I hope?”
She smiles and gives me a kiss. I wrap my arms around her and squeeze her into me.
“You know,” I say. “We probably have a little bit of time to—”
My phone goes off, interrupting us. With an annoyed sigh, I pull it from the inside pocket of my jacket and see it’s my brother.
“What is it, Gui?”
“I don’t have a mask.”
“That’s really what you’re calling me about?”
“Well, we’re going to a masquerade ball, and I don’t have a mask. Don’t you think that’s pretty important?”
“Not really, Guilherme,” I say, annoyance lacing my tone.
“Oookay, what crawled up your asshole?”
“Well, if you must know, I was about to make love to my wife until you interrupted us.”
Liana scoffs and swats me on the chest. “Massimo,” she scolds, and I catch her hand with mine and hold it to me. A smile plays out on my face.
“Okay, too much fucking information, but that’s beside the point,” Gui says. “Our car is going to be here any minute, so while I know you probably can’t last very long, we don’t have time for all of that.”
“There’s always time,” I mumble into the phone. Liana rolls her eyes, but a smile forms on her face.
“Alright, I don’t need the details, but the car really is going to be here in a few minutes, and I still don’t have a mask.”
“Oh, relax, will you? I knew about this ball before we got on the plane. I have a mask for you.”
There’s a pause, then Gui finally says, “Fine, but it better not be an ugly one. Meet me out in the kitchen,” then he hangs up on me.
I chuckle to myself and shove the phone back into my pocket. “It seems we need to get going because our car will be here soon.”
Liana looks at me with the cutest fucking smirk on her face and a twinkle in her eye. “Well, then I guess we’re going to have to make up for it later tonight.”
My phone rings again, so I take it out of my pocket. Furrowing my brow, I say, “It’s my dad.”
Liana’s eyes widen.
“Hello?” I say, answering it.
“Son, how are you?”
“Doing well, Dad. What’s going on?”
“I just wanted to see if we should still expect you tonight at the ball or if you’ve decided to head home.”
I pause for a moment, remembering the conversation I had with Gio earlier today. The entire situation with the crate hasn’t sat well with me, and now my dad is asking if we’re going tonight.
“Yeah, we’re talking it over now. I think your suggestion about me heading back might be right.”
“You should always be there anytime big issues arise. Ignazio will understand. Just head home and make sure everything is handled, okay? I’ll talk to you later, son.”
“Yeah, talk to you later, Dad.”
Hanging up, I bring my attention back to Liana, who’s watching me curiously. “What was that all about?”
“My dad was checking to see if we’re going to be there tonight.”
“So you decided to lie to him?”
“I was thinking about what you said about avoiding the masquerade ball. If whatever it is they’re hiding from me has to do with this masquerade ball, then I want to surprise them … Catch them off guard.”
“I just can’t imagine what it could be,” Liana says.
“Truthfully, I can’t either, but I’m just acting on instinct at this point.”
It might be for no reason, but I’d rather play it like a paranoid motherfucker than not. Whatever my parents are hiding, I’m going to find out tonight. No matter what.