34. Dante
Chapter 34
Dante
“ W here are you going?” Vincenzo calls out to me as I stride past his office.
Pausing, I grit my teeth, wanting to rip him a new one, but knowing that won’t achieve anything. Plastering on an easy grin, I back up a few steps until I am standing in his doorway.
“Not that I need to explain myself to you, but I’m going to do my rounds on the casino floor, check that everything is in order because Benito is off sick, then I am going home,” I drawl, a hint of condescension lacing my tone. It’s no coincidence my wife is away on a girls’ trip, while Benito is sick. They think that I am stupid, but I figured it out as soon as Vincenzo told me that Benito wouldn’t be coming into work for a couple of days.
Benito is away on a fucking weekend with Caterina.
Not that I care.
It actually works out perfectly to be honest, making it easier for Nico and I to execute our plan.
Vincenzo’s eyes narrow, as he glowers at me. “A little early to be leaving when there is shit to do, isn't it?”
I shrug, nonchalantly, lying through my teeth when I respond. “I want to call Cat, before she goes out for dinner. Not that it’s any of your business, but things have been strained between us for a while now and we will be seeing a couple’s therapist when she returns. We are both excited to work on our relationship.” The lie sounds true even to my own ears. “Things have been better the last couple of days with our communication and I think having some time away from each other has been good for us. We even…” I trail off, for maximum effect, my throat thick with all the dishonesty, including the one I am about to say. “We have even been playing around on video calls.” Vincenzo’s face turns deathly white, though I don’t miss the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.
Truth is, I haven’t spoken to Cat once since she left.
He waves me off. “Too much information,” he laughs. “Though, I am happy you are working things out.”
Sliding my hands in my pockets, I grin, smug and relieved that he believes the untruths I just spewed. “Yeah, it feels right. I’m just glad Cat stuck around for me after all the shit I have put her through since I woke up.”
He exhales, nodding, “She loves you.”
Now it’s Vincenzo’s turn to lie. There is only one person my wife is in love with and it is the man she is currently away with.
Shooting him a terse smile, I jerk my head. “I’m going to head down to the floor. Once I am sure everything is in order, I will be off. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” Vincenzo replies, just as his cell phone rings.
Without another look in his direction, I move down the hall to the elevator, a real smile curving my lips when I remember that, come tomorrow, I will be back where I belong.
On the East Coast with my angel.
“He bought it, yeah?” Nico asks over the phone as I make my way into the house.
Sighing, I scrub my free palm across my stubbled jaw, my eye catching on the new tattoo adorning my ring finger. It was a last-minute decision on my way home and though my memories haven’t returned, it feels right. I belong to Allegra just as she belongs to me.
And now the black A tattoo on my ring finger solidifies that.
“Yeah. I oversold things to Vincenzo, but he believed me,” I tell him, dropping my keys on the entryway table and moving to the kitchen.
“Good.” He clears his throat. “We know that he is having you followed, so I have put extra measures in place for that. A couple of my men are going to take out the guy currently sitting in his car watching your house, opposite your gates. My tech man will then cut all the lights and security camera feeds for approximately one minute to make it look like a power outage. Once that has happened, I will give you the signal. You will need to leave through the backyard. This will ensure that no neighbors witness you leaving. The fence is high, but you said you can easily scale it–”
“Yeah,” I say, cutting him off. “I may have a head injury, Nic, but I can climb a damn fence,” I say sarcastically.
“Anyway.” Nico ignores my outburst. “Matteo and I will be waiting for you in a blacked-out SUV at the agreed meeting point. During this time, once the cameras and lights are back on, I will have soldiers with masks covering their faces enter your property. This will all be seen on any security footage Vincenzo or the feds request. They will spend maybe thirty minutes inside before they set the house on fire and leave. I have made sure that the body they find will match your DNA. The coroner that will be used in your case owes me a favor and I am collecting. His report will state that the body belongs to one Luca Mancini and that he was tortured until unrecognizable before being burned to death.” Nico’s voice is cold, almost nonchalant as if he is talking about the weather and not my imminent fake death. “Any questions?”
Shaking my head, I laugh sardonically. “No, Nico. You presented that to me so well.”
“Cut the sarcasm, asshole. Now let’s get this shit in motion. I have a wife and child to get home to,” he drawls, his tone serious with a hint of longing.
I know exactly how he is feeling, because I feel it too.
Being away from my principessa this last month has been hell. I can’t wait to get her back in my arms. To hold her. Love her. I glance down at my ring finger once more, gently rubbing over the black A , a smile curving my lips, excitement stirring in my gut.
It’s time to go home.
Finally.
“Let’s do this, Nic. I also have my woman to get back to.” Determination laces every word that leaves my mouth.
He huffs a laugh. “My sister is not yours until we figure out Riccardo’s involvement.”
Instead of the usual resentment I feel about that, I just smile wider.
“She has and always will be mine. The sooner we do this the better. I will await your signal,” I say, ending the call and making my way up to the bedroom to start my usual routine.
This whole charade feels pointless, but nothing can appear to be out of place.
Standing in front of the mirror, I grip the sink, staring at the man staring back at me.
Usually I see confusion and defeat.
Tonight, all I see is clarity and peace.
I see a man I can’t remember but somehow know it's who I used to be.
I see.
Dante Vitale.