Chapter 21
Lorenzo
Unknown
Hey, it’s Nicole, Vanessa’s stepsister. Bri gave me your number.
I hope that’s okay. Vanessa’s birthday is today, and I tried to reach out to her, but she’s not answering, which doesn’t surprise me since she hates her birthday and pretends it doesn’t exist, but since she’s in town, I was hoping to do dinner or something to celebrate it.
I stare at the text and feel like a complete dick.
After I woke Vanessa up by licking her pussy and making her scream my name, I could tell something was wrong.
She usually gets out of bed with a smile on her face—which has nothing to do with the orgasms I’ve been giving her every night for the past week since the night in the hot tub—but this morning, I noticed she looked subdued.
But because I had an early morning meeting, I pushed it aside and told myself I would talk to her later.
Lorenzo
She didn’t say shit. What about a spa day and then a surprise dinner party at my place? I can do everything if you can talk to the other women and see if they’re available.
I hit Send and then call my best friend.
“Russo, to what do I owe this pleasure? I’m in the middle of beating info out of some asshole who’s linked to Psycho Bitch.”
I roll my eyes at his antics. “I was hoping you could pick up Leo from my place and maybe hang out with him for a couple of hours. It’s Vanessa’s birthday, and I’m planning a spa day for the women and then a dinner later tonight.
I would grab him myself, but I have an important meeting in about an hour that I can’t cancel. ”
“I take it, you didn’t know today was her birthday.” He chuckles. “Sure, Dani will enjoy a spa day. Let me know which spa because we’re going to need it guarded so the same shit doesn’t happen as last time.”
He’s referring to the spa day for Bri’s bridal shower, which turned into them being gunned down and Bri killing two of their attackers when they went after Nicole.
“I’m on it,” he continues. “I’ll bring him back to our place. I’m sure Clarise won’t mind watching him as well. And since I kind of like you, Dani and I will keep him for the night so you and your wife can have some alone time.”
We hang up, and I see a text from Nicole, letting me know that Dani, Peyton, and Bri are all available for a spa day and that her boyfriend and the other women’s husbands will be there for dinner.
I call a local spa that Hillary used to say was the best and offer them an ungodly amount of money for them to shut it down to host their spa day.
Since nobody in their right mind would turn down that much money, they agree, and I text Matteo to let him know which place needs to be guarded.
Then I text Vanessa to let her know that Matteo wants to spend some time with his nephew and he’ll be by soon to get him.
She texts back a simple okay, and I note that we’re going to need to talk about whatever’s going on with her regarding her birthday.
The chemistry between us is off the charts, and I love hanging out with her, staying up late and talking while we play cards and she kicks my ass. We’ve now added hanging out in the hot tub to our nightly routine, and I can’t get enough of her.
But she needs to know that this isn’t just physical between us. The way I open up to her, I want her to do the same with me.
About twenty minutes after Matteo picks up Leo, I have Dominick text Vanessa that she needs to come into work for a meeting and that her uniform isn’t required.
But when he texts back that it turned green, meaning her phone has been turned off, I call my assistant to let her know that I need to cancel my appointment because I have an emergency.
“Are you sure?” she asks, knowing how important this meeting is.
“Yeah. Apologize and offer to pay for his accommodations and ask if we can reschedule for tomorrow.”
When I get home, the condo is quiet, and Vanessa’s door is closed. Nicole texted me that everything was set up for their spa day, and I let her know that Vanessa would be on her way shortly.
“Vanessa,” I yell through the door, “can I come in?”
There’s shuffling on the other side, but she doesn’t say anything. I should wait for her to let me in, but my worry over something being wrong has me opening the door anyway.
I find her in bed, under the covers.
“Vanessa,” I murmur, pulling the covers back and forcing her to face me.
Her usually bright violet eyes are dimmed, and her face is red and splotchy from crying.
“Baby, talk to me.”
She sniffles and shakes her head. “I’m just having a bad day.”
So damn stubborn.
I lift her bridal-style, making her squeal in shock, and then have a seat against the headboard with her in my lap.
“Usually, one’s birthday is a cause for celebration, not tears. Especially as young as you are. You shouldn’t start dreading your birthday until you turn at least thirty-five.”
I quirk a playful brow, and her eyes go wide.
“Nicole told you?”
“She was worried when you didn’t answer.”
Vanessa sighs. “When I was growing up, my birthdays weren’t a cause for celebration.
It was a day for my mom to remind me that keeping me was the worst mistake of her life, and if she had aborted me, she’d have been with a rich man and living her best life instead of being broke and weighed down by a child.
There was no cake, no presents. Just hours of guilt. ”
I already knew her mother was a piece of shit, but as I listen to her talk about the horrid way she treated her daughter, I wonder if Matteo would make an exception about killing women being off-limits. Maybe he’d agree to torture her …
“When I got older and was shipped off to boarding school and then moved to Seattle for college, I was able to ignore the day. I think moving in with you caused me to lower my guard, and this morning, even though you didn’t know it was my birthday, when my phone went off with a text, I checked it, thinking it was you. But it was her.”
I snatch her phone off the nightstand, not wanting her to have to repeat what her bitch of a mother wrote. After turning her phone back on, I type in her code—which I know because she’s had me check her phone when she was busy with Leo—and click into the messages.
I find several unopened texts, but I bypass them until I get to Ilene Vanderbilt.
Ilene
Another year of regret. Thanks to you, we’re going to lose everything.
Santiago is threatening to ruin Eric, all because of your selfishness.
You’d think you’d be more grateful that I kept you instead of having you flushed down the toilet.
But you’re a selfish bitch. Do the right thing for once and help your family.
Rage simmers in my veins at the audacity of this woman.
“Why the fuck isn’t she blocked?”
Vanessa shrugs, but I already know why. Because every child hopes that, one day, their parents will love them. And blocking her will mean there’s no way her mom can redeem herself.
Well, that shit ends today.
Vanessa
This is Lorenzo, Vanessa’s husband. If you ever reach out to my wife again, I will make YOU regret ever being born.
I hit Send, and then I go through the motions of blocking both her and Eric’s numbers. But while I’m doing that, I notice a tracking app.
“Did you put this on there?”
She leans over, her brows furrowed. “I don’t know what that is.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s how Leysa knew where to find us.”
Her eyes go wide.
“Eric might be tracking you.”
I never considered that when she was almost taken during our date. An oversight on my part. All of us have our phones checked by Eddy to ensure they’re clean, but I didn’t think about Vanessa’s phone.
“Oh shit,” she breathes. “I thought my phone was okay since it’s not on their account, but when my mom insisted that I visit, I stayed with them for a couple of weeks before Bri’s wedding.”
I delete the app and then shut off the phone. “I’m going to have Eddy check it out. Hopefully, he can wipe it out, but if he can’t, I’ll get you a new one.”
“But that one’s not paid off yet,” she whines.
“Your safety comes first.” I tip her chin to look at me. “If not for you, let me do this for Leo. He’s with you all day. Do you want to put him at risk?”
Her face softens. “No.”
“Exactly. Do you have any other devices? Your laptop? An iPad?”
“What? You can’t get rid of those, and they’re too expensive to replace.”
“I’m not replacing them. Eddy is the best. He’ll make sure they’re clean. Leave them all with me, and I’ll have it taken care of.” I give her a quick kiss. “Now get dressed. You have plans today.”
Her eyes light up. “What are we doing?”
“Not us,” I correct. The dinner party is a surprise. “You. The other women are waiting to spend the day with you.”
Her face falls, and her plump lips form a pout. “I’d rather spend today with you.”
She reaches out to touch me, and I shake my head, knowing if she does, she’s never making it to the spa.
“Tonight, it’s all you and me. But I want you to enjoy today, and I planned something fun for you.”
“Fine.” She sighs and climbs off me. “But I’ve heard about birthday orgasms, so I’ll be expecting at least two.”