21. Dante
TWENTY-ONE
Dante
“ I don’t understand.” Lucia looked baffled when I told her about the changes I was making in the organization.
The Giordano Hotel Group had decided to hire outside counsel instead of keeping an in-house legal team.
After what Lucia had said to Elysa and the way she had behaved with me, I knew the situation was untenable—both professionally and personally.
Someone who lied the way Lucia had wasn’t someone I wanted in my life in any capacity.
I had met with Ferdinando Fontana of Fontana literally every client of mine is a professional diva…trust me, it comes with the job.” He picked up his glass of wine. “ Salut , Dante.”
I clinked my glass to his.
“She thinks I was sleeping with Lucia.”
“This is the lawyer you just fired?”
“Let go as part of a corporate restructuring,” I corrected drolly. “She knows I’d never cheat and yet…. ”
He chuckled. “Maybe she’s afraid too, and thinking that you stepped out on your marriage helps her keep her distance from you.”
Cazzo ! And if that wasn’t the truth.
“How much do you charge by the hour?” I pulled out my wallet and jokingly put it between us.
“For this time, a steak dinner will do.” Theo set his fork and knife down and picked up his wine.
I looked at my drink, feeling fucking forlorn. “I think I’ve lost her and… merda , I don’t know how to win her back.”
“You know what I admired about you in business school?” Theo speared a piece of succulent steak.
I waited.
“You were a stubborn son of a bitch who always got what he wanted. I doubt that has changed.”
We talked for nearly three hours. It felt good to connect with Theo, but by the time I got back to my suite, the bourbon had settled into a warm haze in my chest, loosening my thoughts and my inhibitions.
I poured myself another drink from the bar cart as I replayed Theo’s words. I set the drink aside, and before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed my phone and dialed her number.
I sat on the couch, looking at the beautiful city of Rome, and waited to hear her voice.
She picked up on the third ring. “Hello?”
“Elysa,” I slurred. “It’s me. ”
“Yep! I got that when your name flashed on my phone. It’s one in the morning, Dante.”
“Do you know that I haven’t been in the flat since you left?” The words came out a little garbled.
There was a pause. “Dante? Are you drunk?”
“Maybe,” I admitted, sinking into the couch.
“Dante, what do you want?” she asked gently like the sober person does when talking to the drunk moron.
“I want you.” The words spilled out of me, coming from my heart. “I miss you, Elysa. I miss us. I know I messed up, but I can’t fucking lose you.”
She sighed, and I could hear her frustration. “Dante, look?—”
“I…wanted to hear your voice, bella mia .” I sat up straighter, though it took some effort. “I love you so fucking much that it hurts not to have you with me.”
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
I heard a sniffle.
“ Merda ! Elysa, are you crying?” The whiskey was still making me woozy, but I was on alert. “Are you hurt, amore ?”
I’d never called her my love before. I’d never called any woman that.
“You never get drunk.”
“I’ve also never lost the love of my life.”
This time, I heard a sigh. “Dante, let’s talk tomorrow. I’m assuming you’ll be coming over for dinner. ”
I smiled at the thought, closing my eyes. “ Si . I missed you today. I don’t like eating without you.”
“Get some sleep?—”
“I miss the sounds you make when you come on my tongue.” I felt my dick kick into action. “How you say my name. Do you miss that, amore ? Do you miss feeling me inside you? Filling you up?”
I palmed my erection over my slacks and stroked. “I love hearing you scream when I take you from behind. Remember that time in Nonno’s library.”
Her breathing was ragged now.
“Are you in bed, bella ?”
I thought she’d hung up when I heard her say, “ Si .”
“Elysa, I fucking want you,” I said in exasperation.
“Dante, get some sleep, okay? And…drink lots of water and take some paracetamol before you go to bed.”
“You take such good care of me.”
“Goodnight, Dante.”
“ Buonanotte, mi amore .”