Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
Violetta
I feel as if I'm going into battle. I guess in a way I am.
For most of the night I lie awake, trying to decide what to say to Damiano.
I rehearse different speeches in my mind, each more emotive than the last. In the end I toss them all out.
Damiano isn't a man to approach with practiced words.
He appreciates directness and honesty, and that's what I'll give him.
At five a.m. I get out of bed and go for my shower. It's pointless to lie there when I can't sleep and I want time to get ready. Hopefully the dark circles under my eyes will show Damiano I haven't taken this decision lightly.
When I'm finished I dry myself and brush out my hair. Choosing what to wear isn't easy. A floral dress would emphasize the softer aspects of my personality, what my husband would see as my feminine fragility. That would bring out his protective streak and that's not what I need right now.
Anything resembling a business suit would make me look cold. Jeans and a shirt would make me appear too casual, as if I'm not to be taken seriously. It's a real dilemma. I never thought what I wore in my own home would matter this much.
In the end I dress in cream trousers and a dark blouse that strikes what I hope is the right balance. I apply a little lip gloss and blow dry my hair before styling it into a low ponytail. Then I head downstairs.
To my surprise I make it to the dining room before Damiano does. I'm not sure if that's helpful or not. It will either heighten my anticipation to the point where I'm a quivering wreck, or give me time to settle my nerves.
I try to ground myself in the ordinariness of the setting.
Lina has laid the table out nicely as always.
She brings my espresso without being asked and I drink it while it's piping hot.
I pick up a cornetto and place it on the plate in front of me.
Though it's freshly baked and undoubtedly delicious, I can't bring myself to eat it.
For a minute I consider going back upstairs. Damiano won't come looking for me if I do. In the aftermath of the ambush he agreed to give me space and with the exception of our dinner with Lorenzo and Lucia, he's done as promised and stayed out of my way.
When we pass in the corridors we're civil to one another but neither of us has attempted to bridge the gap.
I'm not sure we can.
Several minutes pass before Damiano arrives for breakfast. He's wearing a black suit today with a white shirt. No vest again. I really miss those. He sits and places his phone face down on the table.
"Good morning." If he's surprised to see me here he doesn't show it.
I offer him a tremulous smile in response. I wait until Lina has come with his coffee before I speak.
"Damiano." He gives me his full attention. "I want to leave."
He sets his coffee down. Nothing in his expression changes.
"No."
"You can't just say no. I'm not your prisoner, Damiano." While I might have started off that way, we've evolved beyond that now.
"No," he agrees. "You're my wife."
"And I'm asking to leave."
"It isn't safe." He picks up his coffee cup again and sips nonchalantly. His unhurried manner angers me. "The Martellis are looking to avenge Adriano's death. They'll hit me at my weakest point."
"You mean me?"
He inclines his head. "You have no idea what these men are capable of, Violetta."
"No idea?" The words burst from my lips on a wave of outrage. "I was in the car when they ambushed us, or did you forget that?"
"Of course not, but I wonder if you did."
My fists clench. "I doubt I'll ever forget that day."
Damiano nods. "Then you understand why I can't allow you to leave. Your life would be at risk."
It saddens me that his refusal is based on practical rather than emotional concerns. I wanted him to persuade me to stay because he cares deeply for me, that he wouldn't survive it if I left.
Instead his concern is for my safety and the possibility of me being used as leverage against him. I know these things aren’t so very different but I can’t help being disappointed all the same.
"So assign me some security until the threat passes. Surely you trust your men to keep me safe."
"My answer is no, Violetta, and that is final. You will not be leaving this house."
"So I am a prisoner."
"You're not a prisoner, you're being protected."
"If I have no say in the things that concern my life, I really can't see the difference."
Damiano narrows his eyes. A cruel smile curves his lips. "Is that so? Perhaps you'd like to return to the basement?"
My breath hitches. "You wouldn't do that to me."
"Wouldn't I? It's not as if you're great company right now. Perhaps it would be better for me if I locked you down there. You'd be fed, watered, kept alive like my little pet."
My palms slam down on the table as I push to my feet. Anger courses through me, vying with a very real sense of dread that he might actually follow through if I pushed him hard enough.
"Sit down, Violetta."
I do as I'm told without hesitation. Damiano's mood is dangerous and I'm not sure how to navigate it. He reaches across the table and places his hand on top of mine. He strokes my wrist and despite myself I find it calming. I look into his eyes and see something like regret in them.
"I don't want to do that to you, Violetta, but you must understand I can't let you leave while there's a threat."
"Okay," I say, not because I agree but because I don't have it in me to carry on down a road that might lead to a cage in the basement.
While I believe him when he says he doesn’t want to do that to me, I know now that anything is possible in his world. It frightens me to know how far he’d go to keep me safe.
"Good girl."
The sound of a throat clearing behind me announces Gianni's presence.
"Signore Rinaldi is here."
Damiano nods and pulls his hand away. I instantly miss his warmth. As I stare at him, unable to hide my longing for connection, his face gives away nothing at all. It seems for him it's business as usual.
Damiano
Elio has always had impeccable timing. Today is no exception. I wasn't expecting him and he couldn't have arrived at a worse moment. I felt like I was getting somewhere with Violetta. She understood why I couldn't let her leave. When I touched her she didn't pull away.
"Ask him to wait in the study. I need a moment with my wife."
Gianni casts a glance at Violetta and purses his lips.
Though he would never dare say anything, his expressions haven't been shy about letting me know he disapproves of the current state of my marriage.
He's been with me for a long time but I'm not sure whether his sympathies lie with me or Violetta.
Lina has been much more obvious about which side she's on. She's Team Violetta all the way.
"Of course, Signore." Gianni turns and walks away.
I reach out to curve my hand around Violetta's cheek but this time she draws back from me. I let her retreat. She needs time to process her new reality.
"Everything will be okay, dolcezza." I should apologize for the basement threat but that's not who I am. I offer her assurance another way. "You have nothing to fear from me, or anyone else. You know that, right?"
She smiles tightly. "Yes, Damiano, I know."
"Good girl." I rise from my chair.
Perhaps I should say more, but Violetta is staring into her coffee cup and I know she isn't in the mood to hear it.
Leaving her to finish her breakfast, I head to the study.
Elio is sitting in one of the armchairs, a folder on the table in front of him and a look of eagerness on his face that tells me he has news.
"Elio." I greet him. "You're here early."
He glances at his watch. "It's seven thirty."
"For most people that's early."
He frowns as if he finds that notion bizarre.
As I take the seat opposite him, he nods toward the folder and I pick it up.
Along with several pages of information, there's a photograph of a young woman with long black hair.
She's coming out of a building, a bag slung over her shoulder, staring at her phone and completely unaware she's being watched.
"Giulianna Contini, goes by Anna. She's twenty-three, lives in an apartment in Milan. She works for an events company, been there two years."
"Who is she exactly?"
"Giacomo Martelli's daughter."
This is interesting. Giacomo is second in command within the Martelli family but for years there's been a rumor he's the real power behind the throne.
"Why didn't we know about her?"
"The girl's illegitimate. Her mother raised her."
"And Martelli cares about this illegitimate daughter?"
"With Adriano and Andrea both dead, she's his sole heir. If we have her, he won't move against us."
The idea of snatching a young woman and holding her hostage doesn't thrill me, but it's not as if we haven't set a precedent for keeping women captive.
First there was Violetta and now Riccardo has Elena locked away at his home. From the glint in his eye I can tell Elio's interest in this girl is about more than using her as leverage. I don’t examine the parallels too closely.
"Do it."
Elio nods. He gets up from his seat.
"We're already in place."
I should have known he would be ready and waiting for my go-ahead.
"She's not to be harmed."
"She won't be." There's an eagerness in his voice I haven't heard for a long time. When he has this woman in his hands, things will get interesting.
He picks up the folder and heads for the door. Before he gets there he stops and turns.
"Niamh Donnelly," he says, referring to the woman who coordinates our activities with the Lenkovs, Reznovs and other organizations.
"What about her?"
"She met with Gabriele a few weeks ago."
I nod. When I met the consortium the day after Olivia's wedding, she told Lorenzo our brother had asked for a meeting with her. She promised to let us know if it was anything we should be concerned about but when she never got in touch we assumed it wasn't important.
"I know."
Elio grins. "But did you know she's traveling all over Europe looking for a prospective bride for him?"
"What? Where did you hear this?"
"Sev Baranov mentioned it. Said Niamh asked him if he still had his eye on Reznov's cousin or whoever that girl he's obsessed with is."
He leaves. I'm not sure what to do with that news.
While I'm hopeful it's a sign Gabriele intends to return to the outside world, I fear instead he'll drag some poor girl into his sanctuary and never let her go.
If he treats the wrong woman badly he'll start a war.
He won't welcome my interference and if he trusts Niamh to find him someone suitable I'll have to place my faith in her judgment as well.
I move to the window and look into the garden. Violetta is out there, walking on the lawn. Stefano trails her at a discreet distance. She stops at the fountain and looks at it for a moment, then carries on walking.
I watch as she makes a circuit of the garden. She turns and her eyes meet mine. She stares at me for a moment, then turns and walks away. I stay at the window long after she’s gone.