15. Antonio
Chapter fifteen
Antonio
G io is already waiting for me at a table over by one of the picture windows with a view over the Arno. He sees me and checks his watch. He’s always banging on about being on time, and the smirk I direct at him when he glances up again tells him I noticed.
“Morning, big brother.” I greet him with all the enthusiasm I woke up feeling this morning.
For the first time, Lucia has opened up to me about what happened with Bruno. I’ve waited years to know that my reaction that day was right. Hell, the asshole probably deserved worse.
While those who knew I’d punched Bruno appeared to blame me—something I never understood, and even had me believing I’d overreacted—I now know I didn’t. Lucia was grateful I showed up, happy that I punished him. And that’s what matters.
Gio faces me across the table, a frown marring his features. “You’re happy this morning.”
“And you’re looking as miserable as always.
” It’s a bit of a stretch, when really, his misery only started after our father invoked the marriage contract between him and Lucia.
“I’d have thought you’d be happy, too, after Luce and I married, but instead you’re worse. What’s going on with you and Tori?”
“Nothing. And I don’t want to talk about it,” he grumbles.
It looks like his attempt to repair the damage to their relationship hasn’t worked, and maybe it’s time he was forced to talk about it. I love my brother, but sometimes it frustrates the hell out of me when he keeps shit bottled up inside.
“Are you just going to give up on her? Because that doesn’t seem to be working out for you.”
His shoulders slump, and he drops his gaze to stare at the linen cloth.
It hurts to see him so dejected. Gio is the toughest businessperson I know and an all-around good guy.
He deserves to be happy, and if Tori is the woman who’ll make him happy, then I want to help. And that goes for Leo and Nico too.
“Gio, you need to fight for her. Show her that she matters.”
He glances up. “That was the plan, but I fucked it up.”
“We’re all guilty of that.” I think of my take-things-slow approach with Lucia that only had us drifting farther apart instead of bringing us together.
A mistake I’m hoping to rectify with our mini honeymoon in Capri.
“But, bro, it’s like business. If something doesn’t work, you just try again with a new plan. ”
A glimmer of a smile eases the permanent scowl he’s been wearing lately.
“I appreciate the pep talk.” He sucks in a deep breath, then releases it on a sad sigh.
“But let’s forget about me. I want to know about last night.
What was going on with you and Bruno? I know you don’t get along, but you looked like you wanted to hurt him … ”
He doesn’t finish the sentence, but I do in my head . Like you did as a teenager. I’m sick of being the bad guy when it comes to that fucker. I start to tell him some of what happened. None of what Lucia shared privately with me last night, but some of what I saw the day he attacked her.
Gio’s face grows increasingly shocked, and by the time I’m finished, his mouth has dropped open.
“Fuck.” His brows draw down. “Bruno said at the time that you’d hit him unprovoked. I didn’t believe him, of course. You’re the chill brother. But I never assumed what he’d done involved Lucia. Bruno’s a fucking sleazy asshole. I’m guessing she doesn’t want to pursue any charges now?”
I shake my head. “She only really opened up to me last night, so I doubt it.”
His gaze narrows in concentration. “Still, he needs to pay for what he did. I’m going to ask our investigators to check out what he’s getting up to in his private life.
You can bet if he attacked Lucia, there are others.
And if that’s the case, then we can make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I don’t want a fucker like that working for us, but we’ll need facts to fire him from the board. ”
“Thanks, G.” A waiter swings by to refill our coffee, and when he moves to the next table, I add, “Luce and I are flying to Capri in a couple of hours for a mini honeymoon.”
“Really? A honeymoon?” His gaze narrows like he’s trying to solve a complex problem.
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. “Why do you look so surprised? It’s what newlyweds do.”
He chuckles. “I’m not sure it’s the case when the newlyweds are in a fake marriage.”
“Well, it’s the case for Lucia and me. Besides, we’ve always taken breaks in Capri, and you’ve never said anything about those being unusual.” My argument is weak, and his raised eyebrows tell me he’s not convinced.
“But you said this trip was a mini honeymoon.”
I shrug my shoulders, then pick up my cup so I don’t have to look at him. “Okay, then let’s just say it’s a trip to Capri.”
“Sure. It just seems to me that your fake marriage is turning into something more.”
Fuck, he’s right . This trip will be different. My friend has become my wife, and for the first time since our wedding night, we slept in the same bed last night. And if I had my way, that’s how every night would be from now on.
“But let’s forget about me,” I suggest, throwing his earlier words back at him and bringing a full smile to his face for the first time in months. “When are you planning on returning to New York?”
“Tonight. I have a meeting with the American auditors tomorrow afternoon. They think they might have some new information.”
“Good. It’s about time we made some progress. All we seem to discover every week is more evidence of fraud but nothing useful that could help us stop it.”
“It’s frustrating as hell. Whoever is behind this has covered their tracks really well.” He drains his cup. “If this new information doesn’t move us forward, I’m going to look at bringing on a new firm of investigators.”
“Agreed. We’re losing more money and stock from the company every month, and I want to find the fuckers who are behind it.”
We continue to discuss business over another coffee and some fresh bread and cheese. Neither of us being big fans of the sweet pastries the Italians like to eat, if they eat breakfast at all.
But when exactly one hour has passed, I rush our conversation to an end, eager to be on my way.
I have a flight to catch with my wife.