Chapter 1 #2
I ran my hands over my face, trying to ease my frantic thoughts. It was an accident, everything will be okay. Dad will take care of everything.
I tried to figure out how to get out of the mess I’d made. Luca and I were supposed to go on our honeymoon to Fiji the next morning for a week, so that would buy us some time to figure out a plan before his family knew he was missing.
After that, I wasn’t sure what we were going to do.
Once the bath water turned cold, I got out of the tub and wrapped myself in a towel. After I dried myself off and braided my long Auburn hair to the side, I slipped on one of the plush robes that was hanging next to the shower.
I looked at myself in the mirror and took a deep breath. Then, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out into the master bedroom.
I entered the living area of the penthouse where my dad was talking with his men in hushed tones. His back was to me, so I spoke up, “Dad?”
When he turned to face me, his brow was pinched in concern. Once our eyes met, he forced a smile. “Piccola. How was your bath?”
I knew he was trying to distract me, but I needed to know whether Luca was alive or dead. “Is he dead?”
My father exhaled a breath, then nodded. “Yes.”
I couldn’t explain the swarm of emotions that overtook me. Relief, fear, panic, and guilt rushed through me at once, and the last thing I remembered was my dad catching me as my vision went black.
My eyes slowly fluttered open, and I could hear my dad’s voice through the closed door, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. My brows furrowed as I processed what was happening while the veil of sleep lifted.
I was in bed, still in the robe I had put on after my bath. Throwing the covers off me, I scooted out of the bed, needing to talk to my dad to figure out what was going to happen since I’d killed Luca.
I killed Luca.
My stomach knotted. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to take someone’s life, especially someone as powerful as my husband.
Now dead husband.
I pushed down the feelings of guilt, sadness, and panic as I went to the door and opened it. I stepped out to see my dad talking with a man I’d never seen before. “Dad?”
My dad turned towards me, his forehead creased in a frown. He forced a smile. “Hey, Piccola, how are you feeling?”
I nodded, my eyes darting back and forth between my father and the other man. “Better. Who is this?”
My dad glanced over at the man and clapped him on the shoulder. “This is Enzo. He’s my wolf.”
“Wolf?” I asked, unfamiliar with the term in that context.
My dad chuckled and Enzo smirked. A tendril of heat coiled in my abdomen. “He takes care of these types of problems with discretion and makes them disappear.”
A little pang of hope filled me, but I scoffed. “Dad, this isn’t some random guy. This is Luca Sorello. There’s no way to make this disappear.”
My dad came over to me and lightly grasped my upper arms. “I have a plan.”
I arched a brow. “What plan?” I wasn’t sure what plan he had that didn’t end in a war between our families.
“Let’s sit down,” my father said, guiding me to the couch.
“I’m going to get to work,” Enzo stated gruffly.
“Good. Come back in here when you’re finished.”
“Will do,” Enzo responded before leaving the room. I returned my attention to my dad, and he took my hands in his and squeezed. “I’ve been thinking about this since I got here, trying to figure out the best course of action.”
The tension in the air thickened. Apprehension filled me, and my chest tightened. I just had a feeling I wasn’t going to like his plan. I rarely did.
My dad blew out of breath. The only time he showed any weakness was when I was involved and this was the most nervous I’d ever seen him.
Which made me even more nervous.
“Once we confirmed that Luca was dead, my choices were limited. We’re lucky that you’re supposed to be going out of the country for your honeymoon. That will buy us some time because it won’t be suspicious to not be able to get a hold of him.”
I nodded. “I thought about that, too. So, what’s the plan?”
My dad’s thumbs stroked the backs of my hands. “Well, you’re going to go to a safe house with Enzo until I can get this under control.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn’t want to go to a safe house with a stranger. A hot stranger, but still. “What?” I practically seethed.
His gaze softened. “I know what you’re thinking. But I need to make sure that you’re safe and can’t be used against me while I take care of this.”
Even though I understood his perspective, I wasn’t happy with the plan. “No, Dad. I’m not going to go with some random guy while you take the heat for what I did.”
“Gia, this is not up for debate. I will not put your life at risk. We are lucky we have this chance to get you to safety. Any other night, you would be dead already.”
He was right. Had this been a normal night instead of our wedding night, Luca’s guards would have killed me on the spot once they discovered Luca was dead. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was self-defense.
But I was my father’s daughter, and I was stubborn. I didn’t like being told what to do. I pulled my hands from his, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’m not going.”
My dad’s face hardened, and he gave me the look I knew all too well; the one that made grown men cower. He didn’t even have to raise his voice to incite fear and command respect. “You will do as I say, Gianina Genovese, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
His tone left no room for argument. My father was an intimidating man, and I knew I’d pushed his buttons enough for the night. “Fine.”
He stood. “Good. Now go get dressed. You’ll be leaving once Enzo is done.”
“Tonight? We’re leaving tonight?”
His eyes met mine, searing into me. “Gia. Don’t start. There’s a winter storm coming and you need to get to the safe house before it hits.”
He turned and started walking away. “Where’s the safe house?” I questioned.
“The Adirondack Mountains.”