Chapter 54
Bianca Ferrucci
I straightened my posture, adjusting my dress as I tried to regain control of my breathing. Marco approached quickly, grabbing my arm before my legs could completely give out.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concerned.
“I’m perfectly fine,” I replied, my voice firmer than I felt. “I can’t spend my entire life running away.”
“Did he threaten you?” Marco insisted.
“What do you think?” I said with a faint, ironic smile. “Tiziano doesn’t know how to speak any other language. Threats are the only language he’s fluent in.”
Marco shook his head, clearly frustrated.
“This can’t keep happening, Bianca. He won’t stop until he breaks you.”
I sighed, smoothing a hand over my stomach.
“He’s tried to break me before, Marco. And I’m still here, whole. But now it’s different. I have someone to protect. I have to be strong for him.”
“You don’t have to face this alone. Let’s go home.”
“No. We came here for a reason, and we’re going to see it through. Business first.”
We left the event together. As soon as we got into the car, Marco checked the rearview mirrors and started the engine.
“We’re being followed,” he said, still checking the mirrors.
“How many cars?”
“Two, at least. They’re keeping their distance, but there’s no doubt they’re Tiziano’s men.”
“So he’s already started his little game.”
“We’re not going home right now. I’ll drive around for a while and lose them,” Marco decided, turning the wheel as he took an alternate route.
“Stop the car,” I ordered. Without hesitation, he pulled over.
I got out, slamming the door behind me, and planted my hands on my hips. The closest vehicle stopped beside me, and the tinted window slowly rolled down, revealing Enzo with a mocking smile on his face.
“Hey, sister-in-law,” he said in an amused tone. I had already forgotten how irritating his sense of humor was.
“What does he want?” I asked contemptuously. “He told me to leave and then sent you after me? Neither my brother nor I are hiding, in case he still hasn’t figured that out.”
I pulled a small notepad from my purse and wrote down my address, tearing out the page before handing it to Enzo.
“Here. I’ll be in Italy for two more days. After that, I’m going back to Lisbon, where I’m currently living.”
Enzo took the paper, still wearing that damn smile.
“Perfect. I appreciate your kindness, sister-in-law. You saved me the trouble of following you all the way home. Now I can get back to the event. I left a few women waiting for me.”
“Have fun,” I replied coldly, spinning on my heels and getting back into the car.
Once I settled into my seat, I noticed Marco’s hand resting firmly on his cocked gun, as though he were ready to react at the slightest signal from me.
“I don’t want you putting yourself at risk like that,” I said.
He shot me a quick glance and smiled.
“I’d risk even more if you wanted me to. For you and the baby.”
“Tiziano is a dangerous man,” I murmured, turning my face toward the window as though the world outside might offer me some kind of answer.
“And do you really think I’m ever going to inherit heaven, Bianca?” Marco replied in an amused tone. “I came from the same hell he did. The difference is, unlike Tiziano, I know what it means to fight for something that actually matters.”