Chapter 32
STEFANO
Val pushed away from me.
“What do you mean? What engagement announcement, Stefano? It came out where?”
I hadn’t planned to ask her to marry me right then.
I had planned to tell her about the announcement, and once I explained how it made Enzo safer with my rivals and that no other immediate options existed, I thought she would get on board with it.
If only for our son’s sake.
Val would do anything for her boy.
Did I want a fake marriage?
Fuck no.
My plan had been to win her over while we nursed her back to health, to show her the three of us could be a family.
A safe family. A happy family.
The words “marry me” had slipped out in the heat of the moment, like an involuntary reflex after making love to her.
She’d said yes without hesitation.
Christ, she’d even accepted my punishment before that.
But when I mentioned making the announcement, her face paled, her voice trembled, and her hands shook.
Val feared something more than just a public declaration.
Instinct kicked in, and I wanted to protect her from whatever had scared her. I wanted to protect her from every-fucking-thing. I touched her warm cheek with the back of my fingers.
“I blindsided you… I’m sorry. But for the sake of our son’s safety, you must not fight me on this.”
“What did you do?” she whispered. “Show me, Stefano.”
I grabbed my phone and tapped open the Weddings & Engagements section in the app for The New York Times . It only took a few seconds to find the article.
Prominent Manhattan Businessman and Brooklyn Barista Celebrate Caffeinated Reunion
All the articles in the section were written to be as entertaining as they were informative, so the headline sounded ridiculous, like something from the Hallmark Channel.
Still, it got the point across.
Val took my phone with apprehension when I offered it, then she thumbed the screen, not stopping to read anything before closely examining the photos.
Three photos.
An image of me from some business meeting or something I didn’t remember.
The picture of Val came from Enzo. The second he’d shown it to me, I made my own copy. It made my heart ache, and it seemed perfect for the announcement. A candid shot of her in the kitchen at Con Amore, wearing her baking apron and an authentic smile. Pure happiness.
I could almost smell the cookies she’d been making.
Enzo had given me the third picture as well. One she always kept close, he’d said.
The one she thought he didn’t know about.
It showed the two of us soon after we first met, young and completely enamored with each other. This one gave legitimacy to our relationship, creating added protection for her and for our son.
I thought she might be thrilled with the photos.
She was not. She wouldn’t even look at me.
“Talk to me, Val. You’re clearly very upset. What is it? Why isn’t this okay?”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, turning her back to me, then stood after a minute of silence.
“Because it’s not, Stefano. The fairy tale’s over, and it’s time for us to leave. Enzo and I need to get to the train station before it’s too late. We’re starting over somewhere new like I’ve planned all along.”
My chest constricted as she rambled on about a new life. She wanted to leave me again. Without an explanation or as much as a bullshit excuse.
She thought she could just take my son and disappear.
She should have known better.
No way would I let that happen, not now that I had her back. Certainly not now that I knew about my son. I’d only just started to get to know him.
For the first time after so many years, I had a good reason to get up every morning, and it had nothing to do with revenge.
It was her.
It had always been her.
And now my son.
I grabbed her arm before she could get away.
“You’re not going anywhere. You know my reach by now… you’ll never get away from me again, so just tell me what you need, Valerie, and I’ll take care of it.”
“Stop calling me that,” she snapped.
Then she ripped her arm out of my grasp, snatched up her robe, and ran into the hallway.
I grabbed my robe and raced after her, shouting, demanding that she stop running the fuck away from me.
Enzo’s bedroom door banged open.
He’d heard us.
Val ran into his room.
“Pack up your things, buddy. We’re leaving, and we’re not coming back. Do it right now, Enzo.”
I grabbed her shoulders, spun her around to face me, and backed her up against the wall.
“I said stop, goddamn it. Tell me what’s happening. What are you doing?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, one after another. She finally made eye contact as she touched my face.
“You should know I love you, but that’s never going to be enough.”
My blood boiled with anger. My heart pounded like a motherfucker. I punched the wall beside her head.
Enzo charged at me, grabbed onto my arm. I threw him back, and he landed on the floor.
“You said you would stay,” I snarled. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again if that’s what this is about.”
Her lips curved into a small, sad smile.
“I let myself get caught up in a fantasy, and I lied… because I never intended to stay with you.”
A heavy thud hit the front door.
Probably my men fucking around.
I ignored the next thud as well.
Nothing else mattered but Val.
Holding on to her, not letting her leave me, keeping her from walking out on us again, that was my entire existence in that moment. My only reason to live.
A male voice shouted for me to open the door.
Valerie’s eyes widened. She stopped breathing.
I studied the fear and confusion in her eyes while holding her chin between my thumb and finger.
What the fuck was happening to her?
Then she pulled my mouth to hers, kissed me, and whispered against my lips.
“I’m so sorry, ace. I’m leaving you.”
Another unfamiliar voice echoed through the foyer, deeper this time, a man with a Chicago accent.
“Your boss has something that belongs to us.”
“Fuck you,” I heard Bruce say.
The clicking of a revolver’s hammer echoed next.
Again, that stupid fucking accent resonated.
“Don Moscatelli wants the girl back. Tell Vignali to hand her over immediately.”
Thank you for reading Wicked Rivals .
The story continues in Savage Enemy …
Stefano didn’t know Val belonged to his rivals until it was too late. Now he wants her back in his bed where she belongs. He always gets what he wants and always plays to win, but will his next move be his last?