Page 27 of Reign of Fate
“You got it,” I reply, then ask, “Are we done for now?”
“Got a more pressing engagement?” Raffaele teases.
“I have a matter to rectify,” I respond. Raffaele gives me a curious look, but doesn’t ask for an explanation.
“We’re done. But I want that information within forty-eight hours,” he demands.
“Have I ever let you down?” I say with a smirk.
He returns it with his own shit-eating grin. “Can’t say that you have.”
“Sir,” Massimo interrupts, “I’d like to assist you with that, if that works for you.” He’s looking right at me. I glance at Raffaele, who lifts a brow, then nods.
“Right, then come with me,” I tell Massimo. I give a two-finger salute to Raffaele and a chin lift to Francesco before we go. As we walk toward my car, I give Massimo directions on how to go about getting the information I need and who to contact. “Start with two years back. If there’s a consistent pattern, go back another year. Raffaele will want to know how long things have been going on, if anything,” I tell him.
“Ruggero’s dirty,” Massimo says.
I lean my hand on the top of the car door. “How do you know?”
He shrugs. “I can’t explain it, but I just know. He’s always sneaking off someplace. At first, I thought he had a mistress.” He shakes his head. “But he isn’t right. I can feel it, in here,” he finishes, pointing to his gut.
I have the exact same opinion, but we need proof, and that’s what I tell him.
I arrive at Elisa’s place much later than I wanted. We didn’t have plans and there’s no reason to expect me, but when she opens the door with messy hair that she’s trying to smooth down by raking her hand over it, my cock immediately gets hard. I scan the rest of her. She’s wearing a pair of pink-and-black plaid flannel PJ bottoms and a matching pink tank top peeking through the white sweater she has over it.
“Ivo?” she says, with sleepy eyes. Then she jolts awake and gasps, “Adriana?”
“No, babe. Adriana’s good.” I place my hand on her belly and gently push her backward, moving through the doorway and into the entranceway. I walk her to the living room and sit on her couch, pulling her down to sit next to me.
“What time is it?” she asks with a yawn.
“Does it matter?”
“I guess not.” She finally focuses on my face and frowns. “What’s going on? Did I do something to upset you?”
“Why would you think that?”
“Because it’s…” She grabs my wrist and looks at the watch, “twelve forty-five, and you’re here and not sleeping like the rest of the world. And you’re answering questions with more questions.”
When she moves to let go of my wrist, though, I take her hand in mine instead and reach into my pocket. I slip the pear-shaped, two-carat, solitaire diamond ring onto her finger. I like how it looks there.
“Oh my God,” she whispers. Her gaze is fixed on the ring, and when she finally looks at me, she says, “You know.”
“What do I know?” I tease.
She rolls her eyes when I answer her with another question. “He was a jerk. I’m sure that guy tries that with every girl he meets,” Elisa says. “This is a gorgeous ring. Thank you.”
“I should have gotten one long ago.” I tuck my hand under her chin and raise her eyes to mine. “I’m not a warm, fuzzy guy. You may never get flowers from me, but I’ll protect you with everything I have.”
What she blurts out next is nothing I would ever have imagined. “I’m a virgin.” She jerks her face out of my hand and starts to stand. Before she can step away, I tug her back to me, guiding her to stand between my splayed legs.
“You can’t say something like that, then think I’m going to let you run away.” She bites her lower lip, looking extremely nervous. “You were married. I know Guido was in a wheelchair, but he always indicated his legs didn’t work, but everything else was normal.”
“Guido was a proud man. He was devastated when he had to admit he, uh, couldn’t perform. I swore I would never tell a soul, and I haven’t. But we’re getting married, and you’re going to find out soon and…” She tosses her hands. “I don’t know what to say. If you want out—”
“Stop. This marriage will happen,” I tell her firmly. “I’m glad you told me. Never hide anything from me, Elisa. There will be no secrets between us. Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” she replies softly. “Are you disappointed?”
