“I didn’t know that’s what you’d planned, as you didn’t inform me,” he said simply. I could hear the hint of a reprimand in his tone. He knew I’d left without a guard—again.
“I didn’t have the time,” I said. “But I think Bibi should stay here, so Tommaso can calm down.”
“If he comes here and asks for her, it would be against our traditions to deny him. She is his wife.”
Bibi nodded. “He’s right. I shouldn’t have come.” The defeat in her eyes and voice almost brought me to my knees. I shot Dante a pleading look.
Dante pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed it against his ear. After two rings, I could hear a deep voice on the other end but I couldn’t hear the words.
“Yes, Tommaso. I want you to accompany Raffaele when he checks out the new goods. I trust your judgment, and Club Palermo could use fresh blood. I want your report tomorrow.” Dante listened to something Tommaso said. “My wife and Bibiana have plans. Don’t worry. She’s safe here. I’ll have my driver take her home tomorrow.” Dante lowered the phone and put it back in his pocket.
“Thank you,” Bibi said in a shaky voice. I stayed silent, overwhelmed by Dante’s kindness.
“You realize I sent your husband out to sleep with our new prostitutes, but I suppose you don’t mind.”
“No, I don’t. I’m waiting for the day when he finally finds a mistress he prefers to me.” Bibi clapped her hand over her mouth, obviously shocked by her own words.
Dante inclined his head. “I understand, but you should be more careful what you say in public.” Bibi gave a submissive nod. Then his eyes found mine. I tried to send him all the gratitude I was capable of with that one gaze. I was quite sure he could see it. “I’ll return to my work. I’m sure you and Bibiana have a lot to talk about.”
He turned around and strode back to his office, disappearing from our view. I linked arms with Bibi, who was gaping at me. “I can’t believe he did that for you. He must really care about you.”
“He tried to help you. He saw your bruises.”
Bibi laughed. “He did it for you. It was written all over his face.” She paused, then quickly added, “Not that I mind. I’m just glad that he got rid of Tommaso for now.”
“Come on, let’s go into the living room. I’ll put in a movie and we’ll have a glass of wine. You deserve it. Do you need some Tylenol with it?”
Bibi grimaced. “Yes, please. I feel sore. I think Tommaso bruised my ribs.”
That was the last mention of what had happened with Tommaso today. We spent the rest of the night remembering our childhood and teenage years, laughing, and getting drunk.
* * *
I regretted last night’s wine the next morning when a splitting headache woke me from sleep. I sat up, groaning. Pressing a palm against my forehead, I took a few deep breaths, hoping it would help with the nausea. Something red caught my eye. A small parcel lay on Dante’s side of the bed. I snatched the card propped up against the parcel.
I would have given this to you last night but I didn’t want to wake you, was written in neat script on the card. Delighted, I grabbed the present and unwrapped it. Inside the small velvet box rested a delicate white gold necklace with an emerald pendant. I stumbled out of bed and hurried toward my vanity, holding it up against my eyes. The emerald had almost exactly the same color. That couldn’t have been a coincidence. I sank down on the chair and fastened the necklace around my neck with shaking hands.
* * *
I probably wouldn’t have gone to work at all that day—Leo could take care of everything without me—if I hadn’t told Frank to meet me there.
After we’d dropped Bibiana off at her house and I’d made her promise to call me the moment Tommaso was home, Enzo drove us to the casino and we went inside as we always did. Luckily for me Raffaele was screaming at one of the girls, which wasn’t a one-time thing either, but today it was the distraction I needed. I turned to Enzo. “Could you please have a private word with Raffaele and make it clear that I don’t appreciate him manhandling our girls?” Enzo looked only too eager to comply.
He headed straight for Raffaele and shoved him into one of the private rooms. Leo was making a beeline for me, but I shook my head and told him that I was busy. He seemed confused but didn’t try to stop me when I stepped into the elevator. Guilt almost stopped me in my tracks a couple of times. My secret meeting with Frank could be construed as a betrayal of Dante’s trust. After this morning’s considerate gift, the idea of going against him like that made me feel even worse. He seemed willing to try, and I was risking it all because of Frank.
Three minutes later, I hastened away from the storehouse. I glanced around my surroundings nervously; not only because I worried about being followed, but also because this was a deserted and creepy area. It was already getting dark, which didn’t help my anxiety at all. At least I was wearing ballet flats so I could run if someone attacked me. In the distance, leaning against the wall of another empty warehouse, I could make out a tall figure. I hurried toward him, then slowed because it was hard to make out much. “Frank?” I whispered. “Is that you?”
He took a step away from the wall, looking as nervous as I felt. “Hey, Valentina.”
I bridged the remaining distance between us. “What’s going on? Why do you keep showing up in front of my home? Do you want the Outfit to find out about you?”
Frank rubbed his hair, his eyes darting around. “Of course not.” His obvious nervousness was making me anxious in turn. “I need to talk to you.”
“Then talk. I don’t have much time. Don’t you realize what kind of risk we’re taking by talking right now?”
“I think it’s dangerous that you agreed to marry Dante Cavallaro.”
I was taken aback. That wasn’t what I’d expected when he’d told me he wanted to talk. “Why do you care? Your connection to the Outfit died with Antonio.” I realized a moment too late how insensitive that sounded, but Frank didn’t seem to notice. He was busy checking our surroundings, especially the darkness spreading out behind us.
“Can you stop that?” I asked impatiently. “You’re making me nervous.”
“Sorry. I’m not used to sneaking around in dark alleys. That’s Antonio’s thing.”
Was he still not over him? His words made me believe it. Maybe that was why he was here. Maybe he couldn’t let go of his former life and I was the only connection he had to it. “It wasn’t my decision to marry Dante. You should know that marriages in our world are often decided by other people for reasons of power or strategy.”
“You don’t love him.”
“I’m not going to discuss my feelings with you, Frank. What do you want?”
“Did you tell Cavallaro about Antonio and me?”
“I told him that Antonio was gay.”
“Why did you do that?” Frank asked angrily, taking a few steps in my direction, startling me with his outburst, but not enough to back away. I was used to other kinds of men. Frank really wasn’t scary enough.
“That’s none of your business.”