Lorenzo nods, a hint of a smile on his face. “Sure did.”
Vinny’s guy was a lackey with the brains of a worm. With two punches and a promise to spare his life, he blew the whistle on everything he knew about the Lombardi family. Not that we kept our promise in the end. His body has now been laid to rest, buried with the worms.
And right before I blew his brains out, I learned Vinny had offered five hundred thousand dollars to anyone who brought him Natalia—dead or alive. And a million to anyone who brought her to him alive.
Surprisingly, Natalia is awake when I come to bed.
“Do you ever sleep?” she asks, pausing the TV.
I start unbuttoning my shirt. “That’s what I’m about to do now.”
“And then wake up in what, three hours?”
I shrug. “Probably four.”
“Lack of sleep is unhealthy.”
“Lack of sleep being healthy is the least of my problems, sweetheart.”
Not going to lie, I like that she’s worried about my health. I’ve never had anyone question me about my choices like that.
“If you’re so worried about sleep, why are you awake?” I add. “I expected to find you passed out in your drool.”
“Ew, gross.” She scrunches up her nose. “I waited up for you.”
“Why?”
She shifts, bringing her knees to her chest. “Benny said you want Vinny dead.”
Why do my men keep opening their mouths up to this woman?
“I do want him dead. Do you have an issue with that?”
She hesitates, squeezing her eyes shut, and then nods … and then shakes her head … then nods … then shakes her head … then nods.
Natalia has a good heart, and even with Vinny wanting to murder her, she’s not cruel like me. She needs to learn that if a man is a murderous sociopath who wants you dead, you’d better shake your head when asked if you have a problem with him being killed. Otherwise, you might be the one dead. I can only protect Natalia if she protects herself as well.
“What will happen after you kill him?” she asks. “Do we divorce?”
I snarl at her last word. “Divorces don’t happen in this family.”
“Don’t you make the rules?” Her words come out strained, her face mortified, as if she thought this would be an easy arrangement to leave.
“I do make the rules.”
She releases a breath of relief—a sound that makes my blood boil.
“That’s not a rule I’ll break,” I continue, bursting her bubble. “There hasn’t been a divorce in our family in ninety years. I won’t be the man to break that streak.”
Natalia stares at me, horrified, and holds up a finger. “To clarify, divorce isn’t an option once we get married?”
I nod. “Till death do we part.”
CHAPTER 25
NATALIA
I search the house until I find Gretchen in the kitchen, restocking drinks in the refrigerator.
“Grab your bathing suit and meet me by the pool,” I say, plucking a can of sparkling water from her.
Gretchen turns and runs her gaze over the kitchen, unsure if I’m speaking to her.
I poke her shoulder. “We’re hanging out today.”
“Oh no.” She shakes her head and returns to the fridge. “I have to work.”
“Your workday is over.” I wave toward her clothes. “Now, go change.”
She clutches a can to her chest. “But Mr. Marchetti—”
“I’ll tell him it was my idea, and I insisted,” I interrupt.
“Okay.” She offers a dimpled smile before sliding the can into the fridge and shutting it. “I’ll meet you outside.”
After she leaves the kitchen, I finish stocking the fridge in case anyone tries giving her shit. I scoop up my bag from the floor by the patio doors and walk outside.
The mansion’s backyard is one of my favorite spots at the estate. It’s massive—sprawling acres of green grass, a guesthouse, an infinity pool, and a tennis court. A stone perimeter wall does its best at protecting us while not appearing too prison-like.
I inhale the fresh air as I pass wild rose bushes, peonies, and red tulips.
My sanity and my hangover can use a relaxing pool day.
I have my sunglasses to block out the bright sun and plan to nap the day off until Cristian comes home. I don’t know when that’ll be since it seems my future husband is always on the move and hardly sleeps. We need to improve on communication since I have no idea where he is.
I wave Gretchen over from the stone pathway and tap the lounger next to me. She’s changed into a white cherry-print bikini that shows off her suntanned skin and tiny waist.
“I grabbed these since it’s hot as sin out here.” She holds up two bottles of water.
“Thank you.” I take one from her.
She spreads out the towel I tossed onto her chair before sitting and making herself comfortable. I take a long drink, stretch my legs, and tilt my head back.
The pool and wall fountains create a serene environment, and I start nodding off until Gretchen makes conversation.
“Did you tell Mr. Marchetti about Benny and me?”
I shake my head. “And I won’t.”
I decide against informing her that Cristian already knows. The poor girl doesn’t need more anxiety.
“Thank you.” Her voice is soft-spoken. “My mom would kill me if we lost this job. If I get fired, they’ll most likely let her go too.”
“Cristian won’t fire you even if he finds out.”
“That’s what Benny said, but Benny is … well, Benny.”
I turn my head to look at her. “Are you in love with him?”
She hesitates before answering, “Yes … which makes me foolish.”
“It makes you human.”
“A stupid human.”
“Human nonetheless.”
She sighs.
“We’re not the first to fall in love with the wrong people, nor will we be the last. Just because we have a brain doesn’t mean we always use it. Sometimes, our heart beats louder than our brain and drowns out reality … drowns out the truth.”
“Are you still in love with your ex?”
I bite into my nail. “Do we ever fall out of love with anyone?”
It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times. Vinny was my first love, and I imagined spending the rest of my life with him. And then everything changed. I’ll never know if it changed because it was an act he put on for me or because his father finally allowed him to be more involved in the family business. Either way, he became hotheaded and cheated like it was his duty in the world to sleep with as many women as possible, and eventually, I’d had enough.
I was so blinded by my hurt that when I ended it with him, I didn’t think about who I was breaking up with. Vinny didn’t take the rejection well. At first, he begged, apologized, and promised he’d change. When that didn’t work, he moved on to threats.
So, the answer is, I don’t know.
Are there takebacks with love?
Can you love someone and then, one day, wipe your heart clean of those feelings?