The event isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. In between the different speeches and guest speakers, there is a lot of dancing and friendly interaction with others. It’s nice not being the center of attention for once.
During a trip to the bathroom, I tried to find Valerio to see if he was with Elaine or if I could eavesdrop on his conversations, but he miraculously disappeared.
Millions of stars shine in the navy sky as we walk down the marble steps of Villa Firenze at the end of the night. I pull my fur coat tighter around me. Relaxation fills me along with warmth and confidence, probably from too many glasses of champagne and Malibu Bay Breezes.
Reaching the bottom of the steps, I lean against Dominic. My feet ache from the designer heels but it’s a short walk to the limo parked under the porte-cochère.
Dominic opens the door for me and I slide inside, grateful to be off my feet for the moment. He settles in next to me and tells the driver we’re ready to leave. The engine starts and the limo follows the other cars leaving the facility.
“Tonight was fun. Thank you for coming with me.” Dominic loosens his tie.
“You’re welcome. I needed a night out…especially after my birthday disaster.”
His face lines with sympathy. “I’m sorry your birthday turned out so horrible, Cipi. How are you feeling?
“I’m okay. I don’t feel any pain. The medicine is working.” I check my phone. “We might have to wait a bit before you take me home.”
“It’s almost midnight.” Dominic glances at his watch.
“That means nothing in the Capuano compound. Nonna stays up late watching her shows and I know Lucia and Matteo are lurking in the windows waiting for our return.”
“Tom, take the long way back,” Dominic calls.
“Of course, sir,” he replies.
Dominic presses a button and there is a buzz as the partition goes up. “I still can’t believe you roped me into taking Ambrose’s case.” He chuckles. “You always know how to take charge in any situation.”
“Ambrose seems like a nice man. Even though we both come from different worlds, cheating is never okay.” I flex my feet and wince.
“What’s wrong?” Dominic glances at my shoes.
“The medication is helping my injury, but it’s not helping my feet.” I groan. “These shoes are lucky they are so beautiful, because they are not comfy at all.”
“I can help with that,” Dominic reaches down and takes my ankle.
Shifting in my seat with my back against the door, I let him place my feet in his lap.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Helping you feel better.” Dominic pulls off my shoes one by one. They fall with a thud onto the limo floor. Then he digs his knuckles into the soles of my feet as he begins to massage them.
I watch him. The city lights flicker behind him, like diamonds on tinted black velvet. Once again I’m falling back into bad habits. He used to do this all the time when we attended parties as a couple.
I should tell him to stop but Pinot Noir is kind of making me want to risk it all.
“Something else is bothering you. I can see it in your face,” Dominic comments as he keeps his eyes on my feet.
“Just some stuff Valerio said in our conversation. He made references to dead butterflies and kings falling. No one outside of the family knows about that.”
“You think Valerio is behind the attack?”
“Maybe. Someone close to me could be working with him. Maybe Bruno found out something and that’s why he got shot. The assassin could have wanted to kill him before he said something to me.”
“It’s possible.” Dominic pauses. “You know what really amazed me tonight was how you let me step in and stop the argument with you and Valerio, normally you’re not one to let a man fight your battles for you.”
“I let you step in a little,” I whisper.
“A little is good enough for me.” Dominic smiles.
