“After today, I never want to see you again. Our marriage will be annulled based on fraud and misrepresentation. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to remove your things from my apartment.”
“Leo, please,” I sobbed.
At the sudden cruelty in his eyes, I wrapped my arms around my belly. “As for this building, I’ll be selling it.”
“Why?”
“So you can know what it’s like to lose something you really love.”
“I already am. I’m losing you.”
Without another word to me, Leo stormed out of the gallery and out of my life.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: DREA
After Leo left, I made it to my office before I truly lost it. Collapsing down on the couch, I wept until I didn’t think I had any more moisture in my body.
When a knock came at my door, Romano stood in the doorway. “Let me get you home, Mrs. Neretti.”
“Just leave me.”
To my surprise, he ignored my command and crossed the room to me. “Mrs. Neretti, I’ve got two daughters. I know what you’re doing can’t be good for your baby.”
Just the mention of Luca caused me to sob harder. I’d already been so selfish when it came to him.
“All right. Let’s go,” Romano urged as he placed an arm around my waist. After lifting me effortlessly onto my feet, he started leading me out of my office.
“You’ve really got some balls,” I muttered.
“It’s from being a girl dad.”
I hiccuped a laugh. “How old are your daughters?”
“Fifteen and thirteen.” Shuddering, he added, “The hormones will kill me long before the underworld.
I didn’t even bother entering the alarm code. Instead, I let Romano lead me outside and help me into the SUV. Once he got inside and cranked up, he met my gaze in the rearview mirror.
“Let’s get you home.”
Shaking my head miserably, I replied, “I don’t think I can go back there.”
“Would you like me to take you to your parents?”
“God no.”
“Do you want to come home with me? At this point, one more female won’t matter.”
I hiccuped a laugh. “That’s very kind of you, Romano, but I can’t. Please don’t think I won’t forget this kindness.”
“Whatever you need, Mrs. Neretti.”
There was only one other place I could think of to escape. “I need to go to New York.”
***
After calling Bianca on the drive, I discovered she was in the Hamptons. She instructed me to go to her brownstone. I guess she didn’t want to try explaining to Yuri what her pregnant cousin was doing sobbing hysterically in their house.
Romano insisted on seeing me all the way inside. I would be lying if I said I didn’t appreciate him being fatherly towards me. I wanted to tell his daughters how lucky they were to have a father like him.
