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With that, he sauntered off, leaving her wound tight as a drum despite the fact that at some point Rocco had achieved his purpose, loosened her corset and set her free from her wedding dress.
CHAPTER TEN
SAYING A TEMPORARY goodbye to Gianni was heart-wrenching. It didn’t help that he was completely oblivious, happily learning an Italian nursery rhyme as he perched on his great-grandmother’s lap. Beside Caterina, Allegra’s twin seven-year-old boys sat, playing on their tablets.
Mia was aware of Rocco’s tense presence behind her. And of Allegra—who looked more as if she’d fresh returned from a luxury spa than from a family visit—lounging beside the massive mosaic-laid fireplace, her sharp eyes boring into Mia. She’d been surprised by the other woman’s appearance at the breakfast table this morning, had known something was up with her when she’d proceeded to ignore Mia and converse in Italian with Rocco and Caterina.
But Mia had ignored her, preoccupied with the scene from last night that’d kept her awake long into the night. As she caressed Gianni’s hair one last time, the morning sun glinted off her rings, as if she needed the reminder that the man prowling behind her was her husband.
The husband she’d displeased with her withdrawal last night. One who was still pissed off, if the turbulent look he’d levelled on her when she’d entered the dining room this morning was any indication.
‘We’re going to be late, Mia,’ he growled, earning himself a sharp look from Caterina.
Mia rose, studiously avoiding him as she crossed the vast salon to retrieve her bag.
But contrary to hurrying her out, Rocco took her place, sinking low until he was eye-level with his son. She couldn’t quite make out the words he murmured so she wandered out into the hallway, fighting back the stupid tears that threatened.
She swiped at her eyes, just as Allegra materialised beside her. Mia steeled herself to meet her chilling eyes. ‘You think you’re so clever, don’t you?’ Allegra hissed.
Mia stiffened in shock. ‘Excuse me?’
‘Making accusation about my poor Alessandro?’
Mia suppressed a gasp. ‘How...? Who told you that?’
Allegra’s face tightened. ‘So it’s true! You think you can take what’s mine and soil my Sandro’s memory in the process?’
‘What’s yours? What are you talking about?’
The other woman flicked a sideways glance at Rocco, long enough to ensure he was still occupied with Gianni, then stepped closer to Mia. ‘I never thought he would be foolish enough to go through with this...farsa! But that was my mistake. One I intend to correct.’
‘Do...do you mean my marriage?’
‘There is no marriage, is there? Not when you didn’t even spend your wedding night together,’ she crowed.
Mia felt her face redden with humiliating heat. She didn’t know how Allegra knew but she wasn’t going to lower herself by asking.
‘If you know what’s best for you, you’ll crawl back where you came from.’
Anger rippled up Mia’s spine. ‘Careful who you threaten, Allegra. You may have had your little reign here, but I’m effectively mistress of this house now. Which means I can kick you out like that.’ She snapped her fingers in front of her face.
Allegra paled. Just as Rocco walked into the hallway. His eyes narrowed. ‘Are you ready to leave, Mia?’
‘Of course...caro.’ She infused false warmth into her voice, her eyes still locked with Allegra’s. The other woman’s expression wavered, a flicker of fear in her eyes before it hardened again.
But when she turned to Rocco, she was soft and pliable, her sinuous body swaying as she pressed a hand to his chest, dropped a lingering kiss on his cheek and murmured in Italian.
Rocco gave a brisk nod, then catching Mia’s elbow, he led her outside to the waiting car.
The first ten minutes passed in tense silence as she fought the burning sensation in her chest.
‘Did you sleep well, cara?’ he asked, his tone mocking the endearment the same way she had minutes ago.
‘What do you care?’ she snapped.
One eyebrow elevated. Then his mouth twitched. ‘Shall I conclude that you didn’t in fact sleep at all? That you’re afflicted with the same discomfort I was?’
‘Even if I believe you were in any way afflicted, you seem well on your way to resolving it.’
