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“What?” Drake’s hands clenched, and his face turned red.
“She confronted me, Drake. I don’t understand why you’d keep such a thing from me. Riley told me you were planning on leaving me and getting back together.”
“That. Fucking. Cagna.” Drake punctuated each word.
“I saw the proof, Drake. When I came to your office, there was lipstick on your collar. You’ve been cheating on me.”
The fire in Drake’s eyes scared Alessandra. She braced herself for his rough treatment, but he surprised her by lightly caressing her cheek with his fingertips and turning her to face him.
“I swear it’s not what you think, Alessandra.”
“Luca knows about the pregnancy too. He was taunting me. He was also at Jerry’s club in the crowd that watched us.”
“That mook’s been stalking you? Why would you keep that from me? I’ve been worried sick trying to keep you safe. I’ve told you before I can’t do that if you keep things from me.” Drake became irate.
Drake’s demeanor constantly flipped on a dime, leaving her unable to tell heads or tails at times. She realized that their location didn’t matter. The same argument and their problems would continue following them.
“I hadn’t seen Luca between the last time in court and the night he attacked Noah and me. The last time I spoke with him was the morning he called to gloat about the missing evidence. I wasn’t hiding anything.”
“I’m going to kill that bastardo!”
“And what about Riley? You’re having a baby with her. How could you keep that from me?”
Drake cupped her face in his hands. He rested his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes. Alessandra tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let her.
“She lied to you, bella. When Noah told me she’d approached you, I immediately hired an investigator to look into it. Our department works with several, and one owed me a favor. It’s one thing to say Riley lied, but I wanted to make sure I had irrefutable proof to offer you. You’ve been through so much. I wanted to put your mind completely at ease. I don’t know why, but she made it all up.”
“That bitch! Why would she lie about something like that? How could she fake a pregnancy?”
“Why else? She’s trying to come between us. Don’t you see that? You said yourself that Luca knew. Tony’s men approached her in Paris, and she accepted a large sum of money from them. Is it a stretch to assume she’s working with the enemy? I’m sorry she tried to hurt you.”
Alessandra wanted his words to be a soothing balm on her aching heart. He had an explanation for everything, but there was still so much he didn’t say.
“But you didn’t come home that night. You ignored my calls and texts. I saw lipstick on your collar.”
“I’m sorry, bella. I should’ve come home to you. I was waiting for my investigator that night. Riley turned up at my office. She made a move on me, but I swear on my life that nothing happened with her.
“I’m going to make them all pay for hurting you. Your father, Luca, and Riley. Lo guiro… I swear it! You’re the most important person in my life. Ti amo, bella. I love you, Alessandra.”
Alessandra’s heart thundered in her chest. Drake’s confession had her reeling. He might not have given her every answer, but she certainly had more than she needed. The truth shone in his eyes. Everything had changed between them. All his efforts to put her first were proof of that.
The girl who never knew real love before had found it in the most unlikely place. She’d undoubtedly been in love with Drake for a long time. It frightened her to admit it.
This angry, beautiful man, who never should’ve been hers had put a ring on her finger. He loved her…
His admission made them… what? Soulmates? Partners? Regardless, she saw their way forward, together. They could be a formidable team.
“I was afraid of my feelings. Love has only been ugly and painful. Love left me open and vulnerable to being hurt again. You hated me at first, and I had no idea you’d ever feel the same way.”
“Alessandra?”
“I love you,” she said as tears escaped her eyes.
“You knocked me off my feet, bella. I’m used to being in control and you challenged that the moment we met. The truth is, you’re everything I could ever want in a woman. You’re vivacious and smart and sexy as fuck. I don’t want to live another moment pretending anything different.”
“I love you, Drake Walker.”
***
