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Ford is leaving when I lift my eyes, only for them to blow wide, finding the object of my thoughts standing outside my office door.
“My—my father was murdered…”
I fixate on the curve of her jaw, the way it meets her pert chin, flowing down to that slender neck that I’m so fond of marking. The movement of her full lips as she speaks words I can’t hear because of the blood thundering in my ears.
Those big gray eyes surrounded by long black lashes, usually so filled with emotion, are now devoid of anything aside from mistrust, and I feel the loss like a knife to my gut.
“Say something!”
I’m slowly bleeding out, frozen in time, when her agonized voice breaks through the haze, making me blink owlishly as my mind races through ways to make this right.
But there’s only one thing that can fix this or make any of it right.
Only one thing I can do to show her that our time together was real.
“Sit, Wren. It’s past time you knew everything.”
She moves to sit on the sofa I’ve indicated, her eyes never once leaving mine, and once her ass hits the cushion, she exhales heavily.
“My father was murdered.”
It’s a statement, not a question, and all I can do is nod.
“Why would Mom keep it from me? Why wouldyou? I don’t understand…” She trails off, frustration plain on her face before she sits back. “Start at the beginning.”
I take a deep breath and dive straight in before I can think too much about it.
“Lorenzo Caputo was my brother in every sense of the word. He was three years older, and I thought he hung the fucking moon. He and your Nonna Julia wereeverythingto me when my mum was killed.”
I swallow roughly before rising to fix a Macallan, swirling the liquid around the tumbler as my eyes regard Wren. “When he met your mother, he wanted to help me buy this place from the man who wouldn’t acknowledge me as his bastard. He knew it was my dream to destroy it, to make it mine instead ofhis. And your father helped me to achieve that goal.”
My face lightens with a smile then. “And then he found out Sara was pregnant. Oh man, I don’t think he was ever as happy in his damn life.”
Wren’s eyes fill with tears, her bottom lip quivering dangerously, and when my chest pangs in agony, I step forward to comfort her, only to meet with a stalling palm.
“No. Don’t come too close. I—I can’t think properly when you’re near me.”
I retreat, my shoulders sagging as I continue. “He found that I was in receipt of threatening letters.”
Her head flies up, concern marring her brow as she undoubtedly draws a parallel between my letters and the ones she’s been receiving from the elusive Prince Charming.
“And it was those letters and my ignorance of them that ultimately cost you your father and me my best friend.”
* * *
“Did you getanotherdamn letter, V?”
I nod enthusiastically as I pop a sushi roll into my mouth. “Mm-hmm.”
Renzo’s tanned brow furrows deeply before he slaps my sashimi out of my chopsticks.
“What the—”
He grips my collar, dragging me to my feet with a snarl. “This is fuckingserious, asshole. I don’t think you realize the men you’re dealing with. Closing down the sexual side of this club could have serious repercussions if you don’t handle it therightway.”
“And what way would that be, pray tell me, oh wise one?” I yank my shirt from his grasp, shooting him a sour look. “These fuckers have everyone in their back pocket. If I lie low and don’t give them cause to carry out their threats, they’ll just find someplace else to have these disgusting little virgin auctions, because they willnotcontrol me in my own fucking club.”
My best friend inhales deeply, watching me with wary eyes until I twist around to my desk, where my half-eaten sushi awaits. I pluck a California roll from the platter with my chopsticks and hold it out with a hangdog expression.
