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I’m smiling as I ask, “Do you have any kings?”
He hands over two cards, meaning I have all four. I lay them in front of me, waiting to see what he’s going to take off next. I mean, the next choice is obvious…
He stands, unbuckling his belt. Slowly, he pulls it off before reaching for the button on his black slacks. My mouth waters as he lowers his pants over his muscular thighs. His stomach flexes as he kicks them off, leaving him in nothing but his stone blue briefs. Briefs that do nothing to hide his erection. He adjusts himself before sitting on the bed.
“Ask your question,Dolcezza, because the look in your eyes is about to get you into trouble.”
“What? Right.” I let out a shaky laugh as I think. “Why didn’t you ever come back to see me after that day at the salon?”
“I wanted to,” he admits. “Work kept me away, and I didn’t want to seem like a creep by popping up years later. By the time I did make it back to Vinny’s, you had already moved on, so I figured that was that.”
“Did you…did you ask about me?”
“I like to keep my cards close to my chest. Asking about you would have given Vinny information that could be used against me.”
“That makes sense.” I think. “I quit the hair salon when I was nineteen. Right after Nonna passed away.”
“The two of you were close?”
I smile. “We were. She was my maternal grandmother and my only link to my mother. I was devastated when she passed. It was unexpected.”
He reaches for my hand. “What happened to her?”
“She died in her sleep. The cause of death was listed as a heart attack, though she would have argued it was a broken heart. She never got over my grandfather’s death.”
“I’m sorry you lost her.”
“Me, too. But it gave me a reason to quit the salon. I was only working there to make extra money to help pay bills at my father’s house. Nonna left me a bit of money when she passed, and I was able to move into the dorms while I attended school.”
“Why did you move home after you graduated?”
“I’ve asked myself that a lot. My father made me feel guilty about wanting to find my own place. Said my mother would have never forgiven me for leaving. So I moved home and kind of settled into a routine where I just went along with things.” I pause. “I shouldn’t have done that. I should have been firm. Not weak.”
“You did what you had to, Isa. That doesn’t make you weak. Not at all.”
“Isa?” I smile. “I like it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Now…” he wiggles his eyebrows. “Do we want to continue playing, or can I get you naked and ravish you?”
I pretend to think. “Hmm. I guess we can get me naked.”
“Excellent choice, Mrs. Moretti. Excellent choice.”
I’m laughing as he knocks the cards onto the floor and pulls me onto his lap. Tonight was good for us. It shows that we’re both on the same page. It also tells me that my gut feeling about Gia’s message is right—Alessandro won’t hurt me. I know it.
15
Alessandro
Isabetta sleeps in my arms. I think back to what she told me…about her piece of shit father laying hands on her. Sure, I knew about it, but hearing it from her lips did something to me. My chest was so damn tight that I couldn’t breathe for a moment. He hurt her. He hurt my sweet, kind wife.
And so that means one thing.
Dale Bass is a dead man.
16
Isabetta
