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Donato shrugged. “We’re all watching each other all the time. He’s found the opportunity he’s been waiting for. It’s not that surprising.”
My irritation ratcheted up a notch. His knowledge of this deal wasn’t surprising. It wasshocking. Only the most trusted in the family were in on this. We were talking black, black market stuff here. I didn’t know exactly how the current owner had come into possession of this diamond, but I didn’t think she’d picked it up at Tiffany’s.
“I don’t believe in coincidence. It’s too convenient that he shows up when the other shit is going down,” I argued. “He wants half. And if we don’t let him in on it, he’s threatened to make you suffer. And my family too. He knew about Vivian, by name.” I balled my fists, getting angry all over again. If anything ever happened to Vivian or Muriella because of me…the thought alone had me desperate to lay eyes on both of them, now.
“I’ll make sure nothing happens to your girls.”
“Can either of us really do that?” I looked toward the sky. “We’re not invincible. If Angelone wants any of us dead, he can do it any time he pleases. Just as we can to him.”
“There are ways.” Donato stopped walking and faced me. “I won’t let him near either of them.”
“What about you?” I challenged. “Angelone also said he can make your ‘situation' go away. Do you think he’s got anything to do with your other problem?”
“Possibly, possibly not. He can do his best. I can handle it.”
We strolled along the cracked concrete pathway in silence for a few minutes. I shoved my hands in the pockets of my overcoat to stave off the cold. A woman bounced past, giving me a once over. I turned my head away from her.
Donato chuckled. “Another disappointed lady.”
“There’s no comparison.”
“Why don’t you marry her?”Because I’ve left her.
I ignored the pain in my gut and sidestepped the question.
“Maybe have your guy on the inside check it out. Angelone has the motive, after all.”
He let out a long breath as if worn out by the whole situation. “True. I’ll see what I can find.”
“I’ll let you know if he contacts me again.”
“He will. Make no mistake about that.” Donato started in the direction we’d just come from. “I must go. We’ll talk soon.”
He cut across the grass, his steps determined. I leaned against the railing and watched until he became no more than a black speck in the distance. Everything was building to the point where I didn’t know if I could stop the explosion. Vinny was behaving worse than usual. Angelone had appeared after years of radio silence. The threats to Donato kept mounting. Worst of all, I’d had to give up Vivian. What more could I lose?
“You’re overdressed for a stroll in the park.”
My body immediately came to life at the sound of her voice. I was surprised I hadn’t sensed her.Do not engage. Do not engage.“Do I look like I’m walking?” I couldn’t stop myself; falling back into our way was so easy with Vivian.
She stepped in front of me, head tilted back to meet my eyes. They slayed me the second I looked into them. I was lost. Desperate. And a fool to believe I could ever resist her for any length of time.
For the first time since I’d last seen her I could breathe again. Yet I could hardly catch my breath at her beauty. Her raven hair shimmered in the afternoon sunlight. I itched to run my fingers through the silky strands. Instead I clutched the lip gloss she’d left in my pocket until my knuckles ached.
“More like stalking.” The corner of her lips lifted, and for a fraction of a second, it was just us again, with none of the shit that I’d heaped on top of us. Then a thought I was certain I wouldn’t like caused her mouth to flatten and hurt to shadow those eyes. “How did you do it so fast?” she whispered.
My chest constricted, and if my hands hadn’t been planted in my pockets, I would have reached to comfort her. “I don’t know what you mean,” I said impassively.
“Move on so quickly to someone else.” Vivian wrapped her arms around her middle. To protect herself. From me.
The urge to roar up at the sky to the gods who undoubtedly didn’t give a shit about me or what I wanted became overwhelming. When I started this, I knew I would hurt her and that it would kill me. I had no idea it would feel like metal blades constantly grinding my gut.
You have to do this. For her.
“She’s lovely, isn’t she?”
Vivian shrunk in on herself, and I wanted to jump over the railing into the river.
“You love me. I know you do.” I couldn’t ever remember hearing her sound so uncertain despite her words. My love was the one thing she should never doubt. Except I couldn’t correct her.
