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“We had a good thing. But this is better for you.”
“Better for me?” She straightened, her voice rising. Relief filled me at seeing some of her fight back.
I sighed and cut my eyes to the side. “We’ve already been through this.”
She stuck an unmanicured finger into my chest. “Don’tact like you’re bored.”
“Vivian.” Muriella’s soothing voice came from behind her, a hand on Vivian’s shoulder in support. “Everything okay?” Regret instantly filled Muriella’s eyes at the question.
“No. Everything is not okay.” Vivian fired a pointed look in my direction.I know it’s my fault, Princess. I know.
Muriella’s lethal glare focused on me. “Aren’t you supposed to be out of town?”
“Yes.” I didn’t elaborate. Everything else that was going on was bad enough, but my attorney requiring I meet him in Connecticut and then rescheduling on short notice because it ‘wasn’t a good time’ for his wife was just more shit luck. “My meeting was cancelled,” I finally admitted, unable to stand upsetting either one of them.
We stood there in an awkward silence, Vivian folded in on herself, and Muriella looking a half a second away from killing me. “Haven’t you done enough?”
“Dinner at seven?” I glazed over her furious question. Both of their mouths parted slightly.
Muriella stepped toward me, crowding me against the railing. It didn’t matter that she had to tilt her head back to see me. The woman was looking down on me, making me feel about two inches tall.
“Yourdinner is at seven. Do not bring that girl into my home. And if she’s at yours expecting me to feed her, forget it.”
I fought to keep my eyes from growing too wide. It was easy to forget Muriella had a bite to her, even though I’d been on the receiving end far too often lately.
I plastered a serene smile on my face. “Then I guess we’ll be going out.” I pushed off the railing, forcing Muriella to step back. “And that girl has a name. Giselle. You will treat her with respect.”
“I will have nothing to do with her. Nothing. Am I clear?”
“She’s not going anywhere.”
Vivian staggered back, and Muriella caught her by the waist. “Stop this nonsense, Daniel. Make this right. Don’t take away the only family any of us has.”
I had to get away. I couldn’t take both of them coming at me. “You need to accept my choices,” I said levelly.
“And you need to listen when the people who love you warn that you’re making a mistake. The biggest one of your life,” Muriella said with authority.
I strode away from them without another word. No one needed to tell me the gravity of my mistakes. I knew better than anyone. A valuable lesson had been learned today. I needed to avoid close contact with Vivian at all costs. Or I was going to do more damage than I could repair.
Chapter Twenty
Vivian
Present
“Fuck.”
I walked past the address I’d found for Donato Salvatore and discovered it was a well-secured apartment building on Central Park South. There was no way I would be able to go inside and ring the bell to his front door.
“Double fuck.”
What other choice did I have? I’d looked for a phone number, but that had led to a dead end. Seeing Daniel earlier today had only strengthened my resolve. Every day that passed without him was another he slipped further away. As I was strategizing how to charm my way past the doorman, a man exited the building and walked to the curb as if to hail a taxi. He drew my attention immediately. He wore a very elegant designer suit, and had a strong build and handsome features. But there was something about him that was a notch or two short of distinguished.
As he looked down the street, his gaze pulled to mine. His eyes were hard, and they filled with recognition upon seeing me. He strode over to me. “I have been waiting for this day a long time.”
I took a step back, instinct telling me to get this man out of my personal space. “I’m sorry I can’t say the same,” I returned, and he grinned, though it was wolf-like.
“You have no idea who I am, Vivian?”
