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“Thank you,” I said, hoping it wasn’t just empty promises.
ChapterThirty-One
Devin
All things considered, Luna had taken the news better than expected. I’d finally found some pictures of Paige after scouring Natalie’s Facebook page. She’d actually had up a couple, and because she didn’t spend much time on Facebook or have many friends there, the secret had remained safe. I often wondered what she told people. She’d assured me that she’d never mentioned my name, so what did she say? That Paige was the result of a fling? A one-night stand? Whatever it was, it wasn’t my concern.
We walked on eggshells around each other for a full twenty-four hours. She was more reserved, but she was talking to me, asking the occasional question. More importantly, she still wanted to meet my parents, and, by extension, Paige. I didn’t look forward to this, but it had to be done. At the very least, it would shut my mother up.
By the time I left for Rome to do the television appearance Leo had scheduled, she was more herself. She was planning for Rafe’s event, where they’d name Carlton as their driver next year. Not that it was a secret; the whole racing world seemed to know. I asked her not to mention what I’d told her about the man who’d talked to my parents and Natalie. The less Carlton knew about it, the better. And knowing Luna like I did, she’d keep the secret.
I made a pit stop in Milan first for a quick Russo meeting, and I texted Enzo that I needed an emergency meeting with him too.
He met me the morning after I’d arrived. I was making coffee when he knocked on the door. I let him in and escorted him to the kitchen where I poured him a cup of coffee. We sat at my kitchen island, and I tried to ignore that Enzo was wearing enough cologne to make my eyes water. I silently opened a few windows to get some air.
“I let the PI go,” I said.
“Oh, really?” Enzo seemed surprised by this. “I thought he was doing a good job.”
“He confirmed my suspicions enough. I didn’t need to keep paying him. Besides, whatever this person who’s been poking around hopes to find is of no consequence anymore. I’m about to tell you something that you are going to keep to yourself. I don’t know how hard I have to make this clear to you. If what I’m about to tell you gets out, I will sue you into your next life. Is that understood?” Enzo was a gossip, but I was his meal ticket. He’d keep his trap shut if he knew what was good for him.
Enzo arched a surprised brow. “Oh, this must be big.”
“I’ve managed to keep this a secret, but I have a daughter. She’s almost four years old.”
Enzo put down the coffee he was about to sip. “Are you shitting me right now?”
“This must remain a secret. I’m fairly certain that this was the information this guy was after. I’ve told Luna the truth, so when I’m ready to release the news myself, there will be nothing hanging over my head. That’s where you come in. I want you to prepare something for when that time comes. You’ll run it past me, of course, and then we’ll release it. That’s unless you can come up with a better way to release this news.”
“Let me think about it. This is … a bit of a shock. Who is the mother?”
“You don’t know her. A woman from back home. She’s dear to me, so I don’t want her name dragged through the shit. Is that clear?”
“Understood.”
I looked down at my coffee, wishing I’d made an espresso instead. I was going to need it. “Obviously, Carlton is trying to destroy my relationship with Luna. This is the one way I have to screw him. I wish he’d mind his own damn business.”
“If you’ve told her everything, then what can he do now? Nothing, right?”
I thought of our tattoos. Only two people in love would do that, right?
Enzo tapped his fingers on the countertop. “I was talking to a few people. She’s worth a lot of money. You know that, right?”
He was always bringing that up, like it mattered to me. Before I had a chance to tell him that, he shoved his phone in my face.
“Her net worth,” he said. “And the number below is her family’s.”
I jumped a bit. I hadn’t expected the number or for him to have the information. “That much!”
Enzo nodded emphatically. “Her father was a very shrewd businessman, and it seems that he taught his wife well. She tripled the fortune.”
“I’m impressed.” I mean, I was. I had no idea Maria was that good with money, but knowing her as I’d come to, I probably shouldn’t have been surprised. But how much money my girlfriend was worth was hardly important right now.
“Anything else we need to cover? How are things with Carlton otherwise?” Enzo asked.
“The bastard is still hanging around, but I don’t think he’s much of a factor. I’m fairly certain I’ve taken care of that. He put up a good fight, but I wasn’t going to let him walk over me. And I know what he thinks. He thinks my relationship with Luna is superficial, that she’s helped me make money with all the publicity, and she’s a decent fuck. What more could a guy ask for, right? Well, he’s wrong, and he can kiss my ass.”
“And you’re not worried about him?”
