Page 32 of Killer Love

“No, he shouldn’t. It… it was a moment of weakness, that’s all it was.” I chuckle it all away. “There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.”

Rosalie shakes her head. “I can’t keep a secret from the master of the house. You know that, Sofia.”

I reach out and take her hands. “And you also can’t betray your life maiden,” I argue. “Keeping a secret is one thing but betraying me? The punishment for that is far more severe.”

It’s not fair to take advantage of her beliefs, but desperation clouds all logic. Rosalie loves being a Zappia, perhaps even more than she loves me.

“All right…” She sighs, regret filling her eyes. “I won’t tell anybody.”

I pull her closer and wrap my arms around her small frame. “I love you, Rosalie.”

“Do you love Gio?”

I cringe. “Yes,” I say, forcing the lie through my teeth.

She pulls back. “Then, you should repent…”

“I will, I promise… but he can never know.”

Her eyes twitch with worry, but she nods.

Chapter 10

Luka

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I did not just finger Sofia Zappia in a laundry room.

Obviously, this entire day has been one, crazy dream. Soon, I’ll wake up in my bed in Moscow. Yuri and I never came to Rome. Rosalie never saw a damn thing. Sofia’s lips are still a distant memory and I’m sure as hell not sitting across from her goddamn husband right now.

“Luka?”

I blink out of my trance and look at Gio. “What?”

His gaze shifts from me to Yuri and back again. “Are you all right?” He chuckles. “You seem a little drunk.”

Yuri laughs. “Honestly, it’s a nice change of pace from the stick he’s usually sitting on.”

I glare at my brother. “I’m fine.”

“I’d imagine you have a lot on your mind,” Gio says. “I would as well if I were in your shoes. Rest assured that you have the entire weight of the Zappia family behind you, Luka. We’re going to find out who’s framing you and take them down. I guarantee it.”

I swallow the malice. I’m not sure what’s more stressful: being forced to ask him for help or having his wife’s scent on my finger as I do it. “Thank you, Gio,” I say. “We would do the same for you.”

“Absolutely.” He nods. “My family is your family, after all.”

More than you know, asshole.

I stand up from my seat. “We won’t bother you any longer,” I say. “You probably have a lot of work to do.”

Gio waves a hand. “Not at all. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like.”

Yuri nudges my leg. “We just got here. Sit back down.”

“In fact, I insist you stay the night,” Gio adds. “There’s no need to fly all the way back to Russia today.”

I shake my head. “No, we don’t want to intrude.”

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