Page 66 of Isle of Seduction

“There’s a difference between rumoured mafia leader and murderer, Andrea,” she says, agitated. “Besides, while you were at the station,” her voice breaks when she says that last word, making my heart clench. “I found something. I don’t know how they were connected, but Addams and Luc knew each other.”

“What?” Both Nico and I ask at the same time.

“Cameras picked up Addams’s licence plate just outside of Luc’s mansion in February of this year, then on his way back to his home two hours later, so I assume they met. And then again three weeks ago, at just ten minutes intervals. I’m guessing he became suspicious of Luc’s silence and went to check for himself, saw the remnants of the burnt house, and left.”

“Which means he knows Misha Petrov or at least, has an inkling of who he is. Then, we do the minimum with the elections. Guerrieritta, I don’t want you to exert yourself trying to get me back in the good graces of the people of West Hill. We’ll do what we have to so people aren’t scared of me and know the accusations are false. In the meantime, we go harder on Addams’s ass, by any means necessary. I want every outfit and mob boss in this fucking city all the way to London to know what we’re looking for and who. We need to fucking find that nanny or the maid.”

For the past three months, we’ve been reactive, focused on the campaign and getting me the donations and funds I needed, attending parties with uptight assholes who don’t fucking care about the wellbeing of the city.

I already do more for them now than I would as a politician. I have money, resources, and sway over the same politicians who don’t want me in their crib.

No matter what happens next, Addams will pay for putting me in the position I’m in. My father always told us to keep a low profile, but never let a feud go unresolved and unpunished. And in the Capaldi family, that means no mercy.

Nico nods to us and walks out the door without another word and I sigh as I recline on the sofa.

“We’ll get through this.”

Giulia moves to me and settles against my chest like she belongs there, my own body moulded to the curve of her body and it simmers my anger down in my veins.

I caress her hair absentmindedly for a moment, letting silence fill the space around us until I can find the words. Her bare left hand taunts me.

“When is Lana and Pierce’s wedding?”

“In May.”

That won’t fucking do. I need to get the wedding ring she wants from her shit father as soon as possible. Excitement fills my veins not only at the prospect of claiming her with a ring but to confront the man who neglected her. He’s in for a fucking reckoning. Addams is untouchable for the time being, might as well take my anger out on someone who deserves it too.

“Let’s go for Christmas.”

She looks up at me then, her green eyes settling on me and sparkling with excitement before she shuts down. “We have to wait for Clarke and DeRossi. We can’t go travelling across borders with your name everywhere painting you as a murderer.”

“Have faith, guerrieritta.”

I kiss her then. Fuck, this never gets old. Her lips taste like sin and salvation wrapped in one. It’s a slow kiss, nothing like the feverish need coursing through us. I still want her. There won’t ever be a moment I don’t want her, but I don’t push for more. We just lazily tangle our tongues and taste each other like we have all the time in the world.

We’re out of breath when we come up for air.

“Giulia, I…”

“Oh fuck. When you say my name, it always sounds so serious.”

I don’t laugh at her attempt at diffusing the tension thick in the air. “This is serious. We are serious.”

She tries to pull away, ready to flee, when she’s usually ready to fight.

“Andrea…” she starts, her tone admonishing. I’m not letting her diminish what we have.

“We are already happening. Our contract is null and void. Your rules don’t apply anymore. I want to renegotiate.”

“Renegotiate what, Andrea?”

She stands then, her little fists clenching in the most adorable way though I know she packs a punch, her shoulder up to the ears. Now she’s my warrior, now I know what to do with her.

“We fucked. We shared a bed. You’re not going anywhere. We’re married in truth and that’s how it will stay until death do us part. It’s you and me until death, guerrieritta.”

“Just because I came a couple of times…”

“Several times.”

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