Page 78 of Not Mine to Keep

“So she didn’t cheat on him while he cheated on his wife?” I couldn’t help but blurt.

“I know you must think she chose him over you, but she was clearly trying to save you from being raised as a DiMaggio.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. Aren’t you supposed to be on his side, not mine?” Of course, Leo had been nothing but nice to me since day one, but like Gabriel, he worked for Armani, so I couldn’t fully give him my trust.

“I can see why Gabriel chose Alessandro for you.” That wasn’t an answer to my question. Well, not exactly. It did feel like a cryptic message, though.

“What do you mean?”

“You think I’m anidiota?” The third smile was the charm. The most genuine from him that time. “I know a sexually frustrated man when I see one. You two haven’t consummated the marriage.” Before I could protest and lie, he lifted a hand. “I won’t tell anyone. I’m loyal to the code of the DiMaggio family, and that means not hurting a woman. It’s obvious Gabriel chose Alessandro because he knew he’d never touch you against your wishes. And you must not want him to, because he’s walking around like a ticking time bomb.”

I stared at him, tongue-tied and shocked. “What are you ... What do you want?” Everyone wanted something in this game we were playing, which was starting to feel more like Russian roulette with every day that passed.

“I think we want the same thing,” is all he said before winking, then he left me alone, and I had to assume—tohope—that meant he was somehow on my side in all this. An unlikely ally when the time came.

I grabbed my phone from the desk at the memory I promised Braden I was coming to Nashville, and maybe waiting until tomorrow to confront Alessandro was a bad idea. I needed to do it now while I had the nerve.

No clue where he was so late at night, I called him up to track him down, but I didn’t expect a breathless, “Are you okay?” from him when he picked up.

“What are you doing?”Oh God ... orwhoare you doing?

“I’m in the middle of something,” he said in a clipped tone. “What do you need?”

“To talk,” I rushed out, hating the snap of jealousy popping through me, visions of some woman naked beneath him in my mind now.

“I can’t. Not now. I’m busy.”

Oh, I bet.“Where are you?”

“At work.”

Liar.

“I’m going to ask again, are you okay?” he asked steadily.

“Yes.”

“Then I have to go.” The call ended, and I lowered the phone, anger lighting a hot path through my body, feeling like I was being cheated on all over again, which was absurd. The marriage was ... still technically real, dammit. And so was the pain in my stomach at thinking about him with another woman.

“Leo,” I called out, already on my way to the door. “I need you to take me to my husband. Now.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Calliope

“What are you doing here?” Hudson asked, eyes scanning the three men behind me on the stoop of the gorgeous home. According to Alessandro’s head of security, the home was now the location for the Costa’s security firm, though.

“I need to talk to Alessandro. Are you going to let me in or have me freeze out here?” Okay, it may have been June, but it was only fifty out, and I’d been in such a rush I’d forgotten a jacket and was only in a T-shirt and leggings. My anger should’ve been heating me up just fine, though. I’d been delusional to think the playboy could go a whole month without sex. Hell, we’d been married a little over a week, and he’d already given in to temptation.

Breathless, tense, and refusing to talk to me on the phone ... What else could he have been doing other than having sex?

“This is a bad time.” Hudson frowned, shooting me what appeared to be an apologetic look, because he was about to send me away, wasn’t he? “You need to take her back home.” He angled his head as a directive to Alessandro’s head security detail, now at my left.

But my absurd jealousy kept me from budging, even at the feel of a hand on my arm, urging me to back away. “I need to see my husband.” Tell him I finally did hate him, especially for making me feel something for him even when he’d kept his distance all week to try and prevent that.

“Not right now.” Hudson remained in the doorway, keeping the door propped open with his shoulder, blocking my path. “I’m sorry. But no.”

Damn the sting of tears. I wanted to be tough, not a hot mess. “Please,” I begged. “I’m going to Nashville tomorrow, so if you don’t think he’d like to know I’m leaving, then you—”

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