Page 71 of Brutal Husband

I type the password into Luca’s computer and start trawling back through Luca’s emails and bank account records. I write down names that appear over and over and search for their phone numbers. I’ve bought a burner phone, and I start making calls.

When Luca’s former business associates answer, all I say is, “It’s Nero Lombardi. I’m back.”

I let them exclaim and ask where I’ve been. I say firmly that I can’t tell them anything right now, followed by, “I want to get back to business.”

And then I let them talk, trying to figure out from context what they and my brother were up to. I make notes about each person. I skim email chains for keywords and other names while they speak, hunting clues about the illegal activities they’reinvolved in. A few of the contacts are cagey, which makes me suspicious, but I discover nothing promising.

What was the name that Rieta mentioned? Costa. I can’t find any emails or bank account transactions with that name. Costa met Harriet, so I’m not giving up so easily.

I start calling everyone back. “I need to talk to Costa. Do you have his number?”

No one knows who I’m talking about. I call every number with increasing frustration until finally someone replies, “Do you mean Andrew Costa?”

“Obviously,” I snap, channeling my brother’s impatience, which is coming easily to me right now. “Give me his number.”

I write the number onto my notepad, and hang up without saying goodbye. It must be the same Costa. For a moment, I just stare at the number. The other calls were just a warm-up. This one feels like the real thing.

I take a deep breath and make the call. When a man answers, I say, “It’s Nero Lombardi. I’m back.”

Instantly, Andrew Costa is suspicious. “Why are you calling me from a different number?”

“I lost my phone.”

“How did you get this number?”

“It doesn’t matter. Listen. I want to get back to business.”

There’s a beat of silence, and I realize I’m sweating. I think I’ve found the person who can unlock my brother’s secrets, but maybe he’s going to hang up the call and hold on to what he knows.

When Costa speaks again, there’s a smile in his voice. “I was hoping you’d say that. Can we meet?”

“Will this do?”

I’ve been waiting at the bottom of the stairs for twenty minutes for Rieta to appear. I haven’t felt so tense since I watched my wife from the shadows as she dug up my brother’s body.

Rieta is descending the stairs toward me, and I’m transported back to our wedding day. The world faded away and breath was stolen from my lungs as I saw my bride walking down the aisle toward me. All I wanted was for Rieta to give herself to me and then guard her jealously.

Tonight she’s wearing a tight-fitting black lace dress that ends just above her knees. On her legs are sheer black stockings, and she wears stiletto heels. Clutched in one hand is a small bag. She stops on the bottom step, and we’re nearly at eye level. Her lashes are luxuriously thick and dark as she flicks an uncertain glance at me. “You looked at me this way on our wedding day as I walked down the aisle toward you.”

Stunned speechless with adoration? I can believe it. “You no longer doubt that it was me?”

She shakes her head. “Luca could never manage an expression like the one you’re wearing. I keep marveling that there were two of you, and I didn’t realize. I should have guessed because of how different you were.”

“Sometimes I tried to be cold like Luca, but it never stuck for very long.” I caress her cheek with my knuckles.

Rieta’s eyes flutter closed, and she angles her head toward my hand. “If Luca had ever pretended to be you, I would have known right away. Nothing feels like the way you touch me.”

Then she really did know the difference between me and Luca. I’m the man who wants her. I’m the man who fell for her. I’m the man who would doanythingfor her.

Rieta opens her eyes and gazes up at me. A small, confused line appears between her brows, and she steps back. “I mean, um—anyway, are you going to tell me why I have to be dressed this way?”

“You’ll find out. If what you see tonight upsets you, don’t worry about trying to hide it. Just keep quiet and stay close to me.”

“Why even bring me along if I can’t do anything or say anything?”

“I didn’t say you have to keep your mouth shut the whole night. Are you coming?”

Curiosity getting the better of her, she follows me out to my car. “What does that mean?”

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