Page 73 of Diavolo

"I swear to God," she snapped, "if you die before our wedding—"

"I will not die."

"You aren't invincible."

"Have some faith in your man."

Elyse glared at him. "Ego is blinding your judgment."

"And fear is blinding yours," Alessandro countered readily.

Her heart clenched. He wasn't wrong. She was very afraid. Fear tumbled out of Elyse in a wave of anger and frustration. "I don't know why I care about what happens to you. If you died, I could sell the ring you gave me, buy myself a new identity, and disappear forever."

"Cruel woman," he chided. "You have no heart."

"Stupid man," she grumbled. "You have a death wish."

Alessandro laughed and brushed his lips against hers, muttering in between kisses, "Be a good girl,cuore mio, and go to Sicily. I will meet you there for our wedding in a week or so. I promise."

17

For the rest ofthe night, try as she might, Elyse couldn't convince Alessandro to change his mind about sending her away. Around 3 pm the following day, she boarded Alessandro's private jet with Malina and Monte. The flight from Paris to Palermo lasted two hours. For two long, unsettling hours, Elyse suffered through a cesspool of anxiety about her future husband's safety. She clung to her old mantra.Hope for the best.Was there anything she could do to help Alessandro?Plan for the worst.

More importantly, Elyse needed a backup plan for herself. In case the stupid man's death wish came true. Elyse meant every word of what she said to Alessandro the night before. If he was no longer alive to protect her, she'd have no choice but to sell her ring and use the funds to go into hiding. Even then, escape wouldn't be easy. Once fate was entangled with the mafia, the only way to leave was often in a casket.

Her Graviano blood would become the most difficult and dangerous entanglement to sever. If everything Alessandro said about her grandfather was true, outrunning a powerful mobboss—like Benedetto Graviano—seemed impossible, but she'd certainly disappear for as long as possible. At least, long enough to relocate her father to another medical facility. Away from the Mancinis' eyes and ears. But who knew what the future might bring? If Stefano and his men found them again, Elyse might need to seek out her grandfather for protection. Beggars couldn't be choosers.

She prayed that Alessandro wouldn't die.

As the plane began its descent into Falcone Borsellino Airport, Malina observed, "You seem troubled, Dr. Romero."

Elyse glanced over to the older woman. "I'm fine. Just feeling... tired."

Malina grunted sympathetically. She seemed to see through Elyse's bullshit. "Do not worry.Signor Vitalehas survived far more dangerous crises than the one he faces in Paris."

Like the time he showed up at her doorstep with a gaping bullet wound? Elyse laughed uneasily. "I don't know if that makes me feel any better, but thank you for trying to comfort me."

"Perhaps, you should set aside your concerns aboutSignor Vitale, for now, since there will be pressing matters that require attention once we land in Palermo."

This seized Elyse's full attention. "What do you mean?"

Malina flashed her a fixed smile. "There are rumors."

"Oh, fuck."

"Some people have been questioning whether or not you may be the right matchforSignor Vitale. He is the heir to the Vitale clan, after all."

Irritation pricked her pride. Just how impressive did these people expect Alessandro's wife to be? She was a surgeon for fuck's sake. She was a Graviano as well. Elyse's jaw ticked. "People—like Valentina?"

Her annoyance wasn't directed at Valentina, though. Elyse was upset at something bigger than either of them. Something that made her feel as though she was being yanked back in time. Back to an era where her worth was tied solely to the size of her husband's shadow.

"She is only one of many."

"I see."

In order for others to question her suitability as Alessandro's future wife, they needed to have other more suitable candidates in mind. Right? Elyse cleared her throat. "Malina?"

"Yes, Dr. Romero?"

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