Page 76 of Diavolo

He reminded her, "You are safer in Palermo."

"I'm worried about you," she whispered.

"I will be back soon," he promised, "for our wedding day. And our wedding…night."

Elyse flushed as a slew of naughty images emerged in her head. Him on their bed. Her on their bed. Her legs wrapped around his hips as he—

His husky voice broke through her fantasies in the same moment, "What are you wearing?"

Alessandro had clearly fallen into a similar frame of mind. Elyse glanced down at her gray hoodie and black yoga pants.She had chosen to dress comfortably for the flight. Her nose wrinkled. "Nothing that would interest you."

He laughed wickedly. "You are right. I am much more interested in what lies underneath."

Elyse's heart skipped a beat. "Behave, sir."

"Never,wife."

Wife.

Her heart skipped again. Alessandro's flirtations were fast becoming impossible to resist. Elyse wanted to get a grip on her foolish, fluttering emotions before they spun out of control. Then, she heard Luca's voice in the background of their call. Luca was speaking in Italian. Elyse struggled to understand him, but his tone sounded urgent. Alessandro sighed into the phone, "I must go now."

"Go then," she prompted despite the fear in her heart.

"We will be together soon," he promised again. "I... miss you. So much."

Alessandro hung up before Elyse could utter another word, and her heart began to pound for an entirely different reason. What the hell was he about to do with Luca? With an agitated sigh of her own, Elyse dragged herself into the shower and tried not to fixate on the likelihood that Alessandro might be in danger. After washing up, she passed the time by sorting through her luggage. The temptation to call Alessandro was strong. Elyse wanted to check up on him, but she was also afraid of distracting him when he needed to focus on staying alive.

Around this time, Malina reappeared at Elyse's doorway with a slightly pinched, worried expression. "Dr. Romero?"

Elyse turned toward her. "Yes, Malina?"

"You have been invited bySignora Carmen Vitaleto attend a small gathering at her villa this evening."

Her eyebrows rose. "Who is she?"

The housekeeper grimaced. "Signora VitaleisSignorina Rizzo'smother. She is alsoSignore Vitale'sstepmother."

"I see."

"I did not think that she would come calling so soon. Would you like me to decline her invitation?"

Judging from the strained tone in Malina's voice, it felt safe to conclude that Carmen Vitale would be as troublesome as her daughter, and, unfortunately, Alessandro was in Paris at the moment. She'd have to deal with this shit alone. Elyse frowned. What kind of person was Carmen Vitale? Did the woman care for Alessandro's father? Or was she working against the elder Mr. Vitale, biding her time, and waiting for him to wither away from cancer? Elyse intended to find out.

"Please tell Mrs. Vitale that I look forward to joining her this evening," she responded calmly.

Hesitation flickered across Malina's rounded face. "Are you certain that you feel up to it?"

Elyse sensed there was probably a reason for the older woman's reluctance. Malina confessed, "Mariposa De León and Cara Berlusconi received invitations as well."

Elyse cursed silently. "That's fine. Will Valentina be there?"

Malina shook her head. "No, she is still in Paris."

Elyse's mood darkened slightly. "I see."

Was Valentina with Alessandro? A petty, disgruntled part of Elyse wonderedwhyher husband-to-be allowed hisstepsisterto stay in Paris but nother.

Malina eyed her anxiously. "Dr. Romero? Are you alright?"

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