Page 78 of Diavolo

"No."

"Alessandro has always been a man with impossible standards. I am surprised that he is willing to overlook your shortcomings."

Elyse struggled to keep the smile on her face. "I guess he's very forgiving with me."

Cara's gaze then shifted toward Elyse's ring. The magnificent diamond sparkled brilliantly under the light of the chandeliers. Instantly, the auburn-tressed beauty's pleasant demeanor seemed to waver. Hostility flashed in Cara's eyes even while her voice remained airy and sweet. "HowhappyI am for you both, then, Dr. Romero. Let me be the first to offer my congratulations on yourwhirlwindromance with Alessandro."

Elyse chose to ignore the sharp edges in Cara's tone and nodded graciously. "That's very kind of you. I appreciate it."

Cara cleared her throat. "Although..."

"Yes?"

Cara leaned toward Elyse and dropped her voice. "Between you and me, woman to woman, I must admit, I wasshockedby your engagement."

Elyse eyed her coolly. "People get married all the time. There's nothing shocking about engagements."

The redhead smirked. "That may be true. But your engagement to Alessandroisshocking because no one believed he would ever get married. Some men lovewomentoo much to settle forjust one. If you know what I mean?"

Elyse laughed, "Oh, yes. I'm aware of Alessandro's effect on women. He obviously had an effect on me."

Mariposa's eyes narrowed sharply. "You do not mind that your future husband possesses a wandering eye?"

"If another woman can steal him," Elyse countered with a steady smile, "he was never mine to begin with. I choose to place my faith in Alessandro."

As the words left her mouth, however, Elyse grimaced internally. Her bold declaration carried far more confidence than she felt. Darkly, Elyse wondered if Alessandro would ever cheat on her. She wondered if he was cheating on her right now with a certain blue-eyed blonde in Paris.

Cara seemed to pick up on Elyse's blip of uncertainty. She snickered. "Dr. Romero, your faith is admirable. Butmisplaced. I have known Alessandro longer than you, and I cannot remember a time when any woman captured his interest for more than a few months.Except for me. I kept him under my spell for almost two years before we parted ways."

Two years? Elyse's heart clenched uncomfortably, but she managed to reply in cool, detached tones, "I appreciate your concern. But people change as they age. I'm sure my fiancé is wiser now than when he was with you."

Mariposa rolled her eyes at Elyse. "Puttana!Cara has always been the love of Alessandro's life. Everyone knows that."

Cara preened like a peacock.

Monte stepped forward, glaring at Mariposa."Chiedi scusa. Adesso!"

Mariposa mumbled a half-assed apology in Elyse's direction, "Sorry."

During this time, Mrs. Vitale had been silently watching from the sidelines like a bloodthirsty spectator before three female gladiators who had been shoved into the colosseum together. She finally spoke up, "Monte is right, Mariposa! You must watch your tongue. My dearElisaand I will be family soon. I insist that you treat her like one of our own."

Whether Mrs. Vitale's misuse of her name was intentional or accidental, Elyse saw right through her future stepmother-in-law's warm welcome. Malina coughed,loudly, behind them. The housekeeper seemed to feel the same way. It was becoming apparent to Elyse that her future mother-in-law had probablyinvited all of them here tonight so they could tear each other apart.

Mrs. Vitale then turned to Elyse and gestured at the empty seat across from her. "Please. Join us."

Reluctantly, Elyse took a seat at the table. Playing cards and poker chips were scattered before her across the burgundy felt-lined surface.

Mariposa glowered in Elyse's direction. "Do you even know how to play?"

Elyse smiled faintly, giving nothing away. "I'm familiar with card games. I played when I was younger."

Ever since Elyse had been old enough to stay in a motel room alone, her father dragged her all over the country to attend one poker tournament after another. They often practiced together during his downtime.

Discreetly, Elyse took a few seconds to scan the placement of the cards and chips on the table. The women appeared to be playing no-limit hold 'em. From the size of their winnings, Mrs. Vitale appeared to be ahead out of the three ladies. She possessed the most chips while Mariposa presided over the smallest pile.

Elyse wondered if the other two women were losingon purposeout of fear and respect for Mrs. Vitale, or losingon accidentdue to lack of skill. A bitch could learn a lot about her enemies in a few hands of poker. If she knew what to do and what to look for.

A new hand was dealt. The women began to play. Round after round, Elyse hustled them, purposely betting and losing small increments of her chips, to boost the other players' confidence and inflate their egos. Elyse played in the way her father had taught her, to keep herself in the game, to win just enough to stay ahead of the loser, until the timing was ripe for the kill. Sheused this time to read the other women, observe the ways their emotions shifted in each round, and decipher their reactions.

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