Page 72 of Ruined in Vows

He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Good. A woman belongs in the kitchen. I want a wife who can prepare me home cooked meals.” His lips tug up on one side. “And spread her legs when I demand it.”

The word pig filters through my head, and it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes at his dated views on women. Though, I shouldn’t be surprised to hear it. Riccardo has proven to me with every one of our ‘dates’ that he sees women as something to be seen and not heard. Wallpaper. A trophy. Something he can enjoy breaking. He is a misogynist through and through.

“Have you been busy?” I ask, changing the subject.

He chuckles, the sound sending a shiver down my body. His head tilts to the side and I really don’t like the way he is looking at me. “Business has been good. Recently I have…” he trails off, his lips twisting into a sneer. “Been dealing with a problem that just won’t go away. But it will.” He circles his thumb around the top of his glass and with every word out of his mouth my pulse kicks up further. “That’s the thing with vermin. Sometimes you have to hit them harder than you first thought. Strike them some place where there is no chance of them coming back.” His eyes narrow in on me. I swallow.

Without a doubt in my mind, he is talking about Dante, and the threat is clear.

But I have come too far to crumble now.

Smiling, I speak. “Well, I hope you get your problem solved.” My voice is calm despite the turmoil inside me.

Riccardo nods, a twisted smirk on his vile face when he rumbles out, “I will.”

After that conversation, Riccardo barely spoke or acknowledged me, too busy on his cellphone. I am glad for the reprieve from his attention and choose to busy myself with the lovely food that is brought out to us. By the time Riccardo decides he has had enough, the two longest hours of my life have passed.

We say our goodbyes, and I am glad when Nico takes my arm, leading me away before Riccardo can lean in for the kiss I know he is so desperate for.

When we are safely in the comfort of my brother's SUV, he fires off question after question, but I know there is only one answer he wants.

Turning to Nico, my voice is a whisper when I tell him. “Riccardo has his suspicions. He made several indirect comments and thinly veiled threats. But it all pointed to one thing and without a doubt after tonight, I know he was involved with Dante’s disappearance.”

My brother sighs, his face tired as he runs a hand through his hair. “We have to do everything in our power to keep the fact that Dante is alive quiet. Only a very few of my most trusted soldiers know and that is how we will keep it. I had rats in our organization once before, so who is to say it won’t happen again. Until we find the truth and I can get the commission on board, Dante Vitale stays dead.”

Chapter 44

Dante

“Would you like anything else to eat?” Valentina asks from across the table.

Her smile is soft, but I can see the pity shining in her eyes.

It’s been nearly two hours since Allegra and Nico left for the city. And every minute that passes feels like a lifetime. There is no doubt in my mind that this dinner was orchestrated by Valentina and Ocean to help keep my mind off what is taking place. Though I appreciate the sentiment, there is nothing that could make me forget that the woman I am in love with is currently having dinner with another man.

“No thank you, Valentina. I’m good.” My smile is weak as I push my half-eaten plate of stuffedconchiglioniaway.

“Nico will not let anything happen to his sister,” Ocean murmurs, also throwing me a pitying look.

My smile and voice are tight when I speak. “I know.”

“Allegra told me you have a visit with the brain specialist tomorrow?” Valentina clears her throat, changing the subject.

Half smiling, I nod. “Doctor Baddour. I did some research and he has been awarded many accolades for his work with patients. I don’t want to get my hopes up, Allegra is doingenough of that for the both of us, but I am interested to hear his prognosis.”

Valentina and Ocean smile solemnly.

Valentina’s lips twist up, her eyes glazing. I know she wants to say something, but it’s a question of if she will. When the silence stretches on for a long moment, I begin to think she decided against saying whatever is on her mind, but then she speaks.

“Mia figlia, was a shadow of herself when you died.” Valentina cuts herself off, frowning. “Well, when we believed you to be dead,” she amends. “Not only did I lose a man I thought of as a son. I also believed that I was going to lose my daughter. She was so lost. Haunted. She shut everyone out.” Valentina shudders, blinking away the tears in her eyes, a faraway look crossing her face. She is remembering what I have learned was a very traumatic time. “She was a ghost, walking the halls of this house. I never want her to go back to that. So, everything must work out as we all hope it will. Because I don’t think any of us will survive any other outcome. I will not lose my daughter or you, my son, again.” She finishes reverently despite the tears now rolling down her cheeks.

“Nico was...” Ocean starts only to trail off. She exhales, rolling her eyes, a small smile on her lips. “Well, I know he comes across as this cold, tough guy but he was a mess, when he believed you were dead. It was a hard time for all of us.”

My gaze finds Ocean’s, and I see the honesty in her words. My skin itches, a burn crawling beneath my skin at the intensity suffocating the room with their words. I want to lighten it. So I do.

“Though I don’t remember past Nico, I see how he behaves with you and Romeo. The way he looks at you,” I shake my head, the corner of my mouth lifting. “Something tells me he has softened. Either with age or having you around.”

Ocean and Valentina chuckle, but it’s the former that answers. “After I ran, I spent time in Charleston. I didn’t know I was pregnant when I left. I know you don’t recall the night that he found me and Romeo. But I will say that he has come a long way since then.”

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