Page 146 of Empire of Temptation

He wasn’t telling me anything I hadn’t already figured out. And with Rossi now out of the way, I had the chance to lead in southern Calabria. It was perfect. A few days in prison was worth taking the regional crown for my family. “I’m grateful. You could’ve been petty, considering our history.” Me, fucking his wife.

After another bite of his sandwich, he said, “She was trying to get my attention. We’d been drifting apart after our daughter’s death. It was grief that made her seek you out. I don’t blame her—or you.”

I couldn’t resist taking a jab. “Are you saying that I saved your marriage?”

“No, stronzo. We divorced.”

“Then why did you hit me?”

The edge of his mouth curled devilishly. “Because that is the least of what you deserve. Also, it made your arrest more believable.”

“It hurt like fuck.”

“Good.” He chewed for a few moments. “I am resigning.”

My head snapped over. “This is a mistake.”

“It’s done. I can’t pretend to uphold the law after this.”

Foolish, these “upstanding” men who think they are above the violence and pain of my world. “Do you think you are the first officer to break the law? If so, I have a long list of names to show you. And Rossi was a piece of shit.”

“I know, but here—” he put his hand on his heart “—is telling me I can’t go on as before. I want peace and I’ll never find it in this job. Mostly thanks to men like you.”

“Well, I won’t be resigning.”

“Which is why I must. I would hate to have to kill you, Benetti.”

As if he could. “So what will you do?”

“Travel. Stay in a little house near the ocean. Sleep late. Drink wine.” He crumpled up the sandwich paper in his fist. “I plan to enjoy the rest of the time I have on this earth. You should try it.”

I stared unseeingly at the parking lot, the rows of cars blurring together, as I absorbed these words. “What makes you think I’m not?”

“Because I know more about your life than you can imagine. You stayed much longer in New York than necessary because of her. And even as badly you treated her in New York, she still bargained for your freedom. She came here to fight for you.”

My stomach cramped at the idea of Valentina inside this prison,meeting with Palmieri. What had she been thinking? “Why do you assume I treated her badly?”

“Because she’s angry. There were no tears, no heartfelt pleas on your behalf. She was cool and logical, never bemoaning your innocence. And when I warned her about you, she looked annoyed instead of defiant.”

“And what was this warning?”

“That your world swallows women whole.”

It wasn’t wrong, but I wouldn’t do that. As long as Val remained on the compound, she could do as she wished. The house was well-fortified and luxurious. Who wouldn’t want to live there? And we would be safe there together. I was nearly salivating at having her so close all the time. Fucking on my bed, in my office. Out by the pool. In the woods. There was no limit to the places I would have her on my estate.

I stood and brushed the crumbs from my chest. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rising, he chuckled, but it was dry. “Yeah, sure. You’ll probably fuck it up anyway. Men like us aren’t meant for relationships.” He started toward the bin and tossed the paper in it. “Have a nice life, Benetti.”

Valentina

Italians knew how to live well.

Sitting on the warm stone, I dangled my feet in the cool water of Luca’s infinity pool. The view from up here was spectacular. The countryside stretched out around and below the house, with the sea sparkling in the distance. Hot pink outdoor chaises edged the pool in front of reflective glass windows, while flowers and plants lined the terrace. It was a Mediterranean paradise under bright sunshine, andthe whole scene made me crave a mai tai. Any drink with an umbrella, actually.

I heard a door slide open and footsteps scuffed on the smooth stone. I assumed it was Gabi, as he was the only Benetti currently speaking to me, so I turned my face toward the sun. “Hey, Gabi,” I greeted.

“Not quite,” a deep voice said. “Here.”

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