Page 76 of Wicked Rivals

“You’ll be ruined, Benedetta,” I said. “I can do many things, but I can’t stop the rumors. It doesn’t matter what reason I give, rumors will circulate.”

“I'd rather that than hurt the amazing little boy I just met downstairs. Yes, it’ll be hard. No doubt. But I'm sure my father can quickly make another match. It won’t be nearly as lucrative, of course, but it’ll be something.

“Who knows? Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe I’ll end up with someone from the old country and move to some beautiful vineyard for the rest of my life and have a dozen children.”

She couldn’t fool me. I could see the sadness in her eyes. We both knew that wouldn’t happen. She would be lucky to end up with the third son of a second-rate family.

Why would she ruin her own life for my son?

“Are you sure, Benedetta?”

She was giving up a lot to keep Enzo safe. Me too. If our marriage contract ended, I would lose her father's men and his fortune and my chance to gain more strength than the Commission had.

Christ, I’d just met the kid. It made no sense for me to be so willing, not given my history.

But I was willing. For my son, my flesh and blood.

Benedetta got up, pressed her hands down along her dress.

“I’m sure. It’s settled. I’ll leave you to handle the details and get back to your manhunt.”

She went to the door but paused with her delicate fingers resting on the handle before turning back to me.

“Please speak to my father and make the announcement right away. At the very least, you can save me the added humiliation of being left at the altar.”

I nodded, holding her gaze.

“Of course. If there’s anything else I can do to ease the situation for you, don’t hesitate to ask.”

She returned the nod and then Benedetta Capaldo walked out of my office and likely out of my life for good.

After she’d gone, Tony knocked on the open door.

“Come in and shut the door behind you, Tony. Do you have something?”

“Not enough, boss, not yet. But now I can prove Benedetta isn’t part of this.”

“So prove it.”

He bobbed his head up and down while placing a new phone on my desk.

“Phone is charged. Data transferred. And as for your fiancée, well, she was out of town until about two hours ago. We confirmed using her credit card records. I applied pressure on her maid, and she swore it too.

“Don Capaldo’s and his captains’ whereabouts are also accounted for. The Capaldo family is clear. And their staff.”

I’d already come to the same conclusion during my conversation with Benedetta, but having proof never hurt.

“Check out every member of the Commission again,” I ordered. “Dig deeper into their finances this time. You’ll need a professional hacker, so call in a favor from Hastings.”

“You mean the British guy from Wall Street?”

I nodded. “That’s right. I granted him access to one of my buildings… he owes me.”

“Got it, boss. I’ll get right on it.”

When I didn’t offer further instructions, Tony tore out of my study, leaving me alone to think.

I moved to my desk, forcing myself to block the memory of Val lying on top, and focused on what needed to be done.

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