Page 59 of Angelo

“You paint a rosy picture.” Mariposa scowled. "Too fucking rosy, I think."

"It won’t be easy, but I must try.”

“I still think you are delusional.”

Elyse wasn’t ready to back down. She felt that Mariposa could help them transform Alessandro's dream into a reality. Something within desperately wished to make a true ally out of the younger woman. After the deaths of Aberto, Orlando, and Soren, she couldn’t afford to let Mariposa turn against them. Elyse needed to convince the girl that the impossiblewaspossible and win her over through respect instead of force.

Together, they could rewrite the rules for everyone who’d been trapped by the mafia. Women like her and Mariposa. Men like her father and Alessandro. Even bitches like Carmen and Cara. All of their lives had been wrecked in one way or another by shitty circumstances that had been out of their control.

Green eyes grew bright as she spoke with renewed determination, "Maybe it wasn’t possible before because there has never been acapolike Alessandro. There have never been many women in power, either. We can do things our way from now on. We’ll invest in new industries while pulling away from others and show our allies that millions can be made in less violent ways."

"Do you truly believe in the impossible?"

Elyse nodded without missing a beat. "I do."

For the first time since Elyse's arrival at the apartment, Mariposa's mouth spread into a sincere smile. She gazed at Elyse with admiration. "Then I want to be fucking delusional as well. Tell me what must be done. I wish to help you make the impossible...possible."

In the background, Monte’s gaze was on Mariposa. A rare smile lifted the edges of his mouth.

After Elyse returned home from Monte's apartment, she looked for her husband in their palazzo. There was much to discuss. She eventually located Alessandro in his study. The door was closed, but she could hear his voice on the other side. It sounded like he was on the phone with someone. Elyse caught the tail end of his conversation as she was about to knock on the door.

"Se necessario, prenderò la caduta." If needed, I will take the fall.

What was he talking about? Elyse frowned slightly. And who was he talking to? She listened for a moment longer, but there was only silence. It seemed Alessandro had ended the call. Elyse knocked on the door.

"Come in," he said.

She opened the door. Alessandro was seated behind his desk in an executive-style leather chair. Once Elyse came within arm's reach, Alessandro drew her to him. His hands flirted down her back, caressing the dip in her waist and the flare of her hips.

"How are you,cuore mio?"her husband murmured.

Her mind lingered on his strange statement as her body reacted to his touch. Elyse felt distracted when she replied, “I’m… fine.”

Elyse wanted to ask Alessandro what he meant about taking the fall, but she wasn't supposed to understand Italian as far her husband was concerned. Not to mention, Elyse didn't want to give away the fact that she had been eavesdropping outside his study. She decided to circle back later and, instead, focus on Mariposa. Elyse went on to fill him in about their meeting. She told Alessandro about Mariposa's reaction to the murders of Aberto, Orlando, and Soren De León. She mentioned Monte's growing attachment to the girl.

Once Elyse finished summarizing the key points, Alessandro's fingers tightened around her waist. Her husband snapped, "You told Mariposa about our plans to legitimize businesses?"

"I did."

"I did not realize you trusted her so much.”

"The reward outweighs the risk. Don't you want her as an ally instead of an enemy?"

Alessandro warned, "This could backfire. We still do not know who set fire tothe church roof, which means everyone is a suspect until the culprit is found."

Elyse hummed in agreement.

He added darkly, "For all we know, Mariposa might be hiding her hatred for us. Just waiting for an opportunity to strike us down. In case you have forgotten, her father and brothers are dead because of Valentina and me."

Again, she understood her husband's reservations. Elyse didn't fully trust Mariposa, either. What she trusted was the girl's instinct for survival and desire to improve her circumstances. Mariposa had been a victim of horrific abuse, and she deserved a better life than the one her family thrust on her. Elyse was willing to take a calculated gamble on Mariposa. She believed it might be possible to protect the girl as they furthered their agenda. Did this make her manipulative and opportunistic?

Probably.

But Elyse also meant every word of what she said in Monte's apartment. Two truths could exist at the same time. It was true that she wanted to shield Mariposa from harm and help the girl find independence. It was also true that she wanted to rewrite the rules of their world. To Elyse, this was what it meant to live honorably in the gray. It was necessary to be self-serving even while performing a righteous act.

She countered, "I trust Mariposa as much as you trusted Valentina when you brought her back from Salemi."

Her husband arched an eyebrow. "I see you are still upset with me."

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