Page 85 of Angelo

Her mind whipped toward Valentina's future husband. Fucking Gaspare! With one ill-timed bullet, he'd foiled everyone's carefully laid-out schemes. It would've been a stroke of genius if he hadn't then proceeded to stand by and watch, like a slack-jawed, useless coward, while his father and brothers got slaughtered one by one.

At the thought of Valentina, more questions entered her mind. How did Valentina find out about Carlo's plans? Had the blonde beauty been secretly allied with them as well? She knew enough to successfully locate Father Boselli in that motel room. Was the blonde working with Carlo Moretti? Until the evidence proved otherwise, Elyse decided that Valentina was guilty until proven innocent.

She demanded, "Did Valentina Rizzo know about Carlo's plans?"

"I do not think so," the priest answered, "at least, her name was never brought up in my conversations with Carlo. I know Domenico Berlusconi, however, wasprobably working with him."

"Interesting."

Father Boselli revealed, "I overheard Carlo arguing with Domenico on the phone once or twice during our meetings. The two seemed to have a strained partnership."

She didn't doubt the priest's assessment of Domenico and Carlo's relationship. Domenico hadn't hesitated to shoot Carlo in cold blood during their heated quarrel at the funeral.

By the end of her discussion with Father Boselli, she’d learned enough to investigate on her own. Elyse intended to confirm Father Boselli's side of the story with a few more sources. Then, she could plan the next move with Alessandro.

She returned to the palazzo and met with Alessandro to update him on her findings. They retreated to his study to speak in private. Elyse spilled everything, "The Morettis are the ones who have been threatening Father Boselli…"

Her husband listened aptly to her every word.

Once Elyse finished her report regarding the priest, she inquired, "Do you think Valentina is still on our side after everything I have told you?”

“I do not know,cuore mio.”

“She seems to be very in tune with Carlo's every move.”

Alessandro drew her closer to plant a worried kiss on top of her head, "Let us deal with Valentina after we settle matters with Father Boselli and the Morettis."

Elyse sighed, "Don't forget about Carmen. She'll be back in our lives soon. Thanks to Valentina."

Alessandro's expression tightened with agitation. "Just thinking about my stepmother is already giving me a fucking headache."

The date for Valentina and Gaspare's wedding had been set. The wretched affair would take place in three months. Carmen was already finding reasons to stir shit up.It is downright disrespectful, she had fussed and screeched,to have a wedding so soon after Vincenzo's funeral!

Over the next week, husband and wife worked together to inspect Father Boselli's claims. When the truth was verified by Alessandro's men, they moved the priest to a secure and secret location—away from the Moretti clan—and evidence of the younger Carlo Moretti's involvement in his clan's criminal activities was added to their hit list.

In time, Carlo would be turned into the authorities through Gaspare. Along with everyone else who posed a threat to them. Whether or not Valentina'sname needed to be added to that incriminating list was what Elyse intended to determine next. She began to view these individuals as obstacles that needed to be removed—

It took Elyse a minute to catch herself.Dios, she was beginning to sound like a fucking Bond villain. The thought sent trickles of unease through her conscience.

Alessandro had called it.

The threat to their lives would never end as long they remained in the mafia. If the two of them continued down this path ascapoand thecapo'swife, they might be able to hold onto their honor in this gray for a few years, but, in order to stay a step ahead of the game and outplay their enemies on this deadly chessboard, it'd only a matter of time before they lost themselves in the darkness.

This inevitable tragedy wasn't the future Elyse envisioned for them at all. Their love was too precious to be tainted by evil. Alessandro was insistent on moving forward with his dangerous scheme, and, despite the risks, Elyse suddenly found herself entirely on board. The way forward felt perilous but absolutely necessary. She desperately wanted to believe that love could conquer all.

Later that evening, in the dark of their bedroom, Elyse felt her husband turn toward her on the mattress. Sheets whispered between them. Alessandro sidled up behind her, becoming the big spoon to her little spoon, as his arms came around her.

He sighed in contentment, "I still cannot believe you came back to me."

Elyse clasped one of his hands, lifted it to her lips, and kissed each of his fingertips and knuckles with all the tenderness she kept in her heart for him.

She whispered, "I'll always come back to you, Alessio."

Nuzzling her neck, Alessandro crushed her possessively to his chest. "You,cuore mio, make this madness worthwhile."

She felt the same way about him. A small smile graced her face as Elyse tucked her rear against his crotch. Alessandro grunted quietly as he ground himself against the rounded curves of her ass. With every push and prod, his cock grew hard and harder still. Elyse reached behind to take his shaft in hand. Her fingerswrapped around him lightly, jerking him off in a loose yet pleasurable hold.

When she had stirred her husband's arousal to the brink of release, Elyse flipped her body around and hastened downward to take him in her mouth. His fingers tangled in her hair while he began to thrust in earnest. She finished him off with the wet suctioning warmth of her lips, her tongue, her cheeks.

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