Page 139 of Dex

Rio rubs his hands together.“Bring it on.”

“The old man Paul thinks he’s outplayed everyone.He’s taken fifty-one per cent of Daniela’s father’s company, and he thinks it gives him leverage over me.He thinks I’ll fall in line.”

“True.But you married her, I don’t get how he’s going to keep you in line when you already stepped up and did the thing he wanted.”

Now comes the part I’ve been keeping from him.“He thinks I’m desperate for the money.I get one million dollars for every month I’m married.”

Rio whistles.“What … the …fuck?”

“I know.It’s not why I married her.”

Rio sits back, his arm lazily draped over the chair next to him.“Dude, I know.You’re not about the money.Revenge and spite are more your game.”

“Only, it’s backfired now.I’m not walking out after seven months, or three.”

“The hell you aren’t,” Rio chuckles.

“But we’re getting control of Arminio’s company back.”

Rio sits up.I lay it out for him, everything I know.My father-in-law’s health is failing.Daniela’s desperate.My father’s holding all the cards, and we need to flip things around.

“I want you to make him an offer,” I say.“One he can’t ignore.Something that comes from your side.You, Matteo, and Enzo.”

Rio gives a low whistle.“You want me and my brothers in on it, too?”

“The old man will never see it coming.”

Rio smiles.Broad, wide, confident.“I like it.I pretend I’m swooping in for control?”

“Exactly.The old man naturally assumes we’re all divided.He doesn’t know we’re close.Has no idea that we talk.Hell, he still thinks you’d stab me before you’d ever help me.”

Rio laughs.“He’s not entirely wrong.”

“Are you in?”

“You really love her?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly.“I do.More than I’ve ever loved anyone, brother.”

“This isn’t just a friends-with-benefits type of deal?”

“It was never that,” I say feeling wistful.Daniela was always so much more.

“Then I’m in,” Rio says.“I’ll get Matteo and Enzo on board.”

“Do it now, because we don’t have much time.I told Daniela I need to figure things out, but I know this has hurt her too much, what the old man did to her father, but what her own father did, when he didn’t come clean with her.I know this woman, and family means everything to her.I want to make things right for her.”

“I’m on it.”He slides out his cellphone and calls Matteo.Tells him to bring Enzo with him, since they’re both still in the office.We sit, drinking quietly while we wait.I see the bar’s owner walking by.“Luke!”I raise my arm when I see my friend.

“Congrats, man, I hear you got married,” Luke says to me, before shaking hands with me and Rio.“You didn’t waste any time.”

“I remembered your wise words.Once you meet the right woman, never let her go.”

“Glad you listened.”

I thank him for recommending The Bluebell Manhattan, the place where Daniela and I had our first date.

“Cool.I’m glad you liked it.”

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