Page 92 of That's Amore

“Wow! They…wow…look pretty damning.” She studied me carefully. “So…you’re not angry?”

“Hell to the yes, I am. But not with Dante. I’m pissed with that bitch Lucia.”

I couldn’t believe she’d done this.

She was pissed that Dante had removed her from his business and his life, livid that she had lost access, power, and, most importantly, relevance.

“I’m going to see Dante,” I announced.

I called him as I walked to the metro. “Where are you?”

“I was going to call you,bella mia, I?—”

“Where are you?”

I heard him sigh. “I’m at the Palazzo.”

“Meet me at the flat,” I told him and hung up, too angry to speak coherently.

I got to the flat first, and by the time Dante walked in, I was fuming. He looked exhausted and…scared?

I didn’t move from where I stood, arms crossed, waiting. Not for an explanation—I didn’t need one.

He dropped his wallet on the console by the door and dragged a hand through his hair. "Elysa." My name was a question and a request to not lose my shit.

I lifted a brow. "So, Lucia’s gone full psycho. That must be fun for you."

“No, it’s not fun, Elysa.” He walked toward me like he was approaching a wild animal. “I know you’re angry, but hear me out, okay? I didn’t?—"

“Oh, I’m livid,” I snapped.

“I never did any of those things they wrote about. You have to believe me,” he pleaded.

“What?” I asked confused. “I’m not angry with you, and of course, you didn’t do any of those things. I’m furious with Lucia.”

Relief flickered across his face. He grabbed me and kissed me soundly. “Fuck!” He muttered between kisses. “Fuck! I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Because of some dumb photographs?” I gaped at him, and then, because I knew he needed it, I smirked. “No, you have to say that being with me isn’t enough, and that you think someone else would be a more fitting wife… then you lose me.”

He sighed. “I’m so relieved.”

“We made a deal, didn’t we? That we’d communicate?” I cupped his face and went on tiptoe to kiss his lips.

“Yes, we did.”

I dragged him to the couch, and he slumped like he had no energy left.

“I should have seen it coming. I should have shut this down before?—”

“You did shut it down,” I cut him off. “You fired her. You did everything right. And now she’s out for blood because you wouldn’t give her what she wanted."

Dante exhaled sharply, standing up again to pace the room. “The press is eating this up. The board is nervous, and Pippa?—”

“What’s the plan to bury her?” I demanded.

His head snapped up. "What?"

I lifted my chin. "She wants attention, right? Let's make sure the only headlines she gets are about how bitter and pathetic she is."

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