Page 7 of Blood and Penance
She smiles and nods. “Yeah, but that’s not enough. I wish I could be here to see them grow up.”
I let out a sigh as the weight of the moment settles on both our shoulders. These are her last days. She might not be here in a few hours, a few days, or a few weeks. Only God knows the time, but we all know it’s coming soon.
“I wish you could be here to see it too.” I stand from my seat, lean forward, and kiss her on the forehead before pulling away. “But you’ll watch over us.”
“Not even hell could stop me.”
I let out a deep laugh and wipe away the first tear that falls from my eyes. “I love you, Mama.”
Her teary gaze softens. “I love you too, Gianni. Never forget that. No matter what happens after I’m no longer here, remember I’m always with you.”
Chapter Four
Phoenix
Nervous energy runs through my entire body as I grab the burner phone from under the bathroom counter and stuff it inside the pocket of my robe. It’s now or never. The last of the guests left more than an hour ago and I have no doubt Lio is trashed. He always drinks a little more after our gatherings. It wouldn’t even surprise me if he’s having his fuck fest with the Italian model as we speak.
Do I have a surprise for them.
“You got this,” I say to myself trying to give myself a little pep talk before I do this. If this works, I’m free. If not, I’m dead.
After checking myself in the mirror one last time, I open the door and of course Georgio is standing right there waiting when I step out. He’s the main reason for the outfit I’m wearing. I hope it works.
I roll my eyes. “Do you ever fucking sleep?” I ask as I stroll pass him toward the giant staircase.
I feel his eyes on me as he chuckles. “I can ask the same about you. Where are you going?”
“The last I heard this is my house, Georgio. I don’t need to tell you shit,” I say as I make my way down to the first floor. “But if you must know, I’m going to go fuck my husband. It's been a while and I'm horny.”
“I don’t… Mrs. D’Amico,” he stammers. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
When I reach the bottom of the staircase, I face Georgio with my hands on my hips and his eyes land on my robe that I’ve left open at the top so he can see some of my cleavage.
“And why is that Georgio?”
“Umm,” he stutters before his eyes land back on my face. “Boss is in his office.”
I know what that means but I want to see if he’ll say it.
“And?” I arch my brow. “It’s where he spends most of his time, Georgio.”
I’ve never seen Georgio so flustered in my life. It’s the truth, Lio is always in his office. If he’s not in there discussing business, he’s in there screwing someone. And at this time of night, both me and Georgio know which one he’s doing.
He sighs and pauses for a moment like he needs to get his words together. “And he’s not in there alone.”
I don’t know why people believe I’m so clueless about what my husband does. I’m not some docile woman, who doesn’t know the signs of a cheating bastard. Even the wives and girlfriends of his associates believe I’m just so naïve that I don’t know my husband is running around on me. I don’t know how many conversations I’ve walked in on where someone’s talking about my husband’s latest conquest. But I’ve just turned a blind eye to it because I don’t give a damn what Lio does, or who he does it with. He can fuck his way through the entire European continent for all I care.
“I know, Georgio. I’m going to join the fun.”
I wink at him, and I know I’ve shocked the hell out of him because his eyes got as big as saucers. I can’t help but smile at the dumbass look on his face. “Would you like to join, too?”
“Wh…What?”
"I said would you like to join?" I trail my manicured nail down his chest, his breath hitches, and his anticipation is more intense as I move closer. I rise on my tiptoes. “I can make it worth your while,” I whisper in his ear. “Or better yet, meet me in my room, and as soon as I’m done, I’m all yours.”
I lick the shell of his ear for added effect, and his body shudders.
“Fuck me,” he mutters under his breath.
