Page 14 of United Reign (Valentino Empire 3)

“I came to thank you. Papa told me what you did. That you heard what they were planning for my Izzy.”

“You don’t need to thank me for that, Angelica. I would have done the same for anyone,” I grunt out, my rage simmering beneath the surface, imagining what could have happened to the little girl.

“She’s all I have, Theo. So, I am thanking you, because if anything had happened to her, I don’t know that I could survive that.”

“How old are you anyway?” I wondered this last night. Did Donatello already have a family before he and my mother did whatever it was they did?

“Twenty-five. Why?”

Well, at least she’s four years younger than me. It does feel a little better to know my mother wasn’t involved with a married man with children. Although, for all I know, Donatello could have been married to Angelica’s mother. I run the math over in my head. Isabella said she was eight. If Angelica is twenty-five, she would have had to have been seventeen when she had the girl. Who the fuck knocked her up when she was so young?

“Who’s Isabella’s father?” I ask, not sure that it’s any of my business, but I’m going to make it so.

Angelica looks taken aback by my question. “It doesn’t matter. He’s not around.”

“It does matter. Why isn’t he around?” I’m getting more and more pissed off that she was left to raise a child on her own, when she was a fucking child herself.

“What do you think happened to the guy who impregnated Al Donatello’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Theo?”

“I’d like to think he ended up with a fucking bullet between his eyes,” I grunt.

“Exactly. Which is why he’s no longer in the picture.”

I look into her eyes. I can’t tell if she’s sad about his absence, or relieved. “Were you in love with him?” I ask, though I’m not convinced a sixteen-year-old could really be in love in the first place. I’m nearly thirty and I’ve only just discovered what it feels like.

“I was in love with the idea of him. Not necessarily the man himself. He made me feel special. Like I wasn’t just an object to use for my connections. I wanted to matter to someone. He didn’t know who I was. I lied and gave him a fake name. I only knew him for three months.”

“You do matter to people, Angelica,” I say, wanting to offer her whatever comfort I can. I stand. “I’ve got to go and meet my wife. But stay. Make yourself at home.”

Walking down the hall, I find Lucas, one of the guards. “That girl is my sister. She’s off-limits to everyone. Spread the word. Also, get five men ready to follow me.”

“Sure, boss,” he answers, without questioning me further, then speaks into the mic piece in his ear. I head to the garage and smile as I note the only empty parking spot. Of course, Holly took that one.

My old man was a car enthusiast; it seems my wife is too.

ChapterTen

Ipull up the tree-lined driveway of the address the agent texted me. He said he would meet us here. I’m stunned by the picturesque scenery. I thought T’s parent’s house was impressive. I mean, it is impressive, but this… this is something else altogether. It’s taken about forty-five minutes to get out here from the city. I wonder if that’s too far away for Theo? The private entrance circles around a huge water feature. I stop behind a car that’s parked near the stairs.

“Damn, Hol, this is one hell of a house,” Neo mumbles as he exits from the passenger side.

“It’s too much, isn’t it? Do you think it’s too far? It seems quiet out here,” I observe as I look around the perfectly manicured grounds.

“Because it is fucking quiet. This is the definition of suburbia.” He shudders, like the idea of living in a family neighborhood creeps him out.

“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t have to live here,” I sass.

“Are you kidding? With all the bored MILFs out here, you won’t be able to get rid of me. Oh! We can do lunch at the country club and all.”

“Hard pass. Come on, let’s look inside.” The door opens as I’m halfway up the stairs, and a wiry blond man stands there with a polite smile as he assesses me. Do I look like I can’t afford this house? Wait,canI afford this house? I have no idea how much a place like this even costs. Judging from the lease on my tiny apartment, I can only assume that this house is way out of my league. But I’m not about to let this real estate agent best me. I straighten my shoulders and continue up the stairs with Neo right behind me.

“Holly? Hi, I’m Mark.”

“Mrs. Valentino,” I correct. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I hold out my hand. Neo chuckles into a cough behind me, and I throw a slight elbow back at him.

“Right, Mrs. Valentino. Come in, let me show you around. As you can see, no expense has been spared on this property. There’re seventeen bedrooms, eighteen bathrooms, a guest house, and a pool house behind the main house.”

What does anyone need that many rooms for? I crane my neck to survey the massive open foyer. There’s a staircase on each side, which meet at a balcony at the top. The floors are white and black marble. There’s so much opulence… and we’ve only just entered the house. I don’t know what Gloria told this guy, but I think he may have the wrong idea when it comes to what Theo and I actually need.

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