Page 129 of Immoral

He pins his eyebrows together. His face hardens, and he asks, "What did he do to you?"

"I told you."

"No. Something I did just freaked you out. I want to know what caused your reaction."

I close my eyes, breathing through the vision of Uberto touching me. I'm lucky. I know I am. It could have been so much worse. And I hate how I'm acting weak right now. The auction stage represented just as much danger, yet I didn't react like this. I whisper, "He dragged his knuckles on my cheek. It's not a big deal. I just panicked for a moment. I'm sorry."

Silence fills the air, and I avoid Gianni, adding to the tension. I count to thirty before he states in a lower voice, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Is there anything else he did?"

I jerk my head toward him. "No. Don't say that. I don't want you to stop touching me how you do."

Apprehension fills his expression.

It pains me to see him not his usual, confident self. I decide it's better to get off this topic. I request again, "Can you have Arianna come here?"

"Why?"

"I need to talk to her about what happened at the fashion show today. I can't believe I left how I did."

He shifts on the bed. "What happened? I still don't know all the details."

"I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have run out. The guard told me you got arrested, and I just freaked out," I admit. My stomach flips at the memory of Veronica in his arms.

He squeezes his eyes shut, and I count to ten. Then he opens them and says, "I'm sorry. I was trying to talk to you. I swear to you, I've not seen Veronica in years. And I can't stand her. She threw herself on me before I knew what was happening."

I don't speak. For years I've worked with Veronica and witnessed her antics. She believes she's the most important person in the world. Everyone kisses her ass, but she acts bizarrely around the few people who don't. It's like she can't handle them not falling over backward to compliment her twenty-four-seven.

Gianni takes my silence as doubt. He blurts out, "Tesoro, you have to believe me. You're the only one for me. Nothing has changed. I'm devoted to you and only you."

More tears fall, but they aren't from pain or sorrow. I reach for his cheek, telling him, "I believe you."

"You do?"

"Yes. I know Veronica better than anyone. I fired her after the incident. And I'm sorry I reacted how I did. I know you've changed. There's not an ounce of doubt in my mind or body regarding your love for me," I confess.

He places his palm on my cheek, and I lean into it. "That's right. So you understand there's no other woman I want now or ever will?"

My heart swells. For the first time in years, I believe him again. Only now, I feel it differently than before. He's a different man than when we were kids. He's done nothing but show me the new side of him. What we have isn't something you can find easily. My entire being believes he knows this as much as I do. I reply, "Yes, baby. I understand."

Relief mixes with happiness in his face. His expression softens. "You really fired Veronica?"

"Yes. And I made an announcement and told everyone else what the new rules are going forward."

He arches his eyebrows. "What are the rules?"

"I'll tell you at a different time. But it basically has to do with respect."

His grin widens. "It's about time. I'm proud of you, my tesoro." He leans down and kisses me.

I slide my arms around his shoulders, holding him as tight as possible, kissing him with everything I have.

He retreats, his eyes narrowing. He inquires, "How did you end up without your security?"

I wince. "When the guard told me you got arrested, I freaked. I ran out and hopped into a taxi. But what happened at the police station? They scared me."

His eyes darken. "Who scared you?"

"Those two detectives and the FBI agent. I threatened them with an attorney and wanted to call your father, but they wouldn't let me. They showed me these pictures, claiming you killed all the men in them. I tried to leave the room, but they stopped me. Then they kept pressuring me to help them in exchange for witness protection."

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