Page 39 of Ruthless Rival

“Alberto,” I said once I answered.

“Good morning, amore mio.”

My lips automatically curled up as I heard his smooth, deep voice, laced with that sexy Italian accent. I never got tired of hearing it. “Do you need something from me?” I asked him, wondering why he was calling. Was he lying in bed thinking of me?

“I need you by my side,” Alberto replied within a heartbeat.

My heart thumped heavily. How could a man’s words affect me so deeply? “Do you really want me there?” I asked. I refused to stand in the shadows, to be hidden away from the world that treated me so roughly. I wanted to take a stand.

“Let me prove it to you. Come away with me for the weekend. Just you and me,” Alberto proposed.

I raised my brows, not expecting the sudden invitation. I thought he would pitch me some flowery words to try to sway me, but I should’ve known that wasn’t Alberto’s style. He was thorough.

“Where are we going?” I asked, trying not to sound as excited as I felt. He wasn’t completely off the hook yet.

“It’s a surprise. I’ll be by to pick you up in an hour,” Alberto told me. “See you soon, bella.”

The call went dead.

I hurried out of bed, not even knowing what to pack. Honestly, I didn’t care. I was just ready to see Alberto again, to have him show me how much I meant to him. Who didn’t want a man to prove his affection and loyalty to them?

I pulled my Louis Vuitton Horizon 50 suitcase, an elegant, classic piece of traveling luggage. I looked forward to using it on this mystery trip. I carefully packed a few nice outfits and some accessories to choose from. I didn’t know what to expect, but that made my heart race even faster.

With thirty minutes to spare, I rushed into the shower, smoothing my hands through my hair and over my body to lather in my coconut-scented products. I decided on a simple, natural makeup look, light waves in my hair, and an A-line, flowy dress in a French pink color with a thin, white belt.

Being with a crime boss meant I needed to be prepared for anything. So when a black SUV pulled up in front of my house, I gazed at it with a determined smile and a tight grip on my suitcase handle.

Alberto got out of the backseat, wearing a beige suit with a white undershirt. He smoothed his hand down his pressed jacket, letting his eyes wander over my figure as he approached me. “I could devour you,” he said as he caressed the small of my back and pulled me forward. He captured my lips in a kiss that burned me to my core.

I melted against him, but I steeled myself, remembering I would go along with this to see if he was actually serious about me. I pulled away from him to lock eyes with him. “Thank you for inviting me,” I said.

Alberto smirked a little as he gazed down at me. “Of course,” he replied before gesturing to the open door of the SUV.

Before I could take a step forward, he took my suitcase from me and loaded it into the car, shooing his bodyguard away when he tried to get out of the car to help. He climbed into the backseat with me and shut the door. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he stated.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek for a moment, harboring a secret on the tip of my tongue. I needed to tell him, but I wanted to wait for the right time. “I’ve been busy,” I said. “With or without you, I’m taking my father down.”

“And how are you working toward that?” Alberto asked me.

“Inside intel,” I merely replied with a light smirk as I crossed my legs. I turned my head to peer out of the window, watching the city disappear and the coastline approach. We drove along the beach until we reached a small harbor with a few boats.

When the car stopped in a parking lot near the dock, I turned to Alberto. “Where exactly are we going?” I asked.

Alberto pointed out the window toward a small speck of land out in the distance in the ocean.

My lips parted in surprise.An island?

Once Alberto, his bodyguard, and I left the car, I took Alberto’s arm and let him lead me toward the dock where a man stood next to a sleek, two-story yacht. My open toe wedges thudded against the wooden pier as the gentle sea breeze swept against my bare legs.

“Mr. Mancini,” the stocky man greeted Alberto with a respectful nod. He wore khaki pants and a loose, white button-down shirt. His face looked wind-whipped across his nose and cheeks above his dark facial hair. He turned to me and smiled politely. “Ma’am, welcome aboard.”

We boarded the yacht and I found a place on the bottom level, leaning against the rail as we sailed over the water toward the small island. The wind whipped through my hair, and it wasn’t long before I felt a familiar hand on my lower back. I shared a smile with Alberto, keeping my hidden words stashed away for now.

When we arrived on the small island, I admired how secluded the place was and how the soft sand dotted with shells stretched ahead of me. There were some dunes and patches of wispy grass, but what stood out was a charming beach house with a light brown exterior, white roof, and white staircase that led to the wooden front door.

“I’ll stand guard outside, boss,” Iso stated.

Alberto patted his back and gestured to the boat. “I think we’ll be okay in the middle of this quiet island. Why don’t you enjoy the yacht?” he suggested.

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