Page 75 of Blood Money

A smile slowly curved his mouth. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Alessio had two men standing next to a black car at the curb outside the bakery. With a frown, I glanced at the car, then him. “This is you?” I pointed.

One of the men opened the back door, and Alessio took my hand to help me in. I sat on the butter-soft leather, and he waited until I was completely in before closing the door.

He went around to the other side, and as one of the men held his door, he joined me in the back seat. The man wasted no time closing Alessio’s door and rounding the vehicle. Both of the suited guys got in the front seat, and we quickly pulled out into traffic.

Trying not to think of what was going on with Vittorio, I smoothed my hand over the leather before I glanced at Alessio, who was watching me. “So this is how the other half lives, huh?”

He snorted a laugh.

Twisting my lips to the side, I folded my hands in my lap to keep from being fidgety. After a few minutes of silence, I turned to Alessio. “Can you give me a heads-up on what to expect? I have nothing to go on, but I want to help Vittorio in any way I can. The way you came over… I’m worried.”

“I can’t tell you the specifics, Kendall. That’s up to him and what he wants you to know. But what Icansay is he made a bold move today, and I don’t know if he made it with a clear head, but it’s too late either way.” He huffed without humor. “Gabriel called me and asked if I would talk to you, so here I am.”

Unease settled in my chest, and I gulped. “That’s not super reassuring. Is he hurt?”

“Not visibly—that I’m aware of. But he’s beating himself up, and I’m afraid he’ll make a self-destructive decision if left to his own devices. He needs to be reminded that you love him, and he needs to know you’re strong enough to stand by his side.”

“I’ll do whatever I have to do. I’m not walking away from him—not again.” My heart couldn’t handle it a second time.

The car slowed, and I glanced out the window to see we’d stopped in front of a tall building.

“We’re here,” Alessio said before climbing out when the driver opened the door. The other guy opened my side. He held out his callused hand, palm up, and I rested mine there so he could help me out.

I stared up at the imposing building. “He’s in there?” I asked.

Alessio nodded, then held out his elbow for me to loop my hand through.

When we went inside, I was blown away. It was a bustling high-rise full of a variety of people: business suits, women with children, and some maintenance workers doing something on a scaffolding.

“What is this place?” It was bright, modern, and airy—so different from the home Vittorio grew up in.

“There are several businesses, a legal office or two, office space, condos, maybe some other things. Our offices are here, and we all have a condo in the building. It’s owned by DL Enterprises.”

I knew I wasn’t imagining the pride in his voice, and I was sure “DL” stood for “De Luca.”

We went through a security checkpoint that Alessio was waved through, then into another area with a separate bank of elevators that he used his fingerprint to access. I lifted my brows at him, and he gave me that signature Alessio smirk.

With each floor we passed, my nerves went ballistic. My heart started to gallop, and my stomach flipped and fluttered. We stopped a few floors from the top and the doors slid open. There were no long hallways, just two doors on either side of a space the size of an average residential garage. It was painted a rich burgundy, and on the wall straight ahead was a narrow table with a painting above it that looked insanely like one Vittorio and I had seen at the art museum.

Alessio saw what held my attention, and a sad smile lifted his cheeks. “Our brother—Francesco.”

Though I’d forgotten, I remembered hearing my grandmother say he had died. “He had a son? Right?”

“Charlie. He’s the coolest little dude.” The love in his tone warmed my heart.

“So this is Vittorio’s condo?”

“Well, that side is.” He motioned to the right. “I share that one with Leo. I’m rarely home, and neither is he, so it works.” He lifted a shoulder in his perfectly tailored suit. No one could say the De Luca brothers didn’t know how to wear a suit.

“You each havehalf the building?” I asked in amazement.

He unlocked Vittorio’s door as he chuckled. “Gabriel has the penthouse on the entire top floor.”

We could hear water running inside.

“Let me make sure everything is okay,” Alessio said.

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