Page 1 of Beautiful Devil

PROLOGUE

GIA

Tuesdays.

Monday’s ugly sister and a day where, typically, nothing ever happens. That is, until recently, when I was forced to realize that all of the most profound days of my life thus far have happened on that dreadful day.

It was the day that I first met my husband.

It was the day my husband had proposed marriage to me.

It was the day my husband got arrested...

Today is also a Tuesday. The day my now ex-husband, Gallo D’Amato, will be charged for his alleged crimes, or so I’ve been told by my lawyer.

A pinch tugs at my heart at the thought of his name.

Gallo and I met in our freshmen year of college at Boston University. We used to be inseparable, but even before his arrest, Gallo had been distant, often pulling away from me. He was never home, claiming he’d been extremely busy at work and even shutting himself away in his home office most nights. I hadn’t thought marrying an accountant would have resulted in me barely seeing him, nor could I have predicted the strains it would put on our marriage.

I used to think it was because I was unable to conceive a baby and he was silently punishing me for it. We’d been trying for over nine months with zero success before he’d gotten arrested. Now I know it’s because he was too busy embezzling funds from Boston’s elite.

I still often relive that fateful Tuesday of his arrest as though it’s only just happened and wasn’t three months ago.

* * *

Home from work, Gallo storms through the house, brushing past me in the lounge before he stops abruptly in the kitchen. His eyes dart around the space wildly in search of something. When it’s clear he’s failed to find what he’s after, he continues his frantic search in the remaining rooms. Starting in his study, I hear the opening and closing of drawers and loud thumps of furniture being thrown around.

As the sun finally sets, I hear the vibrating sound of knuckles pounding against the wooden door of our house, penetrating through the walls.

Hmm, that’s odd.

It’s not late by any means, but no one usually comes over at this time.

Thump, thump.

The knocking continues.

The door creaks as I open it to the sight of two uniformed officers on my front porch.

Shocked and a little nervous by the sight of law enforcement at my home, I look between both officers and ask with a shaky breath, “What can I do for you, officers?”

I’m met with a smirk from one of the officers. A man with a receding hairline and an awful combover, who must be in his mid to late forties. He’s got a lanky body, minus the big spare tire for a stomach. As a creepy smile appears on his face, his brown eyes trail up and down my body. Trying to hide the shiver of disgust that shoots through me, I look at the female officer, who answers my question.

“I’m Sergeant Matthews, and this is Officer Kelly. Are you Mrs. D’Amato?”

Sergeant Matthews is a true beauty. Her unruly black waves cascade down her flawless brown skin, highlighting a smooth face free of makeup. She's looking at me through narrowed eyes with an expression on her face that says if I make one wrong move, she’ll have me on the ground and in handcuffs before I know what hits me.

Trying to hold my snigger back that this man’s name is Officer Kelly and the female cop is actually a sergeant and higher ranking than him, I think back to what she asked me and answer in what I hope is a calm tone, praying the fear I truly feel vibrating through me doesn't emanate from my body.

“Yes, I am. Can I help you with something?”

As dread and worry creeps in, I feel an immediate sense of unease, while my mind races with unsavory thoughts of why they could be standing here. Did something happen to my parents? I think back to this morning when I last spoke to them.

My mom had said that she and Dad were going to stay home today and get some work done around the house. As I start to hope nothing terrible has happened, the smooth voice of Sergeant Matthews snaps me back.

“We’re actually here for your husband, Gallo. Is he home?”

The instant relief I feel when I realize my parents are okay is quickly squashed by the smirk that appears on Officer Kelly’s face.

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