Page 74 of Beautiful Devil

At the mention of Luca’s name, his text that he sent me yesterday before we were hit flashes in my brain. I need to call him to see what he had to show me.

“Thanks for the update. Go back to bed, Marco.”

“Anytime. You good?”

I know he’s not asking about the update, but if I’ve been looked after.

“I’m good, man.”

Hanging up on him, I go to call Luca when I think better of it. I hang the phone back on the receiver and do something I haven’t done in a very long time, if ever. I leave work for another time. Passing by a sleeping Jeff, I make my way back to my room. Removing my clothes and sling, I climb back into bed and relax into the mattress.

The last thing I remember before falling asleep is the sweet tantalizing scent of cherry blossoms with a hint of vanilla.

My Gia.

CHAPTER26

GIA

As usual,I wake the next morning tangled up with Fabi. I hate to admit it, but I’ve slept more soundly in this bed next to him than I have in the longest time.

“Come on, time to get up,” I say, gently shaking Fabi’s chest to wake him.

Even though I was up every hour last night to check on him, I still managed to wake up tangled in his arms and feeling refreshed. Knowing that he needs more pain meds, I shake him a little harder. It doesn’t take long before I hear a low grumble come from his throat.

“Ugh, I’m fine, Gia.”

He sounds like a grumpy toddler just being woken from their naptime. I let out a small chuckle as one eye pops open so he can see me.

“I’m glad to see you take so much joy from my suffering, dear wife.”

“I’m trying to help with your suffering. Now, come on. Get up. Did you tell Marco you were out sick today?” I ask, knowing the answer before he speaks.

He shakes his and lets out a chuckle. “Ahhhh, Gia, Gia, Gia. When you're the Don, there's no such thing as a ‘sick day.’”

“You can't seriously be thinking about going to work today. You were in a car accident. You have a concussion, and twelve stitches! You are taking a sick day.”

“Gia, I have to go to work. How else am I going to find out who is responsible for this and the warehouse fire?”

“Your body needs rest, Fabi.”

“I told you last night,dolcezza, I’ve been through a lot worse. I’m fine.”

I know he wants to find out who did this, but isn’t that what all those men that work for him do? And what am I going to do, spend another day being all alone while he works? I mean, yeah…it’s a huge compound. But there's still only so much you can do by yourself.

Ugh, I miss Elle and my old life so much right now. I want nothing more than to be back in my shitty little apartment, having a girls’ night in, surrounded by wine and ice cream, watching one of our favorites,Fifty Shades of Grey. A small smile pulls at my lips at the memories, especially when everything had first gone down with Gallo and Elle barely left my side except to go to work.

I miss her so much.

I’m brought back to reality when Fabi clears his throat beside me. I feel the small single tear rolling down one cheek and move to wipe it away, but there’s no point. Fabi has already seen it.

“What is it,dolcezza?”

“I miss Elle,” I blurt out honestly.

His head falls when he hears my words. He reaches over and takes my hand in his.

“I know, but it's not safe for you to see her right now. Until I know who was behind the warehouse fire and the accident yesterday, I can’t risk you going anywhere and getting hurt.”

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