Page 32 of The Veiling

Marco tucked his phone away and shifted his gaze to Valentino.

William slowly let me go. “Sorry, I had to.”

“It’s okay.” I plopped back down in my seat.

“Where’s he going?” Joseph asked.

“I have a feeling I know,” Alessandro answered.

As we turned our attention to him, he pushed off the wall and roamed the room, grazing the built-in bookcase shelves with his fingertips. “There’s been chatter in AC that he’s doing some big drug exchange in Colombia this weekend. Some small island off the coast, near Montería, I think.”

“That’s Miguel Alvarez’s territory.” Valentino flickered his gaze. “He’s here in New York right now, though. He was at the masquerade.”

He nodded. “Yeah, and apparently Alvarez doesn’t know anything about it.”

“Then it’s settled,” Valentino confirmed.

“I’m not going back to any freaking island until he’s dead!” I snapped, standing again. “I’ve had enough of this!”

He marched over, encasing his arms around me and pulling me snugly against him. “You’re not going this time. We are going to handle it without involving the three of you.”

“What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?” I sniffled, feeling the tears pooling in my eyes.

“You and the girls can plan some of the wedding that I’m not allowed to be a part of. The doctor is coming to see you as well.”

“I don’t give a shit about the wedding any longer!” I yelled.

He took a step back, arching a brow. “What?”

The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. The words had erupted from my mouth before I could stop them. Of course, I cared about the wedding. I loved Valentino more than anything in the entire world, but I was so overcome with emotion and there was no way I could enjoy planning my wedding while he was on a hunt for a man who wanted all of us dead. My words exited my mouth the wrong way. Everything in me wanted to melt away in Valentino’s arms, but I was feeling emotional and wanted to be isolated.

“I can’t do this right now.” I spun to leave the room. Laura and Tanya stood, but I held my hands up. “No, please. I need to be alone.” I turned back to Valentino. “Just let me know when the doctor is here. Other than that, I don’t want to see any of you right now or any time in the near future.”

It was a lie, and I knew it.I did not want to let any of those people out of my sight ever again. They all meant everything to me. Unfortunately, I did not have it in me to fight with myself about that at the moment and fled to the bedroom in embarrassment.

After closing the door, I trudged to the bed and laid down, covering my eyes. Grabbing one of the decorative pillows, I held it to my mouth and screamed into it before sobbing uncontrollably. I hated Felipe, and Jesse was a close second. I would never be truly happy until they were gone for good.

My heart broke when I entered the bedroom and stood over the bed. Isabelle was sleeping with a makeup-stained pillow clutched against her body. While I knew she needed me in the bedroom with her, whether she admitted it or not, I had to secure departure with Joseph and William so I could leave as soon as possible. The sooner it was all over, the sooner I could watch Isabelle smile again for longer than just a few days.

I left her to sleep for a few more minutes while I went to get ready for bed. After turning on the water in the shower, I slipped my clothes off and threw them in the laundry basket in the corner of the closet. The moment I entered the bathroom again, Isabelle entered as well.

I offered her a subtle smile. “I didn’t want to wake you.”

“It’s okay.” She tucked her arms tightly against her body as she plodded over to the counter and pushed herself back on it, sitting next to her own sink.

I reached over and turned the water off.

“Aren’t you going to shower?”

“We need to talk first.” I moved over to her, propping my palms on either side of her. “You know I’m doing all this to keep you and our family safe.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“If the wedding is too much for you, we can put it off as long as you want to.” She opened her mouth to reply, but I pressed a finger to her lips. “I’m never leaving you and I’ll wait as long as I need to, until you’re ready to be my wife.” I lowered my hand. “My heart is already your husband, and I don’t need a paper to tell me I’m married to you.”

She smiled. “Valentino.”

“Bella, I’ll do whatever you want as long as you never leave me.” I sighed, placing my palm on her cheek. “Out there, I’m whoever the public paints me to be, because I don’t give a shit. In here,” I took her hand in mine, laying it over my heart, “I’m your husband and always will be.”

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