Page 104 of Of Murder and Matrimony

“Brave woman. Piccola cosa selvaggia. My grandson chose well.” He nodded solemnly at Diego. “Take care of her until Dante returns.”

“Yes, Don Vero,” my guard answered, standing at attention until he was gone.

The room was suddenly silent, and the evening’s events overwhelmed me. My knees gave out, shaking uncontrollably as Diego scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bathroom. He set me down on the counter and turned the shower on, steam filling the space.

“Do you need help?” he asked, motioning to my nightgown.

My hands trembled as I lifted them, my fingers refusing to cooperate. I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” he crooned, hushing me like a baby. He helped me into the shower and sat me on the bench, putting the shampoo and shower gel next to me. “I’m going to close my eyes and remove your nightgown. Then I’ll straighten the room while you get cleaned up.”

“Okay,” I said weakly, lifting my arms. He peeled the fabric from my body, spinning and angling the shower head so the water pelted my chest before leaving me alone to wash. I wondered how long it would be until Dante was home.

I fumbled with the soap but washed the blood from my body and at least ran the shampoo through my hair until I smelled like myself again. Though off-balance, I’d regained enough coordination to shut the water off and climb out, drying myself with a towel. When I emerged with the towel wrapped around my body, the bedding had been changed, and the blood cleaned from the floor. Pajamas waited on the edge of the bed, and I dressed in lavender silk shorts and a matching button-up top, then sat heavily on the mattress.

There was a soft knock on the door, and Diego entered with a glass of water. “I thought you might like something to drink.”

“He drugged me,” I said, my speech slow as I took a few sips and returned the glass. It was getting difficult to fight off the lethargy making my body heavy. I wanted to stay awake and see my husband, but my eyes were drifting closed. I’d survived for him. That was all that mattered. “I won’t be able to stay awake long.”

“Sleep, then.” He pulled the covers back and helped tuck me in before pulling a chair beside the bed. “I’ll be right here by your side.”

I grabbed his hand, holding on tight as sleep claimed me against my will.

Chapter Thirty-One

My grandfather and his men met the jet when it touched down in Chicago. I tossed my things in the back of the blacked-out SUV and piled inside with Filippo and Stefano, then ordered them to return to my house as fast as possible without getting pulled over. I didn’t have time to waste getting back to Olesya.

“Apologies, nipote,” my grandfather said. “We’re going straight to your brother’s location.”

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I belted, my face heating with frustration. “I need to see my wife!”

“Patience,” he reasoned, holding up a hand to stay my shouting. “Your wife will be fine. She is a resilient woman. Right now, she is fast asleep from the drugs. It will be hours before she wakes.”

“I want to be by her side before her eyes open,” I insisted, bouncing my leg.

“You must step into your responsibility,” he admonished. “You cannot take your time punishing your father, or his supporters will have time to rise against you. Ettore must be killed before anyone realizes he’s missing. We are fortunate he sent all the men out of the house tonight, or word would have spread.”

“If he hadn’t sent the men away, Olesya would be safe,” I growled.

Nonno lifted a brow. “Do you think your father’s men would have stopped him? That they have what it takes to stand up to their Don and risk death for a woman?”

“Don’t speak about my wife like that,” I warned.

“I am not belittling her position,” he clarified. “I am simply pointing out that you do not know where their loyalties lie and, therefore, cannot count on any of them.”

“Diego,” I put forth as an example. “He was there for Olesya as soon as I got through to him.”

“I’ll grant that.” He inclined his head. “Your wife’s guard has a strong sense of duty. You should promote him.”

“I think I’d have to face my wife’s wrath if I tried to take him from her,” I muttered. She loved Diego like a brother; truthfully, he was the only man I’d completely trust around her. They kept each other safe in a world where security was scarce.

“She is formidable,” my grandfather acknowledged. “Loyal. She will be a good example for other wives.”

“She already is.” I could have talked about Olesya all night and into the morning. My wife was the most incredible woman I’d ever met, and every day I found myself in awe of her love for me.

We turned down the next street and pulled up behind Deception, entering through the rear door with the customers none the wiser to what was about to happen underneath their feet. The music at the front of the house echoed through the hall, following us as we descended to the basement.

I led my grandfather and his men to the end of the hall on the left, punching in the code to the door and knocking loudly, just in case Cosimo was already in one of his moods. I rubbed the scar on my ear absently as I slowly opened the door and found my father already strung up in the center of the room, layers of clear plastic tarp lining the floors.

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