Page 20 of The Leader

She looked up when Thea slid her an envelope. Before she could ask her about it, the woman had left.

Jazzy opened the envelope, not sure what to expect. When she saw the black American Express card, she was speechless for a second. Then her muteness changed into rage, which eventually turned into a plan. She had to keep in mind that Gio was rich. Obscenely rich. A man like him expected his wife to spend his money, and lots of it too, apparently. Gina, for example, would all but expect a Centurion card from her husband. So maybe she shouldn’t be surprised that Gio had put her in the same class as her cousin. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

After she had some delicious blueberry pancakes, Jazzy decided not to wait for Thea, but take a tour around her new home herself. It was bigger than the Rossi mansion, with more bedrooms than she could count, a dining room, a parlor, classic wood paneling, and a vast private garden in the back.

When she encountered Thea again—this time, while she was dusting the cabinets in the living room—she learned that Gio had moved over here just a month ago. Another thing she discovered was thatthe house hadn’t been turned into a winter wonderland just for the wedding: it was the default décor. Theinterior designer obviously loved the colors white and creme, since she had basically turned the house into a barren winter landscape. The only color and imagination Jazzy had come across so far, was the colorful abstract artwork in the bedrooms. The place lacked any kind of character, which was a shame because the Victorian had the potential to be a real, cozy home, complete with brick walls and a fireplace and all.

The only personal touch was a family picture above the chimney. The resemblance between Gio and his brothers was unmistakable. They all had the same piercing blue eyes. Save for Hector, of course, who was included in the frame as well. His eyes were a moss green.

Having explored enough for the day, Jazzy went into the hallway to get her coat when the doorbell rang.

Thea was there in an instant, opening the door. “Hello, can I help you, Miss?” she asked, stepping back to let the visitor in.

A tall blonde with a Louis Vuitton suitcase sailed past the housekeeper.“Somebody needs to pay the cab,” she announced, without a how-do-you-do. After giving Jazzy a curt onceover, her cat-eyed sunglasses pinned Thea down. “You. I want an espresso. Make it a double.”

“I…” Thea gave Jazzy a helpless look.

The blonde dropped her bag and put her glasses on her head. She looked around curiously, which made Jazzy suspect she hadn’t been here before.

“Where’s Gio? Oh, never mind. I want to surprise him. Take my bag to his room.”

“Please.” Jazzy slowly pronounced the word, introducing the woman to it.

A perfectly trimmed, cocked brow was her answer. “Excuse me?”

“Excuse me could work as well, but I was going for ‘please.’ You know, the word you use when asking someone to do something for you.”

“Cute. Obviously, you don’t know who I am.”

Sadly, Jazzy had a feeling she did. She just wasn’t sure how to act on it yet. No woman expected to have to deal with her husband’s lover in her home the day after her wedding, if ever.

Still, she said, “Not only don’t I know who you are, but I don’t care.” Which was true. “And Thea over there—yes, she has a name—isn’t your maid, so you’ll have to make your own damn espresso.”

The blonde put her hands on her slim hips. “I am Vanessa Montgomery. Giovanni’s girlfriend.”

“Nice to meet you, Vanessa. I’m Jocelyn Detta.” She hadn’t decided on whether to use his last name yet. Guess this was as good a time as any to make that decision.

“Ah. His sister?” Vanessa’s demeanor changed in a flash when a smile lit up her face as she put on her “meet the family” mask.

Copying Vanessa’s fake smile, Jazzy looked her right in the eye. “No. His wife.”

CHAPTER 13

GIO

Gio studied some documents Jackson had handed over to him, but his mind kept drifting off. It had been a strange experience waking up next to a woman. A new, though not unpleasant, one. Jazzy had been plastered all over his chest, one knee draped over him, her head tucked under his chin. It hadn’t been easy to pry her off of him without waking her up. Not wanting to leave his bed at sunrise was another new experience. His body hadn’t wanted to leave her, but he forced himself to get out, nonetheless. He had already woken her up twice during the night, enjoying her cries when he took her. She was loud in bed and so responsive. So damn responsive.

He couldn’t let himself get distracted by her. He was head of this family and had certain obligations. Destroying the fucker’s life who’d murdered their parents, for starters. Jocelyn would become a distraction if he spent time with her. He couldn’t allow anyone or anything to come between avenging his parents. He had already lost control with her last night, his need for her seemingly insatiable. It couldn’t happen again. Not during the day when he had to fucking concentrate on the decline and fall of Oscar Bianchi.

“Should you even be here?” Jackson asked.

“What?”

His brother sighed. “As I asked you this morning, should you be here instead of with your new bride? Itistechnically your honeymoon, after all. Also, you’re kind of here but not really here.”

Gio grabbed the documents stating that they now ownedRossi Enterprises; the last domino piece they had to take away to ensure Bianchi’s fall.It was time to effectively cut off all and every money supply to Bianchi. No money meant no power. And no power, to a man like Bianchi, was the beginning of the end.

“Let’s not forget why he got married in the first place,” Vince said. “We have what we needed. It’s time to flush out that snake.”

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