Page 65 of Labria

“Was.” I smirked.

“So, it’s like that?”

“Yes, it is.” I twisted my lips. Lord’s ass was grass, and I meant that. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” I recited a self-deprecating joke. It didn’t make me feel any better.

“Trash, never. I’m not making any excuses for him. He’s new to this lifestyle. He had money, but being a Bregoli is something more than money. The name means something, and it comes with favor and a lot of attention.”

“And women.” I added with liquid venom in my tone.

“Yes, that too.”

“Where is your harem of women?”

“I don’t have a harem. I’ve had the hots for someone that’s taken. No other women measure up to her.”

“The hots?”

“Yes, and I was waiting patiently for her to be single and free. We had this verbal agreement that is binding in a court of law.”

“Really?” I sneered.

“Yes,veramente(really).”

“My car is outside in your driveway. I don’t want someone to see me here. I’m kind of hiding out. Do you have space in your garage?”

“Give me your car key.” He stood and stuck his hand out. “I will pull you into the garage. My truck is in there. It’s a two-car garage.” I reached inside my purse and handed the car keys to him. “Do you have a bag you want me to bring inside?”

“Yes, it’s in the trunk.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

I watched Maurizio as he disappeared down the hallway that led to the front door. This was a bad idea. I knew that much, but I was tired of doing everything right. I had changed. Vegas had changed me permanently. I couldn’t go back to the woman who worked at a bookstore in the mall. I was a woman that carried a gun in her purse when she went out at night. I was a woman that shot and killed the father of the man that was showing me nothing but hospitality.

I didn’t even recognize this woman.

I guzzled down all the wine in my glass. I needed a good buzz that headed toward tipsy.

In what seemed like seconds, Zio was back with my rolling suitcase and my carryon bag. He left the roller near a chair and put the bag in the chair. He came to stand in front of me.

“Are you hungry? I can cook you something.”

“No, I’m not hungry. I could use more wine.” I raised my empty glass in the air.

Maurizio took my glass and sat next to me. He poured into my glass until it was full. He handed the red wine back to me.

“Hey, let me take you on a tour of my home. So you’ll know where everything is located. Come.” He stood and extended his hand. Taking his hand, I let him gently pull me to standing.

I took a hulking gulp from the wineglass so it wouldn’t spill when I walked around his house.

I strolled through the entire house, following him from room to room. I listened to his smooth voice as we walked and talked. Zio was so different from Lord. And that wasn’t a bad thing. We made it back downstairs to the sofa. With a few more glasses of wine, we talked about things we had in common.

Zio had the same love of books that I did. He had a very impressive library filled with books. He had the classics— Shakespeare, Poe, Austen, Brontë, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. We also had similar musical tastes. He had a collection of Nina Simone records and that was something I’d never come across from a man of his age.

“Do you want me to take your luggage upstairs to the guest room?”

“Yes, that would be nice.” He was asking me instead of telling me and that was unusual, coming from a man of his age.

I stood in the living room and watched him take my things upstairs. I didn’t have a plan, but that didn’t matter to me. I was free, and freedom was going to be my mantra.

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