Page 38 of Playing the Sicilian's Game of Revenge

But she didn’t look sorry. She looked embarrassed. Like Saverina was supposed to have just answered the inappropriate question, not made it awkward.

It didn’t matter that Nevi was correct, in a way. Teo was using her to get things. And if—when—they broke off the engagement, this is what people would assume. She would have to live with that very public embarrassment. And likely all her siblings’ pity.

She could let herself panic over that, or she could focus on the evening. What mattered was Nevi not getting a win in this little game of immature posturing.

“I guess you never really know a person’s true motives,” Saverina said, attempting to sound very worldly. And like Nevi couldn’t possibly understand. “You can’t read their mind or anything. But I think I know him. I understand him as well as anyone can. This isn’t about Lorenzo.” It wasn’t even about Dante anymore. But Teo would hold on to the belief it was.

Until she found a way to prove to him that he was in a deep denial. Until she could hold up a mirror to all his hurts and insist he face them.

So while he played the game of revenge, while Nevi and whoever else played their middle school lunchroom games, Saverina would find a way to save the man she loved.

There was a reason Teo had wanted to come to this event. A reason he hadn’t let Saverina in on. Which was why he’d sent her off to make certain the gossipmongers saw her ring, on that finger, and went to work spreading the news.

News that would be the talk of Parisi tomorrow. Far more than the gossip should anyone notice that he was talking to Dante Marino’s wife at the event.

Because Julia Marino was set to attend. He’d never met the woman, but once he’d learned of her RSVP to the event—and Dante’s regrets—he’d studied up on her, made sure to look at a few pictures so he would know her when she appeared.

She was speaking with a small, slight man in a shadowy corner when he sent Saverina off to stoke gossip. Teo didn’t make a beeline. He took the roundabout approach to putting himself in her orbit. He watched her the entire time, even as he greeted people he knew, or pretended to study a display. Eventually, he positioned himself in just such a way so she would accidentally bump into him. All it took was watching her out of the corner of his eye, then stepping back just as she started forward.

She ran right into him. “Oh, goodness. So sorry.” She reached out to steady herself, and he took her by the elbow. “I didn’t spill your drink, did I?”

He smiled kindly, released her arm, and held up the mostly empty glass in response. “All is well. Pardon me. I must have been distracted. Lovely display, no?” he said, pointing to the bronze sculpture from some centuries ago he’d been pretending to admire.

She just kept staring at him for a full minute before she seemed to remember herself. “Sorry. You’ve taken me a little off guard. You look...familiar.”

“I’m sorry to say, you do not.” He offered a sheepish shrug. “Perhaps I just look like someone you know.”

She nodded. Slowly. “You have a rather striking resemblance to my sons, actually.”

He made a considering noise. No wonder. They would share DNA, would they not? Did she say that knowing it was true? A stab of fury tried to take purchase, but he iced it away. “Teo LaRosa,” he said, offering his hand. “Perhaps we are long-lost relatives,” he said with a laugh.

She didn’t even feign a smile in response. “LaRosa. I knew a woman by the name of Giuseppa LaRosa once.”

Teo’s eyes widened. He slapped a free hand to his chest. “My mother.”

She looked him up and down, then managed what appeared to be a very forced smile. “It’s been years. How is she?”

“Passed, I’m afraid.”

“Ah. I am sorry. She was...” Julia trailed off, looking around the room as if to escape.

“And you are?” Teo asked.

There was another hesitation. “Julia Marino. I believe your mother once worked in my household.”

Teo pretended to be confused by that. “Hmm. It’s possible, I suppose. In my lifetime, she always worked cleaning large office buildings. Oh, but your husband is Dante Marino, is he not? Perhaps she cleaned his building?”

Julia’s expression got more and more...closed off, Teo supposed. “You work for Parisi now,” she said. Flatly. Ignoring his questions altogether.

“Yes. Oh, dear. We’re a bit of your husband’s rivals, aren’t we?” Then he gave a little chuckle. “Ah, I suppose I should not be seen cavorting with the enemy. Or vice versa.”

Her blue gaze cooled. Considerably. “I suppose not. I’m...sorry about your mother, Mr. LaRosa. Enjoy your evening.” Then she turned on a heel and strode away.

Teo could not let the self-satisfied grin that wanted to spread do so. He had to keep his expression bland, maybe faintly puzzled. He turned and scanned the room, looking for Saverina. Or at least hoping that’s what anyone paying attention would think he was doing.

He had planted the seeds he’d intended to with Julia. What might grow from them? So many options, but any of them would give him exactly what he sought.

When his gaze landed on Saverina, she was laughing with a man Teo knew worked in Parisi’s IT department. For a blinding second, he forgot about Julia. Dante. Revenge.

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