Page 39 of Undeniable

Today, Alessandro and I are headed over to Ashlynn’s to visit. I haven’t seen her since I left her in the hospital room, so I am excited to see her and the baby.

I was going to just order us a ride, but Gio wasn’t about to let that fly, so he sent one of us his drivers to pick Alessandro and I up. It is odd that everyone seems to be totally used to being escorted everywhere they go. They just must be high profile people, though I am not exactly sure what they could do that would warrant bodyguards considering there is zero information on Giovanni Cordova and since I don’t know Luca’s and Ashlynn’s last name, that avenue is a bit of a dead end as well.

When we get to their mansion of a house, Ashlynn throws the door open and damn near tackles me.

“Oh my gosh, aren’t you supposed to be taking it easy?” I shout as I hug her back.

She laughs and shrugs as she leans down to hug Alessandro. “I am 6 weeks post-partum. I got the all-clear to doeverything,” she says as she waggles her eyebrows.

I smother my laugh before she winks at me and hurries back into the house. Alessandro bounds after her and rushes up to where Seraphina is currently fawning over her baby brother. Seeing her look after him like that brings up painful reminders of me and Victor. I miss him more than words can express and my heart aches at the sight of two siblings completely enamored with each other. I pray they never know what it feels like to lose one another.

“She won’t leave his side. Makes feedings a little difficult but she is a great big sister,” Ashlynn says as she smiles fondly at her kids.

“The best. They are both so sweet,” I say softly.

“Do you want kids one day?” She asks with a knowing smile as her eyes flick over to Alessandro.

I roll my eyes and choose not to respond as I walk into the living room and take a seat on the couch. I am not sure if I even know the answer to that question myself, so I am definitely not going to be able to give anyone else an answer right now.

Ashlynn got my phone number somehow and we have stayed in touch the past couple of weeks. And by keep in touch, I mean that I ask her for pictures of baby Antonio, and she asks me if Gio and I have had sex yet. I have never told her one way or another, but I have always been a shit liar, so I am sure that she already knows something is going on.

Maybe Gio has talked to her or Luca about me? Maybe they wanted her to find out how I am feeling? Is he happy with our situation? Does he want more? I shouldn’t even hope for that. Despite the sex being constant, Gio is about as emotionally unavailable as it gets. Ugh, I hate that I am always overthinking things when it comes to him. Casual my ass.

After we have an incredible dinner that their chef Luis cooks, Alessandro and I say our goodbyes before we are taken back to Gio’s house. At 8PM Gio is still not home while Alessandro is fading fast as we are curled up on the couch watching a Disney movie. I decide it is time for bed and after one quick story he is fast asleep.

When I get downstairs, I tidy up the living room a little bit and am just folding the throw blanket Alessandro was using when I hear the door open and close. A smile instantly blooms across my face and my heart leaps in anticipation. I try to slow my steps as I practically bounce over to entry way.

Gio looks at me with a tired smile and holds his arms out to me. I rush into them and loop my arms around his neck. He holds me tight for a moment before he pulls me back and captures my lips with his. I sigh lightly against him as he moves to deepen the kiss.

He breaks away as he begins peppering my neck with soft passionate kisses. “Want to come upstairs? I’ve missed you.”

I lean back and smile, the word yes is right on the tip of my tongue when my eyes catch something out of place. I turn my head better to see a light splatter of red against his stark white collared shirt. My eyes narrow as I look at it harder before I back out of his arms.

Gio gives me a confused look as he tries to read my face. “What’s wrong?”

“Your shirt, it-it’s stained,” I stutter as I take another step back.

Please don’t let that be what I think it is.

He glances down and sees the stain before lightly cursing under his breath and looking at me with a guilty yet hardened expression. My stomach drops and my face blanches, the look he gave me just said it all.

“Why do you have blood on your shirt?” I ask, my voice cracking softly as I take another small step backwards.

Giovanni stares at me blankly, not even blinking as his posture becomes rigid.

“Gio?”

He rubs his chin, seeming to be contemplating something before he drops both of his arms at his sides.

“It comes with the job,” he says flatly.

“What job, exactly?” I ask.

He stays quiet, his fists clenching and unclenching in rhythm as his eyes remain zoned in on mine.

“Tasha,” he sighs. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does,” I snap. “What do you do, Giovanni?”

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