Page 36 of The Red Queen

Donada sighed and gave Desi a chiding look that made her slightly regret her blunt language. She wasn’t completely bereft of social graces, though she was used to conversing with a rougher crowd. She was being antagonistic because that’s what she did when a situation felt out of her control.

“I don’t know you,” Donada said, an edge to her voice. “Of course, I don’t want to fuck you. Even if I did, I have a girlfriend who I’m devoted to and would never consider cheating on. I’m being nice to you because you’re alone here, far from home and you’ve been injured.” She gestured at Desi’s bandaged hand.

“I don’t need your pity.” Desi snapped, dropping her injured hand into her lap.

Donada studied her, as though seeing right inside her, then she nodded. “I will be sure to never give you my pity.”

“Deal,” Desi agreed.

“Deal,” Donada said seriously.

They finished their glasses of wine and Donada walked Desi and Vitto back through the winery, recommending that Vitto show Desi the vineyards. “If you take her to the southern vines, you’ll get a good view of the ocean beyond. It’s a clear day.”

Vitto agreed, and he and Desi set off for the spot Donada had mentioned. They lapsed into silence as they walked. Desi was going over the exchange she’d had with Donada, trying to figure out how the other woman worked. How had she become a vintner? How had she come to live on Giovanni’s estate? Where did her girlfriend live?

She supposed now that they were friendly with each other, she could ask the other woman these things.

“You took me there on purpose to meet that woman, didn’t you?” Desi asked shrewdly, her gaze on Vitto. The young man wasn’t quite the meathead bodyguard he appeared to be.

“Yes,” he admitted. “I thought you could use a friend in this place. The boss isn’t always easy to be around and Donada will make an excellent ally if you give her a chance.”

His thinking was… sweet.

Perhaps if she played her cards right, she could have two friends on the Savino estate. That would be two more than she’d ever had before she’d come to live there.

Chapter Sixteen

Afew hours later, Desi found herself aimlessly wandering the house pondering her new life. A little over a week ago, she’d been sitting in a cell in Mateo’s bunker, tortured and convinced she would die. She had been ready to go with dignity, but then Giovanni had stepped in.

At the time she hadn’t been grateful, had hated him for denying her a good death at the hands of her enemy. Now, here in Italy, everything was different. She had a future ahead of her if she wanted it.

She was free.

She wandered to a window, unlatched it, and pushed it open, allowing the breeze she was coming to love to sweep her in its embrace. She closed her eyes and inhaled.

Everything was perfect, but she felt… unsettled and anxious and she didn’t know why.

“This is one of my favourite spots to come to.” She opened her eyes and turned her head to find Giovanni striding toward her. “You can see everything from here.”

As he stopped next to her, Desi looked back out. Indeed, from her vantage point, she could see the winery, the vineyards, the ocean in one direction, and the rolling hills in the other.

“You met Donada.” It wasn’t a question, which meant Vitto had updated him on Desi’s day. She supposed she wasn’t surprised.

“Si, she is gay.” She wanted him to know in case he didn’t, so he knew not to lust after the woman. Even if she wasn’t gay, he shouldn’t lust after her. He had a fiancé now or would if he sorted out this marriage he kept talking about.

“She is,” he agreed.

“Are we engaged?” she looked at him. “You said you will marry me. Does that make us engaged?”

He tilted his head as he thought about it, and the sunlight glinted off the dark silver strands. “I suppose it does mean we’re engaged. Does that bother you?”

“Does it matter if it bothers me?”

He shook his head at her. “Don’t answer my question with a question. I won’t tolerate a lack of answers when I ask you something.”

She flushed but bit her tongue. She was beginning to think she’d landed herself in a good situation and didn’t want to fuck it up by arguing with him.

“No, it doesn’t bother me to be engaged.”

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