Page 58 of His Vicious Desire

“Augusto Reyes, Gaetano.We barely survived him once.It’s only because you saved my life that I did.All these years later, the man has only grown more evil.”

Swallowing my pour, I nod.“Yes, but we were younger and less wiser then.We’re stronger, and we have more weapons?—”

“That’s what Luca said.To make sure we’re full on bullets and guns?—”

“It’s not just about bullets and guns.We have Valdez and men who are even more loyal than before.This won’t be an uneven fight like it was before.Back then, we were fucking kids, and we still came out on top.It was close, but we did it, and we’ll do it again.”I assure him.

His sigh is heavy.“Yeah, maybe you’re right.I still can’t believe how fucked up it went last time.”

“We could have done a lot more planning and been a little less dependent on firepower.Now we know better, and we’ll be better.”For the first time in decades, I pray that I’m right and no one ends up dead.

One month later

Bianca

“Are you serious?Bianca, you can’t do that.Just talk to Sandro and tell him what you told me.He’ll listen to you.”Joanna gasps loudly in my ear.

“She’s stayed overnight twice already.He never does that.If I say something, I’ll look like I’m a brat trying to keep them apart.Or worse, because she’s black, he might even think I’m being racist.If I tell him that she gives me a weird feeling and her smile never reaches her eyes—especially when she’s looking at him or talking about him...”

I’m up, pacing my bedroom.“It doesn’t sound enough to even me.He’ll try to talk to her, or he’ll give her another chance to hide it better.But if I tell him that she said something about my weight, he’ll never forgive her.This way, he won’t give her another thought.I swear this is all Luca’s fault.”

“How is it Luca’s fault?”

“Because he’s gone and fallen in love, and it put ideas in Sandro’s head of love, a relationship, and all that stuff.He admitted he’s worried with Luca getting married soon the Outfit is going to press him harder to get married, too.Which is why he’s not really thinking with her.Normally, he could see through a woman.She’s a right-time thing, not a rightone.”

Her sigh is heavy.“Are you sure he’s not in love with her already?”

“How rude, Joanna.If I believed he was really in love with her, then I would keep my mouth shut and hope he found out what she’s really like before they got to the marriage thing.Sandro is a control freak.She’s about him being in control of who he gets stuck with.”

“Okay, okay.I believe you.I’m worried he’ll catch you in the lie and never trust you again.You said the whole reason he met her was because she’s working for the hotel on the traveling Van Gogh exhibit.What if they have to work together in the future or something?”

“It will be fine.He’ll drop her and never so much as look her in the eye again.”

A notification comes through on my phone.“I have to go.That’s him letting me know I can see him in his office.”

Ending the call, I toss my phone on the bed and leave my room.This is bad, I know it is.But I believe it’s for the right reason.Lauren makes my skin crawl.I don’t understand how Sandro doesn’t see it, feel the unease around her.

When he opens the door to his office, anxiety bubbles up at the idea of lying to him.

“Lauren…” I swallow as I fight the real tears forming.Seeing the way his eyes light up when I say the woman’s name, I wonder if I’m doing the right thing.Maybe it was me being jealous of the woman who seemed to make him happy.

Then I remember the way her eyes never light up when it comes to Sandro and the look of disgust on her face when Sandro kissed the top of her head.No, this is the right thing.The same way he tried to protect me, it was my turn to protect him.

“We went shopping today, the way you suggested, and she wouldn’t stop talking about my weight the whole time.She said I was too young to be so fat, and she had a trainer who could help me lose weight.But I shouldn’t do it if I wasn’t going to be committed because it would be a waste of time.”

Sandro loses his smile.“I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

Real tears escape me from the fear I’m doing the wrong thing and hurting Sandro unnecessarily.“I’m sorry.I saw how much you liked her…”

He hugs me tight.“She’s nothing to me.Don’t worry about her.You never have to see her again.I’m sorry she even got close enough to hurt you.You are beautiful.Don’t listen to catty bitches like her.”

His phone rings.It’s Luca’s ringtone.I pull away from him, wiping my eyes.“I’m okay.”Giving him permission to answer the call.

“Yeah?”

“Augusto Reyes is in the wind.Valdez has no idea where he is.”I hear Luca say.

Sandro goes pale and stands up, walking to the other side of the room.“I think you should send Bella to Chicago now.Especially with her pregnant.If she knows Augusto is in the wind, it will stress her out.”

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