After my encounter with Aria in the bathroom, I returned to Bibiana and Luisa, holding Anna’s hand tightly. Enzo gave me a curious look, obviously concerned because I had stayed so long in the bathroom. I hoped Anna would play with it and keep Aria’s appearance a secret. If she had let something slip to Enzo, I would not have been able to stop him from capturing my cousin and handing her over to Dante.
God, Dante. How could I have kept it from him?
I couldn’t tell him, though. The war with the Family would have given him no choice but to use Aria against Luke, especially when Rocco found out. Maybe he was a smart strategic genius, but I didn’t like him. Since he had married that girl, less than ever. His desire for the girl had ultimately caused the fiasco with Liliana.
I dropped in front of Bibi, who looked up from the drawing Luisa was doing and frowned. She knew me well. I glanced at Enzo and gave him a tugged smile because he kept lingering near me instead of sitting next to T aft. Finally he pulled back and sat down. My eyes darted to the bathroom door, wondering when Aria would come out, but I dared not focus my attention there.
Bibi raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“Nothing.” Then I said with my lips, “Later.”
“Nothing,” Anna echoed with big theatrical eyes before smiling proudly at me. I kissed her hair. Louisa smiled at Anna, who jumped off the bench and headed toward her friend so they could draw together. The two of them were too cute together.
“How are things going with your parents?” I asked softly, needing to change the subject before Anna’s excitement got the better of her, or my worry drove me crazy.
Bibi sighed. “They are very sorry that I am not married yet. It is a scandal in their eyes. They have talked to Rocco. They think Dante should stop putting his hands on me. This is family business, not Capo’s.” He smiled apologetically. “I hope he won’t get in trouble because of me.”
“She won’t,” I said firmly. It had taken a long time for Bibi to recover from Thomas’s abuse. She was not interested in being with another man, much less someone her parents had chosen for her again.
The first time they had given her to a monster. I doubted that their tastes had improved.
They were despicable human beings. “Have you thought about dating? About meeting someone?”
Bibi’s eyes went wide with shock. “You know how it is. It would be a scandal. Even if I agreed with the negative reactions, I don’t want Luisa to have problems because of me.” She had lowered her voice and leaned over the table so that her daughter would not hear her, but Luisa and Anna were busy anyway.
I touched her hand. “You act like you want me to become some kind of scarlet woman.”
Bibi huffed and I smiled. “I mean, why not go out with possible suitors. Or would you rather be alone?”
Bibi sighed, embarrassed. “I want to get married. I want love and everything you have with Dante. But I’m not sure it’s something I can ever have.”
“Sure, you’ll get it.” I paused. “Someone asked me about you. If you were already promised again, or if you would be able to meet him.”
Bibi stared at me as if I had told her that the earth was a disc.
“Really? I mean, who?”
I smiled at her reaction. Enzo stood up and searched the restaurant and the street again. I stiffened, wondering if Aria had already left. I had not dared to look in the direction of the bathrooms to check if she had left. I hoped she would change her mind and take the first flight back to New York instead of meeting me that night.
“Val?” asked Bibi.
I blinked, bringing my attention back to her. “Oh, Dario Fabbri. You met him at social gatherings…”
“The head of Dante’s legal team?”
I nodded, “Yes. He’s very intelligent, very balanced, and he looks good, don’t you think?”
Bibi blushed a deep red. “I’ve never looked at him so closely.”
I cast her a glance.
She smiled shyly. “It’s nice to look at. Isn’t he promised?”
“So far he’s focused on his career, and as the third son of a captain, it’s not that important to be married. His brothers already have more than enough children to carry on the family name.”
“How old is he?”
I frowned. I wasn’t quite sure. “Maybe 30?”
“Did he really ask for me?”
“Don’t be so shocked. You are beautiful, Bibi, and since he-who-must-not-be-named is no longer sucking the life out of you, you have curves in all the right places.”
“But I’ve already been married. Surely he would prefer a younger, more innocent bride.”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe he’s like Dante and wants a woman close to his age with some life experience.
Who knows? Why don’t you find out? Meet him.”
Bibi bit her lip. “Maybe I should do that, but can you be there ? I don’t think I can meet him alone yet.”
“I’ll be your date, Bibi. No jokes until I say so.”
Bibi burst out laughing, causing Anna and Luisa , surprised, to look up.
After this my heart felt lighter. Being with Bibi and Luisa always cheered me up, no matter what had happened before, which was why I met Bibi at least once a week, and at this time every other day.
After saying goodbye to Bibi and Luisa, Anna and I climbed into the back seat of the car with Enzo and T in the back in front. Enzo gave me an inquiring look through the rearview mirror and I wondered why. “Home now?” asked Enzo.
“Yes, please. I’m tired.”
I cradled my belly. Anna rested her ear on my baby bump, looking at me with her big blue eyes. “Is she dancing again?”
I smiled. Leonas had been very wild lately, which had brought me sleepless nights and back pain, but I only had a few weeks left. “He’s asleep now.”
Anxiety gripped my insides as I returned to the villa. Dante came out of his office and Anna rushed toward him as usual and threw herself into his arms. He lifted her up and clutched her to his chest. Then he walked over to me and kissed me. “Are you all right?” he asked.
For a moment, I thought he knew about Aria, but then I told myself I was being ridiculous. She was always asking me how I was doing. By now I was practically bursting. “Leonas and I are fine.”
“How was lunch with Bibi?”
“Wonderful.”
“Luisa and I painted a jungle. And a tiger and an elephant! And Mommy and I played hide-and-seek with-” “Luisa and Bibi. It was a lot of fun,” I said, then quickly added. “Oh, and I convinced Bibi to go out with Dario. You said I don’t have to worry about her with him, right?”
Dante put down Anna, who launched off toward the kitchen, probably to beg Zita and Gabby to give him sweets.
“From what I know of him, he is not a man who would abuse a woman.”
Something in Dante’s look had me worried. “Is something wrong?”
He shook his head. “A lot going on.”
I smiled. “Are you meeting with the captains tonight as usual?”
“That’s the plan, unless you need me at home?”
He scrutinized my face.
I shook my head. “No, I’ll probably watch my favorite series and then go to bed early if Anna will let me.”
“All right,” he said then kissed me again before returning to his office.
Guilt overwhelmed me. I had lied to his face.
I should have known that Dante would find out. Since the beginning of the war, he had been even more careful, more vigilant. Now it was too late. Without knowing it, I had led Aria into a trap.
My heart beat frantically as I rushed out of the Santa Fe.
I cast one last glance over my shoulder through the wide windows of the restaurant where Aria and Dante were seated. What was he going to do to her? Dante despised wounded women and had known Aria all his life. I couldn’t imagine him hurting her. I had to trust that.
Enzo was waiting for me behind the wheel of his car, and I slid into the back seat, cradling my belly.
He immediately started the engine and drove off. He had told Dante about Aria. He had not asked me. This made me realize once again that at the end of the day I had only very few people to count on who would not report to Dante. Not that I was planning to hide any more from him. Perhaps Aria’s appearance would have already created a rift between us.
I closed my eyes, feeling exhausted and tired.
I opened my eyes wide wide. “We have to pick up Anna from Bibi.”
Enzo shook his head. “Taft already did that.”
I bit my lip, hoping Bibi wasn’t in trouble because of me.
Anna rushed to me when I entered the mansion, beaming. Bless her and her childlike joy. “Mother! Look at my painting!”
I stroked Anna’s head and took the piece of paper she handed me. With my huge belly, I could no longer lift her in my arms, even if I had wanted to.
It was a drawing of flowers and four stylized little men.
“That’s us! And Leonas!”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Can we draw together?”
I looked at the clock. It was already past Anna’s ‘bedtime,’ but I was glad for the distraction. Nodding, I let Anna lead me into the living room.
I kept checking my phone for messages from Dante, but only Bibi asked how I was doing. The later it got, the more worried I was . What was Dante doing in Aria?
I entered the Santa Fe, spotting Val and Aria. My disappointment and anger at Val was something I could not focus on at that moment.
Aria saw me as I walked toward them, shock reflecting on her face. She looked at Val, who frantically shook his head.
“I didn’t tell him anything, Aria. I wouldn’t do that…”
I stopped beside their table. “He didn’t,” I said coldly.
I would talk to Val about it later. After her secrecy about Frank and Antonio at the beginning of our marriage, I hoped we had reached a new level of trust, one that would allow Val to tell me everything, especially crucial information like Aria’s presence in my town. Perhaps she did not understand how serious this war was.
I met Val’s worried gaze. “But at a time like this, I won’t let you go anywhere without my knowledge.”
“You followed me,” he said, staring at his cell phone resting on the table.
“That, yes, and Enzo recognized a familiar face this morning during your brunch with Bibiana, but he wasn’t sure, and by the time he sent me a picture of Aria and I told him to get it , it was already gone.”
I slid into Aria’s table, forcing her to make room with my body. I inhaled sharply.
Val looked between Aria and me anxiously. “Dante,” she began. She would have tried to placate me, but it was no longer her business. I would deal with her later.
“Get out. Two of my men are waiting for you.
They will take you home.”
“Dante,” she tried again, pleading with me.
“Valentina,” I growled. I hadn’t used that tone with her in a long time, and I certainly didn’t like using it with her in her pregnant state, but she had betrayed me and that would be addressed later.
Cradling her baby bump, Valentina stood up. She searched my eyes, but I did not allow her to read me.
“Thank you, Val, for coming here,” Aria whispered.
Val passed me and walked out of the restaurant.
I turned toward Aria. Her fear shone brightly in her eyes.
She had never been good at hiding her emotions, especially from someone who was used to reading others. Even on her wedding day, her terror had been as clear as day. Now her fear was directed at me. “Now I’m going to call the waiter and pay for dinner. We will get up together, you will stand by my side, we will go to my car, and you will get in.”
Aria nodded. She was more compliant than Gianna, but I was still wary of her submission. After paying, I grabbed Aria’s coat and helped her put it on. I touched her shoulders, my body close to hers. It was too intimate a gesture. One I would usually have avoided because it was disrespectful to Aria, but it was necessary. My eyes sought the ‘outside of the restaurant but I could not see the photographer from my vantage point.
I moved even closer, bringing my mouth close to his ear. “Don’t try to run away or do anything stupid, Aria. I would hate to have to hurt you.”
Aria trembled in my grip and nodded again. I led her to my car, holding her hand tightly, and finally noticed the photographer hiding behind two buildings. The lens was pointed at us.
Aria got into the car, and I slipped behind the steering wheel .
“I guess you are alone,” I said as we drove away from the restaurant. I was in no hurry. The photographer had to catch up with us.
“Me.”
That was what I suspected. Aria was not the type to risk her sisters’ lives as she had done with her own, and none of Luca’s men, least of all Luca, would support her in this mad venture.
“You shouldn’t have come to Chicago.” The photographer was three cars behind us. Aria was silent beside me. It didn’t surprise me that she hadn’t asked about her father. There was only resentment between them.
I turned off the main road and parked near the train tracks.
For the following photos, this was the most likely place. If our relationship was true, a more deserted place would have been a good choice to engage in more fun activities.
Rocco’s advice was one I could not follow. First, I considered it a betrayal even if it was just for show, and second, my position on sexual violence against women had not changed. I would not violate Aria even if it would lead to better photos and consequently a stronger reaction from Luca. As jealous as he was, even less explicit photos would have made him draw the wrong conclusions and caused the desired damage.
Aria lowered her gaze to the bag in the leg space between her feet. Her contemplative expression told me that there was something inside that she was considering using against me. Before she could force me to harm her in self-defense, I reached out my hand toward the bag.
Aria gasped, her head banging hard against the window.
“No!”
I searched her face and the horror in her eyes told me all I needed to know. She thought I was hitting on her, that I would force myself on her in that deserted place to break her and Luca. And while this would certainly destroy Luca as Rocco had predicted, which is why mass rapes were such a common practice in wars of the past and sometimes even today, the very idea disgusted me deeply. I grabbed the bag as I intended to do and returned to my side.
Aria let out a shuddering breath, without moving from her position pressed against the window.
“Aria, you are Luca’s wife; a war will not change that. And even if you were not his wife, you should not fear him from me, or anyone else in Chicago. I swear.”
“Thank you, Dante.” He finally sat down, but the tension remained in his body.
“No need to thank me for respecting your body.”
“What will you do with me then?”
Aria was my unsuspecting pawn. She would discover this trap, the pictures later, probably from Luca. “That’s the problem, I suppose. I should use you to punish Luca and the Family. Or at least use you as leverage to blackmail him.”
Fear flashed across Aria’s face. I didn’t think it was still about her fate. She loved Luca. I had witnessed their feelings for each other in our meetings over the years. It seemed impossible considering my assessment of Luca’s personality , but it was the indisputable truth.
“Luca is Chief. He will not put the Family at risk.”
Of course, he would have said that. “But you are his wife, and I have seen the way he looks at you. There’s only one thing Luca would jeopardize his position as Chief for, and that’s you.”
“I think you are overestimating my value. Luca’s first choice will always be the Family.”
Aria’s lying skills had improved, but they were not convincing enough for me. “And I think you are underestimating your value for a good reason.”
“I’m not. Luca will not put his territory at risk. You don’t know him as well as I do.”
“And that’s the problem. If Luca had not agreed to our demands, I would have had to try to convince him.” Rocco had suggested this. Arturo would have had no problem causing pain to a woman. He had no problem causing pain to anyone.