The pressure on my bladder combined with sciatic pain woke me again before dawn. Dante did not move when I snuck into the bathroom, which meant he had gone to bed again so late that he had probably just reached his deep sleep phase. After washing my face, I slipped out of the bedroom and went downstairs to make myself some tea. The light from the office caught my attention. I headed that way and found Anna curled up in Dante’s desk chair, staring at her iPad.
I smiled at how cute she looked with her tousled hair and eyes puffy from sleep. “You know Dad doesn’t want you to go to his office without his permission.”
Anna raised her head in surprise. She smiled shyly.
“I was bored.”
I shook my head and went to her. “You can’t touch Dad’s things. They’re important to his work.” And potentially traumatic for a small child. Anna didn’t understand what Dante had done.
“But he has pictures of Aunt Aria.”
Frowning, I took her iPad and looked at the photo Anna was referring to. I quickly clicked on a myriad of other photos, all of Aria and Dante, some of them disturbingly intimate. I tried to hide my shock because Anna was watching me curiously.
“Why don’t you go to your room and draw a little.
Mother is still very tired. But we’ll do a puzzle together later, okay?”
Anna pouted, but finally nodded and hurried off.
I had a feeling she was going to our room to see if Dante would entertain her, or at least allow her to watch TV, which he would not do.
I dropped myself on the edge of the desk and, even though I knew Dante would be upset, I read her e-mail to Rocco and the photographer.
I should have known that Dante had not allowed Aria to leave out of the goodness of his heart. He was a heartless killer, a brutal leader of a criminal organization, and although he loved Anna and me, his feelings toward most of humanity were indifferent at best.
I clicked through the photos again, dwelling on the ones showing Dante and Aria in the car. He leaned over her, his arm between her legs. I knew Dante was not having an affair, especially not with Aria. She was gorgeous and a woman every man wanted, but Dante was faithful.
How had these pictures come about? It was obviously a show, a show in which I did not think Aria was involved. Dante was firmly against sexual violence in any form against women. He would never let Aria believe that he would abuse her.
I couldn’t believe it.
The door opened and Dante walked in, dressed only in his pajama pants. My eyes moved to his muscular body. He kept himself in shape. He was the epitome of discipline, getting up early almost every day to work out, to keep fit and look strong because appearance was an important part of being a respected leader nowadays. Many women lusted after my husband for his power, for his looks, for his unattainability.
Many people would have greedily devoured the lie if word got out about the photos. Especially the traditionalists had always wondered why Dante had chosen only a widow. This would have proved them right, and although I tried not to say anything about other people’s opinions, this irritated me. I stared at the picture again. It had to be Rocco Scuderi’s idea. He was ruthless and loved to play dirty.
Dante approached, casting a glance at the photos and then at me. A flash of concern appeared on his face, giving me a strange satisfaction. “Val,” he said cautiously. “I had the pictures taken…”
I glowered at him. “So you could make Luca believe that Aria had an affair with you.”
He considered me for a moment before nodding. I was not in the dark. Since Anna had been born, I rarely went to our underground casino anymore. I was working from home, organizing events, calling prominent figures and especially politicians, and, most importantly, dealing with the complaints of prostitutes working in Chicago’s many brothels. But I knew what was going on, I knew how mob politics worked, especially when Scuderi got his hands on it.
“Why?” I asked, though I had a suspicion, one that was cruel and brilliant at the same time.
Dante stopped beside me. “Because Luca tends to lose control when Aria is involved. He acts without thinking.
This makes him vulnerable, an easy target.”
So calculating and emotionless. I searched his face but the concern was for me, not for Aria. “What about Aria?
What if Luca hurts her? Would he kill her?”
I was beginning to feel sick just thinking about it. Luca was brutal. Even though he loved Aria, he could still kill her.
He would not have been the first man to kill his wife in a jealous rage.
Love, or as many interpret it, was the reason for many depraved acts.
Dante gently touched my shoulder. “He won’t do it.”
“How can you be sure? Are you telling me that Luca Vitiello, a man who crushed his cousin’s throat, is not capable of killing a woman in a jealous rage?”
Dante smiled strangely. “Luca could kill anyone for any reason he sees fit. He doesn’t even need a reason.
But Aria is the only person in the world who will never kill.”
I stared at my husband, wishing I could share his conviction, wishing I could understand why he could be so sure.
“How can you be sure?” I repeated angrily.
Dante stroked my cheek. “Because after all, Luke and I are the same, we share the same demons, the same cruel nature. A nature that allows us to do what needs to be done and prevents us from caring for others. Love does not come easy to us, but if we love, it consumes us.” Dante’s gaze seemed to caress my face. “I could never hurt you, I could never kill you, Val. My love for you will always stop me, and so will Luke as far as Aria is concerned.”
“I hope you are right.”
“Yes.”
“But that could destroy their marriage, it could completely upset Luca,” I said then nodded. “But that’s what you want , right? Take away Luca’s safe haven, make him lose control. That could throw the Family into chaos.”
“In the end, Aria left me no choice. I could not let this opportunity pass me by. She entered my territory; if I had let her go without using this to our advantage, I would have looked weak. Letting her go was a huge risk. I don’t owe Aria anything.”
I swallowed. “She is Anna’s godmother.”
“They will never see each other again, unless Luke gives up or dies, then maybe there will be peace again.”
I touched my belly. Would Leonas have grown up in a world of war? Would she have ruled the Outfit still at war? It scared me.
Dante kissed my temple, then stroked my belly. “How do you feel?”
I almost laughed because I was miserable. He obviously meant physically.
“Good. Leonas is very active today,” I said with a small smile despite the tension I was feeling. I took Dante’s hand and pressed it on the spot where Leonas was kicking.
Dante’s expression softened.
“You realize that these pictures will cause a scandal even in the Outfit. I will be the poor pregnant wife who was betrayed , with the most beautiful woman the Outfit had to offer Luca. This will give new ammunition to all fans of the Golden Couple. I bet some will even hope that Aria will run away to Chicago so she can marry you.”
Dante grimaced as if he had tasted something bitter.
“The rumors about the Golden Couple have always been absurd.”
He cradled my face, his eyes almost angry. “And as far as I am concerned, Valentina, you are the most beautiful woman in the Outfit .”
“Aria is no longer part of the Outfit,” I reminded him, because he deserved to suffer for this move.
He let out a low sigh. “To me you are the most beautiful woman.”
I did not let his words placate me. “What if rumors about your relationship eventually reach Anna’s ears? She’s still too young to understand, but she’ll know it’s something bad.”
“She won’t find out. These pictures will not be published anywhere on my turf, Val.”
“People will talk. It will spread.”
Dante nodded slowly. “Yes, no matter what I do, I will not be able to silence everyone in the Outfit. You will have to bear some of the consequences of my actions, even if I never wanted to. I’m sorry for that.”
I leaned against the backrest with my eyes wide open.
“What is it?”
“I think this is only the second time you’ve apologized .”
He smiled darkly. “I had much more reason to apologize to you, I know, but it’s something I’m not very good at.”
“I know. And I appreciate your apology, but I still wish you had found another way to attack the Family rather than making up a rumor about an affair.”
Dante said nothing, but I could tell that perhaps part of him agreed.