I'd promised Ginger I'd try to find Astor.

We knew she had a suite booked at the Palazzo—one I'd paid for—but she'd disappeared from the hotel without a trace. The employees swore up and down they hadn't seen her in days. Just in case, I also paid Alberti to keep watching the hotel on the off chance Astor reappeared.

While my men were working on finding Astor, I had another task in mind. Something I should have done a long time ago.

That morning, I left Ginger sleeping peacefully in our bed and unlocked the safe behind the Caravaggio in my office.

I took out the diamonds and stared at the Cursed Beauty like I had so many times before.

I didn't believe in curses, but for the longest time, I'd let this stone rule my life. Now it was time for me to put my theories to rest. La Bellezza Maledetta deserved better than to be put away in an impenetrable safe. It deserved to be admired by everyone.

I took the stone with me and, after a short boat ride, found myself standing in front of the prestigious jeweler, Salvatori.

I walked inside, a discreet bell announcing my arrival.

"L'Imperatore!" 

Ignazio Salvatori, the owner of the shop, came to me with his arms outstretched and his smile wider than ever. 

"It's been a long time," he said in Italian, and I replied that it indeed had. 

But I hadn't felt the need to buy jewelry for a woman since I'd lost Ginger. I'd never given Astor anything but cash. Besides, she didn't strike me as the type who'd appreciate the finer things; she was all business, not much play.

Ignazio led me into the store, where a security guard stepped aside to let us pass. It was home to some of the most expensive rings, necklaces and earrings on the planet. They even had a tiara section, one I hoped Ginger would peruse when we got married. But there was something I had to take care of first.

After all, I couldn't propose to my treasure without a ring.

"You said you brought a stone with you?" Ignazio asked, his eyes sparkling with the thought of priceless jewels he hadn't seen yet. "Can you show it to me?"

"Of course," I replied, taking the stones out of my briefcase.

He cleared the counter, and I retrieved The Cursed Beauty from its velvet pouch. When Ignazio saw it, his eyes found mine with evident fear in his gaze.

"La Bellezza Maledetta," he whispered. "You're… you have it."

"I do. I wanted it back in my family, where it belongs. I'm done with the superstition surrounding it. I want to use it as a family heirloom. I want a ring made just for this stone."

"An… engagement ring?" Ignazio asked, and his hesitation from before was briefly replaced by excitement. "Well, Signore Marino, I thought the time would never come."

"Neither did I," I replied with a grin. "But the girl is meant to be mine. I just hope she says yes."

"How could she not! What is her name? Not that assistant of yours, is it?"

"No, It's Ginger Adley. I'm proposing as soon as the ring is done."

"Did you have anything in mind?" Ignazio asked while he examined the diamond. "This is an enormous stone. It will look beautiful on her. What does she look like?"

"Pale, blonde. Small. Pretty. The most gorgeous woman alive."

"Sounds like my cup of tea."

We both turned toward the sound of the voice, and I groaned inwardly when Ignazio's son, Luca, came through the doors leading into the house behind the shop.

He was much younger than me, and he annoyed the hell out of me. He was one of those cocky little assholes who thought he owned the world when he'd barely experienced it yet. 

"Luca," I replied, trying to keep my voice cordial. "What a pleasant surprise."

He didn't say anything, just smirked at me and came to stand in front of the counter as if he owned the fucking place. Luca may have been Ignazio's son, but his father was still alive and well. He wouldn't get the shop until his father was gone, and even then…. Ignazio had two sons, after all. Not that I'd ever seen much of the other one.

"La Bellezza Maledetta," he said. "What are you doing with this thing, Marino?"

"Luca," his father warned.

I glanced at Ignazio. His gaze was apologetic but he didn't reprimand his son further. Ever since the kids' mother died, he was especially protective of his children—primarily Luca, the younger boy.

"He's using it for an engagement ring," Ignazio said after an uncomfortable silence.

I sure as hell wasn't going to fill Luca in on what I was doing. Why should he care anyway? We'd never been friends, only business associates.

"A cursed stone?" Luca raised his eyebrows and laughed out loud. "Yeah, I'm sure every bride wants to receive a cursed heirloom as an engagement ring."

"Luca, that's enough," Ignazio hissed before offering me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, L'Imperatore. He's a little rough around the edges."

I looked at the smug bastard and fought the urge to knock that smirk off his face. I always thought that, in another world, we might be friends, but Luca seemed intent on this nemesis thing we had going on.

We were the two largest black market dealers on the Venetian market, and we both dealt in the same luxuries: jewelry and art. But I wasn't going to step down from my throne. Luca would have to make a name for himself, and if he kept being such an insufferable little asshole, he was never going to get ahead.

"I'm glad you brought the diamond here," Ignazio went on with a friendly smile. "I appreciate your loyalty, Ryker."

I offered a stiff smile in return.

Of course, I knew exactly what he was talking about.

There were two jeweler families in Venice. Salvatori business had been in the family for centuries. They could trace their roots and orders back to Versailles, and they had a lot of family history and tradition.

Then there was Casa di Quadri, a newer establishment by the Ricci family. They'd only gotten into business a couple of decades ago, and the two jewelers were fiercely competitive.

As a businessman in Venice, I had to make a decision and go with either one of the companies. I was a fan of Salvatori, as they had more traditional pieces, though Casa di Quadri continued to impress me with bold, innovative designs. I'd pledged allegiance to Salvatori by coming to Ignazio's shop. I hoped I'd be able to keep things civil with the Ricci family, though knowing their histories, there might be a grudge.

Luca's presence was almost making me wish I'd gone with the Riccis, and Ignazio seemed to sense my hostility, quickly ushering his son out of the room.

He returned alone, full of apologies, wringing his hands together to convince me things were back to normal.

"What kind of band did you want?" he asked.

"Platinum. And you can put a few diamonds around the stone. I want a unique design, something that will last centuries. I want this stone to be passed down from generation to generation."

"Perfetto." He grinned. "I will have some sketches by tomorrow morning. I can have them couriered over to you the second they're done."

"That would be great," I replied with a genuine smile. "When do you think the ring will be done?"

"How soon do you need it?"

I thought of my sweet Ginger, still asleep in the bed we now shared. Of her sister chasing her and the future that remained unexplored in front of us.

"As soon as possible.”

"Great." Ignazio smiled wide. "I will keep the stone for now. Rest assured it will be safe with me."

The curse was well-known around these parts; no one would dare attract such horrible misfortune to themselves and their family by stealing it. I knew the diamond would be safe.

"I'll see you soon." I nodded. "Please keep me updated."

Ignazio wished me a warm goodbye, and I left the shop with my head full of thoughts of Ginger wearing nothing but expensive diamonds.

I stopped at a nearby bakery to pick up some food for breakfast, a special gesture I thought Ginger might appreciate. I also bought roses from a street vendor, a pretty girl in a tattered dress.

Around that time, I started to realize I was being followed.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I turned around slowly. I was half-expecting Astor to jump out of the shadows and attack me, but instead, I came face-to-face with Luca.

"L’Imperatore," he said. He looked almost sheepish.

"What's going on?" I asked, glancing around the street. "Did I forget something in the shop?"

"No," he replied stiffly. "I… I was hoping I could ask for your help."

"Help with what?" I raised my eyebrows. I didn't have time for his games. I wanted to get back to my Ginger.

"There's a girl. A girl I like."

"And?"

"Someone I shouldn't like." His gaze flitted nervously from my eyes to Salvatori behind us. "My father can't know about it. I just wanted your advice. I don't know what to do."

"Your father doesn't approve?" I asked, and he shook his head vehemently.

"He would never. He might even disown me if he found out."

"And you love this girl?"

He just stared at me, which made me laugh out loud.

"Look, Luca, I may be the wrong man to give you advice on this. Honestly, when I want something, I just fucking take it. I don't give a shit what's in my way. Family, another man—I don't care. What's mine is mine."

"Interesting," he replied, a sparkle in his eye. "Thank you, Marino. You've been more helpful than I thought."

I rolled my eyes, letting him walk past me back to his father's shop.

I had an inkling who he was interested in, but I wasn't going to say a word about it. I knew how to keep a secret;. I'd been keeping plenty of them my whole life.