The rest of the afternoon creeps by. All Jonathan has done is reconfirm Chloe’s concerns. I’d hope to dismiss these rumors as nothing more than outlandish gossip but now that I’ve heard a nearly identical story from a different source, how can I?
I can’t.
The thought of Matteo having me followed makes goose bumps rise across my arms.
As much as I want to dismiss everything I’ve heard from my friends, I can’t. Matteo is a Valentini. Enough insinuations have been made for me to question whether Matteo is someone I should allow into my life.
Jonathan is right. There are three options for me to consider.
I end things between us.
I ride this out and enjoy the sex until we part ways.
Or I tell him what I’ve heard and pray he’ll be honest with me.
All the times I’ve tried asking questions flood through my mind. Matteo has never been forthcoming with personal information. Getting him to share anything is like trying to squeeze blood from a turnip. If I’d been smart, I would have listened to my instincts and questioned why he was so tight-lipped. Instead, I let it go, thinking that he would open up when he was ready.
The real question is, can I continue to be with someone, continue having sex with him, if I can’t trust him?
I don’t think I can.
Not even for a short period of time. If Matteo and I are going to be together-really be together-he needs to be honest with me.
For the first time since I’ve begun volunteering at the Art Institute, I’m relieved when the day ends. I need to go home and think. I need to figure out how to approach Matteo. Right before I leave, Jonathan wraps me up in his arms and tells me to take care. Those words take on more meaning than ever before.
As I push out through the doors, I get a text from Dominic saying that he’d like to see me for dinner tonight, and that his driver will be waiting outside for me.
Glancing around, I spot Henry waiting at the curb with the Range Rover.
I haven’t seen Dominic in two weeks. Since he shared his feelings with me, things have been more strained between us. I want our relationship to shift back to the easy way it’s always been. I don’t want it to feel weird.
When he first mentioned us getting together, I was willing to consider it. Us being together is comfortable. Safe. In a way, it made sense.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my feelings for him weren’t romantic in nature. I love Dominic. I have always loved him. I may have crushed on him when I was a kid, but that’s all it was. A harmless teenage crush. It wasn’t rooted in reality.
What I need right now is for Dominic to be my godfather. The man who’s been a permanent fixture and a pillar of strength in my life. Dominic is the closest thing I have to a father figure. I don’t think I could bear to have him pull away because of my rejection.
The thought of losing him is scary.
I didn’t plan to speak with Dominic tonight, but maybe it’s best to straighten out one situation before tackling another.
The drive north takes more than an hour. But I’m grateful for the solitude. There’s nothing I can do other than stare out the window as we move through the city toward the North Shore.
By the time we pull into the circular drive in front of Dominic’s house, I feel more settled than when I first stepped into the car. Henry opens the door as I climb out. Then I head to the steps that lead to the mahogany front door. Maria greets me with a smile that lights up her weathered face. Seeing her sends a feeling of home flooding through me. It makes me realize that I shouldn’t have waited so long to speak with Dominic.
“Mr. Grimaldi is on a call in his office. He says to make yourself at home on the terrace and he will join you as soon as he is able.”
I nod in response.
“Would you like a glass of wine brought out to you, Miss Grace?”
After the stressful day I’ve had, a glass of wine sounds heavenly. The ride here relaxed me, but I’m anxious about speaking with Dominic. I don’t want to hurt his feelings.
I set my purse on the credenza in the front hall. “Yes, a glass of wine sounds wonderful. Thank you, Maria.”
As she heads to the kitchen, I add, “I’m going upstairs to change. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
“Take your time.” She glances toward Dominic’s home office. “I think he may be a while.”
Maria has managed Dominic’s household since I was a kid. She’s a warm woman with three children of her own. Her husband died ten years ago from a heart attack, and Dominic helped put her kids through college. Maria thinks the world of him.
Toeing off my heels, I head up the curving staircase. I’ve had my hair pulled up all day, so it feels good to loosen the band holding it in a bun. I run my fingers through the strands and lightly massage my scalp.
I change into a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. Using the back staircase, I hit the first floor and walk out onto the terrace. A glass of wine waits alongside a tumbler of amber colored liquid on the rocks.
Apparently, it’s been a stressful day for Dominic as well.
Picking up the tumbler and my glass, I take a sip of the white wine before heading inside. I bet Dominic is still working in his study.
The door to his office is cracked open an inch. When I’m about a foot away, he snarls, “Well, that’s not good enough! I told you this needed to be taken care of immediately!”
The tone of his voice sends a shiver of dread racing down my spine. My father often said that Dominic could be a vicious opponent who went for the jugular in the courtroom. In all the years I’ve known Dominic, I’ve never seen that side of him. I don’t like the barely leashed violence in his normally teasing voice. It scares me.
There’s a pause as I stand frozen in place, our drinks still clutched in my hands, unsure of what to do.
“No, goddamn it! You listen to me, you little bastard! You’d better find a way to remedy the situation, or I swear,” his voice drops further, filling with a malice I never imagined him capable of, “I’ll kill you with my own bare hands. Have I made myself clear?” There’s another pause before he snaps, “Good. I expect to hear from you in the morning. No later than eight.”
Without a goodbye, his phone hits the polished wood desk as if he slammed it down or threw it. I’ve never seen Dominic lose control. He’s always calm and professional. I can’t imagine what would cause him to act this way.
My heart beats wildly under my breast as I stand outside the office door. I should sneak out to the terrace to wait for him. Hopefully he’ll be in a better mood by the time he gets there.
If not, dinner will be an uncomfortable affair. Thinking about it fills me with dread. I wonder if it’s too late to find Henry and ask him to drive me back to the city. Just as I take a hasty step backward, the floorboards creak beneath my feet. In the silent hallway, it sounds like a gunshot.
There’s no way Dominic didn’t hear it.
Sucking in a deep breath, I paste a smile on my face and push open the door. I’m kicking myself for not staying outside and enjoying the sunset. Why did I think this was such a good idea? Dominic is the only person in the large, dark wood-paneled study, yet the thick tension hanging in the air is enough to choke me.
Surprised by my presence, his brooding blue gaze meets mine. As he pins me with a hard look, I stop in my tracks. It feels like the oxygen has been sucked out of the room. He stares at me in silence with a razor-sharp edge to his eyes. I stand rooted in my spot, shivering as a wave of apprehension slams into me.
“Gracie?” He barks out my name. “I thought Maria instructed you to wait on the terrace.” He’s never spoken to me in such an abrupt tone before.
Clearing my throat, I whisper, “I’m sorry.” It takes effort to keep my voice steady. I have to remind myself that this is Dominic. Dominic. My godfather. The man I trust above everyone else. “You’re always working so hard. I thought you might like a drink while you wrap business up. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
I don’t want him to know that I overheard part of his phone call. I’m not sure why that feels imperative, but it does. Dominic has never made me feel nervous, scared, or uncomfortable, but I feel all of those emotions now.
On wooden legs, I force myself to close the distance separating us before setting his drink on the desk. He continues to hold my gaze until his eyes drop to the chilled amber liquid. He wraps his fingers around the glass before lifting it to his lips and downing a third of it. As the alcohol slides down his throat, he closes his eyes and sighs. He fills his lungs with a breath of air and releases it. When he opens his eyes again, all the tension and anger that had been darkening them disappears.
It’s almost as if he’d never been agitated in the first place.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I really needed that.”
My lips tremble as I fake another smile. I want to forget about the conversation I overheard. I want to escape the lingering unease that continues to permeate the atmosphere in this room. A hint of cigar smoke tinges the air. I’ve always found the masculine scent comforting, but right now it does nothing to alleviate my discomfort.
“I think dinner is ready.” I hesitantly step toward the door, wanting to flee his presence. Which is something I’ve never felt before. These feelings are so strange and foreign that I don’t know how to deal with them. “Should we go?”
He makes no move to rise from his chair. “If you wouldn’t mind taking a seat, I’ll have Maria hold dinner for a bit longer. There’s something we need to discuss.”
His words make my belly pinch with more unease. Before I can agree, he gets on the phone and calls the kitchen, instructing Maria to keep dinner warm until we’re ready.
I have no choice but to stay.
His office feels claustrophobic. Almost as if the walls are pressing in on me. Bookshelves line one entire wall from floor to ceiling. A bar on the other side holds an assortment of fine liquor. A leather couch and two chairs sit in front of a fireplace. I normally love the view of the front gardens, but not today. The brightly colored mums bring me no joy.
I’d hoped that we could sit at the more informal arrangement with its couch and chairs. When Dominic makes no move toward the grouping, I slip into one of the chairs across from his desk. The silence that follows ratchets up my already taut nerves.
Picking up the tumbler, he takes another sip before setting it down again. “It’s been brought to my attention that you’ve been keeping company with someone who, shall we say, is rather unsavory in character.”
My mouth falls open in shock. “What?”
I squirm beneath his relentless stare. “Matteo Valentini.” He pauses and studies me with his head tipped to one side. “You’ve been seeing him?”
The words may be arranged to form a question, but he isn’t asking one.
I gulp as fresh nerves prickle in the pit of my belly. “Yes. We’ve seen each other a few times.”
He continues to pin me in place for a long moment before finally looking away. My body deflates in relief. From the middle drawer, he pulls out a thick manila envelope and places it between us.
My eyes fall to it.
When I make no attempt to pick it up, he says, “Go on. Take a look.”
My eyes lift to his in confusion. I moisten my lips. “Just tell me what’s inside.” When he remains silent, I add, “I don’t want to play this game.”
Instead of giving me an answer, he grabs the envelope, opens the fastener, and dumps the contents out onto his desk.
Photographs.
He picks up a black and white one. They all look to be eight by ten in size. The first one is slightly grainy. Dark. He glances at it and holds it out to me. I have no choice but to take the picture. I don’t want to look, but I can’t help myself.
My breath stalls as I stare down at the snapshot.
There’s no mistaking the people on the glossy paper.
Matteo.
And me.
At Covet.
One of his hands is wrapped around my throat. The other sits high on my rib cage. His thumb rests beneath my breast.
The picture looks erotic.
The expression on my face…
Heat stings my cheeks.
Before I can explain the situation, another picture is handed over. This time, the image is sharper and brighter. I’m stepping into the limousine with Matteo. I try to take in every detail of the photograph, but my eyes are drawn to Matteo’s face. His eyes are filled with an intensity, a burning desire, as he stares up at me from inside the vehicle.
Dominic holds out a third photo.
This one shows us running along the lakeshore.
Before I can process anything more, another is shoved into my hands.
It’s one of us eating at Osprey.
A snapshot of us walking around the city slides in front of me. We’re holding hands. I’m smiling at Matteo. I look happy. Instead of focusing on Matteo, I marvel at the happiness on my face while running a finger across my image.
How long has it been since I’ve smiled like that? Or had that sparkle in my eye?
Almost two years.
Matteo is the first person to make me feel lighthearted and free.
For the first time since walking into Dominic’s office, anger roils through my veins. Who I see is none of his business. I’m a grown woman. He had no right to spy on me.
Glancing up from the photographs, I give him an incredulous look. “You had me followed?”
I’d allowed myself to believe it was Matteo’s doing. I had no reason to assume Dominic would do such a thing. But he did. My godfather paid someone to tail me and snap pictures of private moments that weren’t meant to be witnessed by a third party. The fact that Dominic would do something so sneaky shocks me.
Leaning forward, his eyes stay fixed on mine. He doesn’t look the least bit regretful. Resting his elbows on the desk, he steeples his hands. “Damn right I did.”
Unable to wrap my brain around what’s happening, I shake my head. “Why would you do that?”
“I was concerned.” He glances down at the photographs spread out across his desk. “Obviously I had good reason to be. Matteo Valentini is a dangerous man.” When I don’t reply, he continues with, “He’s not someone you should be involved with.”
Dominic is the third person to say that to me.
“Do you have any idea who his family is or even half the shit they’re involved in?”
Biting my lower lip, I shake my head again. “I’ve heard some rumors. Until I figure out the truth for myself, that’s all they are. Rumors.”
Exasperated by my response, he runs a hand through his hair. “Oh, Gracie. You may be twenty-three years old, but you’re too damn innocent and trusting. You take everyone at face value. You think everyone is like you- honest, with the best of intentions.” Pausing, his eyes soften. “I don’t want to see you get hurt or taken advantage of.”
“Dominic-”
He cuts me off. In the blink of an eye, all the tenderness disappears. “Do you think Matteo Valentini is the kind of man your father would have wanted to see you with? Someone with ties to the mafia?”
I feel my face grow cold as every ounce of color drains from it. Bringing my dad, the one man I idolize, into this conversation is a low blow. Even for Dominic. My spine straightens and I snap, “My dad taught me to withhold judgment until I have all the facts. That’s what I’m doing.”
Drawing in a sharp breath, he exhales as if fighting to hang on to the last vestiges of his patience. “Gracie, please. I’m trying to protect you. I only have your best interests at heart.”
I cringe when he pulls out another envelope. This time he hands it to me. “Open it.”
Reluctantly I push the metal flaps together and slide the top open. Instead of dumping the contents like Dominic did a few moments ago, I slip my hand inside and pull out a sheaf of photographs.
Swallowing down a fresh bout of nausea, I look at the top one. It shows Matteo and a gorgeous woman with long, glossy dark hair clinging to his side.
Not wanting to continue staring at it, I flip to the next one.
Again, Matteo has been captured on film. This time he’s with a beautiful blonde. She’s tall and leggy.
Hardening my heart, I shuffle it to the bottom of the pile. The next picture is of him at a fancy function. A theme is emerging. Another woman is wrapped around him. Getting the gist of the pictures, I scan the rest. There are about fifteen in total.
Different women.
Different venues.
I throw down the stack and glance at Dominic, who still sits behind his desk. His gaze never leaves mine.
“I don’t want you hurt by this man, and I’m afraid that’s all he’ll end up doing. Matteo Valentini has no intention of being faithful to you.” He gestures at the photos. “Clearly.”
I force down the bile rising in my throat.
“We aren’t serious,” I say. I don’t want him to know how wounded I am by seeing Matteo with other women.
Dominic stares for a minute before he rises from his seat, coming around the desk, and squatting down in front of me. He takes my hands in his and gives them a squeeze.
Unable to meet his gaze, I stare at my lap.
“Look at me, Gracie.”
I lift my eyes until they lock on his.
“It was never my intention to cause you pain. I think your parents would want me to protect you any way I see fit, even if it means having you followed. I know you don’t like what I did, but it seemed necessary. I needed to know what was going on in your life since you weren’t telling me.”
Hearing him admit that he was aware of my withdrawal makes me feel worse. “I wasn’t trying to keep this from you.”
The edges of his lips lift fractionally. He doesn’t believe me. “Things have been a bit strained between us lately. What I suggested to you,” a hint of vulnerability enters his voice, “obviously isn’t something you want.”
“I needed some time to think about it.” But he’s right. I don’t want our relationship changing.
Thankfully I don’t have to say anything more. Dominic seems to understand. Smiling, he squeezes my hand again. “It’s all right, Gracie. I told you it would be. The last thing I want is for our relationship to become awkward. Let’s forget I ever mentioned anything and keep moving forward. Sound good to you?”
I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. One I never realized was there. “I’m sorry.”
With a sincere expression on his face, he shakes his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. At the time, I thought a relationship between us was worth exploring, but we both have to want it.”
I nod. “I never intended to hurt you.”
“You haven’t.” In the next breath he says, “But us not having the close relationship we’ve always enjoyed, does.”
Bridging the gap between us, I wrap my arms around him and hug him tightly to me. “I should have told you right away when I realized how I felt. I shouldn’t have let it linger. All it did was make everything uncomfortable when it didn’t have to be.”
“Enough said. We’re putting this behind us. There’s no reason for us to discuss it again, okay?”
Relief suffuses me. I give him a smile. “That sounds good.”
With his arms loosely wrapped around me, he leans back so that his eyes can meet mine. “I know you won’t agree with what I’m about to say, but you need to trust me on this.” Dominic pauses. “I don’t want you involved with Matteo Valentini. He’s a dangerous man. You need to promise me that you’ll steer clear of him from now on.”
Sucking my lower lip into my mouth, I gnaw on it. “I need to at least talk with him.” I owe him that much.
“He doesn’t care about you.” He points to the photographs strewn about his desk. “You’re just a distraction.”
A distraction.
Glancing at them feels painful.
I wonder how many of these women he’s slept with since we’ve been together. All of them? Am I even surprised? I shouldn’t be. Maybe Dominic’s right. Maybe I am naïve.
“I can’t avoid him,” I say. “He lives next door to me.”
Dominic’s jaw tightens. “I know. That’s why I think it would be best if you stay here until we can find a different place.”
What?
Move?
No. I love my condo.
“Please, let me handle this.” My gaze shifts to the glossy photos of Matteo with countless other women. “Obviously I don’t matter to him.” As embarrassing as it is to admit, I force out the words. “Whatever’s going on between us is nothing more than a fling. Living next to him won’t matter. He’s barely home.”
A look of doubt settles over Dominic’s face. “Just stay here for a few weeks. That’s long enough for him to understand that whatever was going on between you two is now over.”
As tempting as it is to hide at Dominic’s, I won’t do that. I’m not going to alter my life to avoid having an adult conversation with Matteo. I went into our relationship with the understanding that if it turned out to be just sex, I would be fine with it.
I would enjoy it for what it was.
I need to hold myself to that vow.
I wish he’d been straight with me from the beginning and told me that he wasn’t interested in being tied down.
He shouldn’t have spent the weekend making love to me and walking around the city hand in hand. He shouldn’t have led me on by pretending we were more than fuck buddies. The pretense was never necessary. I wanted Matteo on a physical level right from the get-go. I never made any bones about that.
“Gracie?”
Dominic’s hands cradle my cheeks as I blink back to our conversation.
“The firm can send a letter instructing him that there is to be no further contact between the two of you.”
A slight chuckle escapes me even though there’s nothing funny about a cease and desist type of letter. “No. I don’t want you involved in this.” If everything I’ve heard about Matteo and his family is true, I don’t want to drag anyone else into this breakup. I can handle Matteo on my own.
“You know I’d do anything for you.”
My heart softens. I’m mad that Dominic had me followed and invaded my privacy but, I understand the rationale behind it.
Sort of.
“I’ll take care of it on my own. Everything will be fine.” God, I hope I’m right. “Our relationship was casual.”
Those words shouldn’t puncture my heart, but they do.
To me, what Matteo and I had was the start of something meaningful. Obviously, that was never really the case.