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I PLACE MY NUDE LIPSTICK in my gold clutch just as Luca stops the car at the front entrance of Club 7. There’s a line to the corner with fancily dressed people waiting to be let inside for the closing down party.

Luca steps out to hand his keys to the valet and rounds the vehicle to open my door. I glance up at his perfectly pressed tux, and as he holds out his hand, I place mine in it to move out onto the red carpet that leads to the glass double doors of Club 7.

But I’m distracted for a moment by Luca whose gaze runs down the length of my red mermaid gown with thin straps. At last, I recognize a wicked gleam in his piercing green eyes as he whispers, “You look so beautiful.”

His tender tone fills me with hope, and I smile, inching closer as his scent cloaks me and pressing my lips onto his. One of his arms drags me close to his heated, honed frame, and I know instantly that the alcohol has left his system and he’s my Luca again. His eyes fall closed and I cup his cheek as he rests his forehead against mine, yet I sense the tension coiling his body. I guess we’re both anxious about what this night could bring, knowing that Tez and I will be in the same room.

Unfortunately, our momentary sweet bubble bursts when Luca pulls back, straightens to his full height and orders, “Don’t mention anything about what happened in the penthouse to anyone. Henry has agreed to act normal as well. I don’t want you to talk to Henry or Tez.”

Without waiting for an answer, he leads the way inside, not even entangling our hands, much to my dismay. But it’s freezing cold, so I rush after him through the double doors and into the club where the DJ enters the raised podium at the far end and welcomes everyone. We careen through the packed dance floor to climb up the stairs toward the VIP area where it’s not crowded yet. I pass some celebrities and politicians I recognize from TV, but Luca pays no one any attention.

At the second bar upstairs, there’s an area reserved for the family in the corner with a long cherry table and padded chairs, and it’s occupied by everyone who’s already present. As we pass the bar, I also notice the blonde bartender, whose name is Simone according to her nametag, follow Luca with her eyes until she quickly diverts them. He pays her no heed, and I wave my hand to greet everyone. Even Henry dips his chin as if nothing has happened. However, Logan and Carmine assess Luca and me with a frown. In reality, one of them could’ve also spoofed my phone, yet I rule out Logan, who’s a true friend. How do I get to the bottom of this?

“I think we should call the new restaurant Luca’s,” Logan mocks as we drop in on their conversation.

Luca has summoned his usual unreadable expression as he grins at Carmine. “We’re not naming it after one of us.”

“Well, we need a name soon because I have to write something on the logo,” Carmine points out.

I stand up straight and force myself to act confident. I won’t let anyone think I’m unstable while they trust Tez. So I smile pleasantly when Simone comes over to us with a tray of champagne glasses.

Luca shakes his head, although I take one for courage as I scan the throng below for Michael.

He casts me a side-look. “Are you looking for someone?”

“Where’s Michael?”

“On his way,” Luca replies, and when the group begins to disperse, he asks, “Where’s Adriano?”

“In his office. He got a call,” Carmine answers.

“I’m going to the office,” Luca tells us, and I’m annoyed that he’s already leaving me.

I thought we’d at least try to have a nice evening together after so many nights apart. But he strides away without another glance at me. It seems like I’m always having to watch Luca walk away from me these days, and he takes a bigger piece of my heart every time. Even when I’m with him, I miss him. My love for Luca is so strong that it pains me, yet it never fades.

Swallowing back my tears, I blink repeatedly while no one’s paying attention to me and then the DJ starts, the bass of the drums pumping in my ears.

“Let’s dance.” Mary grabs Cam’s hand and looks at me in question with a sincere smile. Clearly, Henry’s kept his word and didn’t tell Mary about our incident.

I hold up my drink. “You guys go. I’ll finish this and then come downstairs.”

“Okay,” Mary says, towing Cam with her just as Logan and Carmine saunter to the bar, leaving me alone with Henry.

He approaches me, tilting his head, looking sharp and dangerous in his black suspenders, yet his expression holds no malice at all.

“I was just coming to talk to you,” I say, setting my empty glass on the table.

“I’m glad you were. What happened that day, Fallon?”

Unable to keep it in, I blurt out, “I’m positive I’m not imagining things and that Tez wanted me to suspect you.”

“Luca spoke to him, you know.”

“I know, but, Henry, I’d never just randomly accuse someone. I was just so scared and I have children to protect. You know I’m not crazy or unstable. You guys have to check Tez.”

“We are.” He pauses. “He’s being tailed.”

He is? That’s good, but his phone probably contains the most valuable information. “I’m glad to hear that.” Why didn’t Luca tell me?

Henry frowns, his expression becoming sympathetic. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“I was never going to fire.”

“Yeah, you say that now,” he teases, lightening the mood, and my instinct doesn’t rear up.

But as I evaluate the balconied second floor, I regrettably see Luca watching me from the other side as he comes out of Adriano’s office. His lips thin into a hard line, and I know it’s because I’ve defied an order and spoken with Henry. Yet this conversation between Henry and me was needed.

He storms down the hall and when he reaches us, he asks with tensed civility, “Everything okay here?”

“Everything’s good,” Henry assures him before excusing himself.

I meet Luca’s glare and immediately defend, “I was smoothing things over with Henry. I fixed one mess, Luca.”

“Why can’t you just listen to me?! I’ll fix it!” Pure contempt drips from him.

Overwhelmed by days of him deciding the course of action without any results, I don’t back down. “You aren’t fixing this at all! You’ve lost control completely!”

He edges forward to force me backward, his features clouded with fury. “Don’t push me.”

“No. You don’t push me. I’ve been very patient with you, but I refuse to let you treat me like one of your soldiers anymore!” I shoulder past him, but he folds his fingers around my bicep, spinning me back around and dragging me close until we’re face-to-face.

“I’m always watching you. Don’t forget that,” he warns, and although he’s fuming, I swear a flash of regret blazes across his beautiful, hard face before he lets me go. Just as angry myself, I turn on my heel and march over to the staircase where I rush down.

Luca’s gaze brands my back until I get to the bar while steam puffs from my ears, and when I glimpse up, Luca’s gripping the balcony railing, his scowl settled on me.

Evidently, we’ve both lost the ability to act poised. Swiveling around, I suddenly see the brown crew cut of Tez entering the club before he stops and speaks to one of the guards for a long time.

Inconspicuously, I stalk the guard and avoid Tez since I still feel Luca’s eyes burning into me, prickling my nape.

“Hey, aren’t you Fallon? Luca’s wife?” a girl who stops in front of me asks.

I don’t recognize her big green eyes and wavy blonde hair. She slightly taller than I am and wears a stunning sapphire dress that hugs her curves.

“Yes...do we know each other?”

“Oh, no, but Luca mentioned you when we worked on your cake.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Brielle, the pastry chef of the new restaurant.”

Privately, I grin – this is the woman Michael was supposedly ogling.

I tilt my head. “My cake? It’s not my birthday for a while.”

“Sorry, I meant menu. I was thinking about cake just now,” she says around a smirk, making me laugh.

“Well, to be honest, I could use a big piece of chocolate cake right now.”

“Me too,” she agrees. “But there’s nothing to eat here. Just a lot of booze, which works out fine too.”

“So what kind of desserts are going to be on the menu?” I ask, genuinely interested and she talks animatedly.

“Ice cream, tiramisu, of course, and cannoli...” her words trail off when I look up at the second floor and don’t see Luca standing at the railing anymore.

Although I don’t want to be rude because Brielle seems lovely, I can’t concentrate on her while I scan the room for my husband’s authoritative frame, which I’d recognize instantly, even in a crowd of a million. Coincidentally, someone else gets Brielle’s attention and she turns to him just when the guard who was speaking with Tez stops to hang out at the corner of the bar.

As I strut up to him, his lips pull up salaciously until he recognizes me and stops smiling, saying, “Hey, Fallon.”

“Hey. Do you happen to know how long Tez is staying?” I probe.

“Yeah, only for a few hours. The guards will lock up.”

Which gives me a few hours to corner Tez. Where the hell is Michael when I need him?

Distracted, I turn away from the guy and cross the dance floor to wait at the door that leads to the back entrance so that I’ll bump into Michael the second he enters.

All of a sudden, Luca’s beside me, and I jump, startled because he just came out of nowhere, and he dips his head. “You’re mine; don’t ever forget that,” he says in a low voice while I have no idea what just happened.

Then he glances at the guard and back to me, so I rear back, offended.

Does Luca think we were flirting?

But then Adriano passes us and motions for Luca to follow him, so he slips away before I can even defend myself.

Minutes tick by and I order a water from the bar, and as I watch Mary and Cam having a fun time on the dance floor, I wish I was still as blissfully unaware as Mary is of how manipulative this Syndicate can be.

I get more and more miserable as the night wears on because Luca is nowhere to be found and we haven’t had a single dance together. But an hour later, Michael finally shows up, and I hurry over to him when I see him coming in via the back entrance.

“Hey.”

“Hey! Tez is here,” I yell over the loudness of the music. “I want to confront him, Michael, and I want you to eavesdrop.”

His brows rise before his lips curl up and he teases, “Okay, Nancy Drew.”

A chuckle escapes me as I mock glare at him. “Will you do it, please?”

He studies me and relents, “Yes, only because I’m curious about your interaction with him, but where’s Luca? We have orders that you’re not to talk to Tez.”

“He’s missing. I think they’re in Adriano’s office, and Tez has been walking around down here the entire night.” I point to the end of the bar that’s closest to us. “There he is.”

“We wait until the girl he’s speaking with walks away,” Michael instructs just as I see Luca approaching the bar upstairs.

Behind the counter is Simone, who speaks to him as he listens intently. She then turns around to grab a tall glass, and to my surprise and horror, he watches her every move. For the first time, I catch Luca looking at another woman as she dips down and comes up with the glass filled with clear liquid. My heart splinters into tiny pieces when she slides a drink to him and he looks at it in question. It’s not a shot glass, but the way Luca’s hesitating convinces me it’s vodka or some kind of liquor.

Don’t take it, Luca.

He’s unmoving for countless seconds, then he downs the drink. On top of that, Simone hands him something that he pops into his mouth while no one’s around before she saunters away. They seem to have a routine down pat. She probably gave him a mint or piece of chewing gum to disguise the smell. I lean back against the wall for support, realizing he’s in cahoots with another woman who enables his drinking.

What is he doing – being secretive and then accusing me of doing the same? I need some damn proof, not only to help keep my husband sane but to bring him back to me because right now, he’s far away.

Disheartened, I inhale a breath as Michael turns to me. I need to act normal when I confront Tez. Be strong.

As I study Tez, who’s wearing a suit similar to the ones the members wear, I notice that he’s desperately trying to oversee everything. I decide that if I push his buttons, it probably won’t be too difficult to goad a reaction out of him. So when his company leaves, Michael and I make our move; Michael walks behind him and stops at the bar while I advance on him, his eyes narrowing before he glances around.

I keep my composure like I’ve seen Luca do.

“Hey, Fallon,” he greets, acting like nothing’s out of the ordinary.

I tilt my head to the side. “Are we going to do this?” Then I edge close to him. “You’re up to something and lied to either Luca or me to place us on opposite sides.”

He pretends to be surprised. “I heard about that, but I think maybe you misunderstood me.”

Michael keeps scanning the room and flicks his wrist, motioning for me to hurry.

“We both know that’s a ridiculous notion; I understood you perfectly well, and you somehow wanted to make Henry a suspect. I know it’s you who spoofed my phone.”

His gaze darts away for a second.

“And then you deleted the message, and now you’re messing with me.”

“Fallon, you have to calm down. Please keep your distance,” he says, edging backward as someone stops and says something to Michael, who mouths abort before he’s dragged upstairs.

Shit!

Then people surround the bar and a woman starts talking to Tez, so when he faces her, I slip his phone from his jacket pocket lighting fast. Putting my back to him, I open my clutch, dig out my phone to unlock the screen, and with perspiring hands, I take a photo of his last calls within a split-second as adrenaline rushes through my veins. And I turn back as the crowd moves around us to slide it into Tez’s pocket just when the other woman kisses him goodbye.

Instantly, he looks at me again, so I continue, “I know you have an ulterior motive, and when I find out what it is, you’ll be a dead man. See, you’re just the manager here. I’m the underboss’s wife.”

That incites him, the corners of his lips quirking up maliciously as he snorts, “No, I’m a member, you’re just a wife. And so far, it seems that they don’t believe the wife. But I can rescue you when you need me most,” he adds around a vindictive grin, as though he knows something more.

Then he strides away, but I follow him and seize his arm, pulling him to a stop with all my power. Yanking free, he snarls at me, a hateful gleam in his eyes.

Music fades and all the inane laughter and chattering drifts into nothingness. “What did you say?” Where the hell is everyone when I need them?!

He points his finger at me, and I shrink back from him. “Don’t challenge me!”

“I knew you were involved—”

“What’s going on here?” a dark male voice interjects, and we swivel in unison and are met with Henry’s imposing figure.

Suddenly, Logan and Mary flank me, yet I forget to keep my composure and yell, “Tez knows more about that message!”

“I have no idea what’s wrong with her,” Tez speaks coolly, looking at me as if I’ve sprouted a second head, which makes all my repressed anger detonate.

I drop my clutch and motion heatedly toward Tez, but Logan’s hands grab my shoulders to hold me in place.

“Look at how out of control she is,” Tez says, causing all three of the others to frown at me.

I release a loud sigh. “No! No. He’s a traitor! Why doesn’t anyone believe me?”

Logan strengthens his grip as Tez smirks at me, and I scowl at his arrogant expression. Then, in that second, I lose every ounce of my self-control and lunge forward.

Henry jumps in between us, looping his arms around my middle and effortlessly lifting me up. “Calm down, Fallon.” He cranes his neck to shout at Tez, “What the hell did you say to her? She was perfectly fine earlier!”

Gasps arise from the small crowd forming around us that’s witnessing the argument.

And if that isn’t bad enough, they part like the Red Sea when Luca marches in a straight line toward me, his tensed features not boding well for any of us as Henry places me on the floor.

Luca grabs Henry’s arm and jerks it off me, hissing, “Let go of my wife.”

Henry moves back just as Luca glares down at me. “What the hell’s going on here? You’re all causing a scene.”

“Fallon’s causing a scene,” Tez pipes in, and Henry and I both sneer at him.

“Shut up,” I retort, fed up as too many pairs of eyes look at me with pity. I grip Luca’s lapels, imploring him, “He’s antagonizing me!”

Luca pins his scowl on Tez, who gives a perfect performance as his eyes round indignantly. “Did you seek her out? I warned you to stay away—”

“She came to me, all riled up,” he says, adding in a feigned empathetic tone, “Fallon, you have to relax. What did I say to upset you?”

I point my finger at him again. “You know damn well that you provoked me by saying that you can rescue me when I need you most with that spiteful look on your face.”

“I said no such thing,” he counters, and Luca’s fingers wrap around my arm to hold me still.

“What?” I respond, uncertain for a second until I see the underlying malice in his dull brown gaze.

Meanwhile, Mary and Henry let people pass because our scene isn’t interesting anymore, and Luca pulls me close.

His entire frame vibrates with rage as he whispers in my ear, “I told you to stay away. Why is it so goddamn difficult for you to obey?”

“Because you don’t handle anything!”

Logan hears it as he stands behind us, and his look of disbelief strengthens Luca’s resolve.

“You have to believe me. He’s trying to come between us!”

I catch Henry and Luca exchanging a glance, and then everyone stares at me as if I’m an alien. I realize that I must look pretty crazy right now as moisture pools in my vision and deadly thoughts about Tez fill my brain.

“It’s very coincidental that you and she are talking while none of us are around,” Logan speaks to Tez.

“Are you accusing me? Maybe we should get Adriano.” Tez moves closer to Logan as Luca scans the club quickly, ensuring the boss doesn’t witness this.

“Are you fucking threatening me now?” Logan cocks his head. “Who the hell do you think you are? You make my friend cry and stand here acting fucking arrogant.”

“Fuck you! You haven’t liked me from the beginning.” Tez goes face-to-face with him, and Luca becomes livid that his men are fighting and barks, “Stand down, Tez!”

To which Logan smirks as Tez steps back, bringing up his palms.

Logan doesn’t move as I worry my lip, and to my astonishment, Tez dips down to take my clutch from the floor and hands it over. I asses it as if it’s a bomb and glower at him, wanting to throttle him as Luca yanks it from his hand. In the meantime, I’m crying. I’m breathing raggedly and my knees buckle, so Luca supports me and his furious expression turns concerned.

He holds me tight and for a split-second, I see the arresting face of my husband who loves me above all else before the façade of the underboss returns. “Are you okay?”

“No!” I break down, pressing my nose into his chest and inhaling his scent. “You have to believe me...” the rest of my words trail off as his hand rests on the back of my head, and I hear Luca ordering, “Tez, you stay here. I’m coming back to talk to you. Logan, Henry, ensure Tez keeps his mouth shut to Adriano, and for fuck’s sake, stop arguing with each other out here in the dance club. Do I have to remind you of the importance of staying on the down low?!”

Then I’m escorted out the door that leads to the back entrance where more people are milling around.

Michael comes from down the corridor as Luca says, “I was just going to call you. Take Fallon home and stay with her until I come.”

Michael studies me, his features inquisitively sad.

“No, Luca. I want you to come with me,” I beg, resting my palms on his hard chest, a shiver running down my spine.

Our gazes collide and I wait for agonizing seconds as he takes off his jacket, draping it over my shoulders while I stare at him pleadingly. He’s never denied me before when I’ve needed him, and I’m praying he won’t now.

But he breaks my heart when he resolutely orders, “Go. Home. We’ll talk later,” pulling off my hands and dropping them, clearly needing me away from the club. When he spins around and heads in the opposite direction, emptiness fills my soul.

“Come on, Fallon.” Michael guides me forward down the busy hall, and when he opens the back entrance, a freezing gust of wind hits my face.

I quickly slide my arms into Luca’s jacket before Michael leads me to his BMW. As I wrap the warm fabric that smells of Luca close around me, I’ve never felt sadder. I wanted him with me, not a fleeting memory of him.

I’m trapped in a daze, not even understanding where it all went wrong.

***

ONCE I’M INSIDE MY apartment, I kick off my heels and toss Luca’s jacket and my clutch onto the kitchen island, palming my forehead and blinking back tears.

Unbuttoning his tux, Michael regards me from across the island, saying, “Fallon.”

“Should we get the kids?” I ask.

“No, the kids are staying at Cam’s.”

“Who decided that?”

“Luca just texted me. What happened that made Luca livid enough to send you away?”

“After you left, I was able to provoke Tez, and he made an ambiguous statement to the effect that he’ll rescue me when I need him most, which was undoubtedly some kind of admission that he’s involved.”

Michael’s eyes round. “It’s ambiguous, yes, but is it an admission?”

I purse my lips and realize I need to get it together. “Yes, he said it as a threat. I lost it and lunged at him just as Luca walked up. Then when Logan and Henry got involved, Luca was incensed and just told me to go home.”

“How did Tez react?”

“He stayed calm and denied it, so I look like the irrational person. He’s up to something.”

“I suppose Luca’s grilling Tez now.”

I stare at the granite island and confess, “Or he’s going to drink his problems away like he’s been doing for days.” My gaze shoots up and I inquire, “What’s between Luca and the blonde bartender?”

A crease wrinkles his forehead. “What blonde bartender?”

“There’s a bartender who serves Luca alcohol and helps him keep it secret.”

“Really...”

“Yes. Even you didn’t know, so he’s hiding it very well. But he comes home reeking of alcohol, and he had a drink tonight, with her.”

“Do you think he’d do anything with her?”

“Like cheating? No, not when he’s himself, but a drunk person makes stupid choices...” I grimace as a tear streams down my cheek, and I wipe it away with the back of my hand.

Michael watches me sympathetically and then instructs, “You need to do damage control. You look so confused, Fallon. You’re all over the place while you worry about holding on to Luca, which makes it impossible for anyone to believe you. And Luca keeps his anger contained by drinking, apparently.”

“He numbs himself.” I spin around, the expanse of the large, empty penthouse depressing me. “I’m going to shower and change.”

Despondently, I tread to the bathroom and strip my red dress. For an endless amount of time, I stand under the water until I prune. Then I put on my jeans and a sweater and return to the living room to find that Luca still hasn’t returned.

Michael’s sitting on the couch and has turned on the TV, so I join him.

“Hasn’t Luca called?” Michael shakes his head as I check the clock hanging in the kitchen to see that it’s already almost eleven.

Unfortunately, more time ticks by without a word from Luca, and it gets to the point where I can no longer stifle my feelings of insecurity. Instead, they reinforce when Michael gets a call and brings his phone to his ear.

“Hey.” He shoots up. “What? Alone...okay. I’ll be right there. Watch him!” Michael cuts the call, pacing toward the elevator.

Leaping up, I trail him as he presses the button.

“Michael, was that about Luca? What’s wrong?”

“You were right; he’s wasted at the club. One of the guards called me.” The door opens and he gets inside, but I stand in the doorway to prevent him from leaving.

“Is he alone?” I ask, dreading the answer.

Michael glances away in annoyance and then meets my gaze. My heart pounds at three times its normal rate before he replies, “No,” making my soul shatter into tiny pieces while I deliberate whether to follow him or not.

Sometimes a heart that’s in love doesn’t want to be confronted with the excruciating truth.