The Best of Winter Renshaw - An 8 Book Collection - Winter Renshaw Page 0,501

Gianluca,” he says, shaking his head. “I could give two shits about losing Kerenza. Marrying her would’ve been a huge mistake. I realize that now. And in retrospect, she was probably always going to fuck me over. Just never thought she’d do it with my best friend of all people; the one person who was closer to me than all of my brothers combined.”

“Gianluca?” My eyes search his. “His name . . . is Gianluca?”

It’s not a name a person hears everyday, but this is New York, and there are millions of people living in this area. It wouldn’t be unusual for there to be a couple of Gianlucas in the mix.

“You know him?” Ace breathes harder, faster.

“I . . . I don’t know?” I lift my brows. “Is he a photographer?”

“Jesus.” Ace exhales, stepping away, dragging his hand hard across his face. “Have you worked with him on set or something?”

“No,” I shake my head, knowing this isn’t going to end well. At least not for Gianluca. “Just met him tonight. He . . . he came with Topaz . . . he’s in there.”

Ace turns from me, staring hard into the reception room.

“Figlio di puttana,” he mutters under his breath, fists clenched at his sides. I’m not sure what it means, but I’m sure it’s nothing pleasant. He looks like a bull getting ready to charge, but I can’t let him ruin Wren’s reception.

Placing my hand on his arm, I grip tight. “Stop. Don’t go in there. Please. Whatever you need to say to him, please save it. Or take it outside. I can’t let you cause a scene. Not here. Not tonight.”

Ace’s eyes are dark, his jaw tensing as he stares hard, eyes trained on his laughing, carefree ex-comrade putting the moves on my best friend.

Topaz glances up, and I wonder if she’s been checking on us off and on this whole time. I watch as she excuses herself from the table and rushes to the hall.

“Everything okay out here?” she asks.

Ace doesn’t answer, and Topaz gives me a look.

“Gianluca and Ace have a past,” I say, words dry and pointed.

“Oh, lord.” Topaz folds her arms across her chest, turning to look at Gianluca, who’s now chatting up my mother. “I sure know how to pick ‘em, don’t I?”

I place a hand on Topaz’s shoulder. “I don’t want to cause a scene. Can you call him out here? I think the two of them need to talk. Let’s take them out front.”

Topaz nods, leaving, and I pull Ace through the restaurant and toward the front façade of the building, beneath a green awning.

He paces as we wait, charging back and forth like a caged animal, dragging his hands through his hair.

The glass door swings open a minute later. It’s Topaz, followed by her date, the man of the hour. My heart stops cold when the two of them lock eyes, and they might as well be locking horns.

“Alessio,” Gianluca says. “It’s been a long time.”

Ace scowls, his forehead covered in harsh lines and his eyes dark like midnight.

“You come here to try and kill me again, or did you not learn your lesson last time?” Gianluca’s lips form a smug smile and he widens his stance, crossing his arms across his chest. He isn’t as big as Ace. He’s not as muscular either. He’s in shape, but his body is lean, like a runner who does the occasional push up.

I can tell Ace intimidates him, as there’s a small twitch in Gianluca’s left eye and his chest is slightly puffed. Given everything I’ve read and everything that’s come to light, Gianluca has good reason to be shaking in his motorcycle boots.

He betrayed his best friend in the worst way imaginable.

He should be terrified.

“Vigliacco senza spina dorsale.” Ace charges toward Gianluca, his face twisted and red. His fist is clenched, lifted, and inches from the side of Gianluca’s beautiful face, but Gianluca doesn’t flinch.

“Non la meritavi,” Gianluca spits back, expression hard.

“E che hai fatto?” Ace growls, jaw flexing. His stance is wide, but I can tell it’s taking everything he has not to come in for the kill. “Non importa ora. Ho perso un fratello. Un migliore amico. Mi hai tradito.”

“Non mi dispiace di essermi innamorato di lei.” Gianluca folds his arms tight across his chest.

“God, we need a translator,” Topaz mumbles as the two of them continue their exchange.

I’m completely lost. I have no idea what they’re saying, but I see pain in Ace’s eyes and a