have things to do here. I'm not ready to say goodbye." Nicoletta's bottom lip wobbles.
Something tells me those puppy eyes she's throwing at her father have worked for her before.
"You will have to say goodbye tonight," Gustavo says with finality.
"What about my things?" Nicoletta insists, glaring at him. "My kittens, my books... I haven't packed up anything..."
"I'm sure your husband will supply a new wardrobe." Gustavo smirks. "As for the kittens... They don't belong in a house like this. We'll have to get rid of them."
"What?" Placing her hands on the table, Nicoletta shoots up. "Papa, please, let me keep one—"
"They can go to the maids." Gustavo waves his hand. "It doesn't matter. You're leaving with Adrian tomorrow."
I'm shocked by his sudden cruelty. It makes me wonder whether he's always shown such a hot and cold attitude toward his daughter. It must've fucked her up.
Nicoletta storms out of the room.
Gustavo continues to calmly drink his grappa and my brother sits there with his fists clenched.
"Ah," Gustavo mutters, setting his glass down. "Da Costa grappa. My fucking favorite. Have you heard what happened to them?"
I glance at Ryder. How much should I reveal?
My brother gives me a barely perceptible nod.
Gustavo grabs my arm and offers me a glass of grappa to toast with. "Think it's a damn shame about all those people," Gustavo says. "But especially about the girl. They said she's gone. Disappeared. She was a sexy one, that Marzia."
My mouth sets in a thin line. Is he fucking playing me, making guesses? I force myself to keep my lips pressed together. I can't reveal Marzia is my prisoner, much less tell this man I'm going to slit his fucking throat if he doesn't stop talking shit about my woman.
"If I ever got my hands off her, she'd never be as pretty." He smirks. "I like leaving little mementos. Something to remember me by."
My vision darkens.
Ryder stands up and claps a hand on my back. "Well, I think it's about time we took a walk, brother. I need to speak to you before you leave tomorrow."
"Of course," I get out through gritted teeth, forcing myself to smile at Gustavo. "If you'll excuse us."
My brother leads the way as we walk out to the quarters they've assigned him. Everything here is so damn gaudy and expensive. Ryder's room looks like something in a hotel that someone with no taste decorated.
"Is Gustavo always like this?" I demand as soon as Ryder closes the door and locks it.
"Unfortunately," he grits out. "The man's mood swings by the second and Nicoletta usually bears the brunt of it."
"She's an only child, right?"
Ryder nods. "He dotes on her as much as he punishes her. It's hard to witness most of the time."
"Have you gotten to know her well while you've been staying here?"
My brother's face darkens even more. "Not that well."
His behavior makes me wonder what he's hiding. "But is she a good person?"
He hesitates before nodding. "She is a good girl."
"Are you coming back with us tomorrow?"
"No," Ryder says. "Gustavo wants one of us to stay here. Collateral."
"In case of..."
"You fucking up with Nicoletta." Ryder shrugs.
"Fucking up how?"
"Not marrying her?" Ryder stares me down. "You are still planning on marrying her, right?"
"Don't worry about it," I mutter. "Either way, I have to take her back with me. I just don't know what the fuck I'm going to do with Marzia. The two of them under the same roof...You just know it won't end well."
"Just keep them separate." Ryder shrugs. "And don't fuck them both."
"Trust me, I have no intention of that," I mutter. "I'm sorry you have to stay behind. I'll make sure nothing bad happens."
"I can take care of myself."
I look at my brother, trying to see him without a biased point of view. He's tall now, as tall as I am, and he's grown up. He's handsome—he's had as many women as I have at least. But there's something different about him, something I can't quite explain.
Something tells me if I ask him, he won't tell me the truth about this sudden change.
20
Marzia
I've been waiting only for a day. The next morning, I see a limousine pulling up in front of the house. Adrian exits the car and buttons his blazer while I hide with my back pressed against the wall, so he won't notice me prying, hidden in the curtains at my window.
I don't want him to have the satisfaction of knowing I've been waiting for him. He would be so smug