the hell was I supposed to tell him? I’d rather suffer in a number of different ways than confess the truth. His eyes remained narrowed on me for a short while as though deciphering my thoughts, and then he took hold of my arms and slowly helped me back on my feet. His eyes assessed my probably pale face.
“Perhaps, it would be best if you stayed at home,” he suggested softly.
“Are you sure?” I asked, for the sake of pretenses, although all the tension in my shoulders relaxed with immense relief by his suggestion.
“I'm sure,” he confirmed in a soft voice. “Don't worry about me, cara. Just take care of yourself. You look like you could use a bit of peace and quiet.”
“Yes,” I breathed, wrapping my arms around my middle.
“Are you going to be okay or would you like me to send someone to help?”
“I'll be fine,” I assured him.
“Okay.” He laid a kiss on my forehead. “I'll see you later, then.”
We exchanged a curt smile, and then he left...
My eyes fluttered closed, head falling back slightly. Thank God he didn't demand I accompany him. Now I finally had an opportunity to talk to Broderick and warn him about Alessandro. I showered and dressed, then marched downstairs to look for Broderick. A member of the staff notified me that my bodyguard had left and didn't know when he'd come back.
Without a fail, he was always around this time of the day. I found it incredible that he would be gone this one time I really needed to talk to him, but I had no other choice than to wait.
I retreated to the library and read one of the books in Italian. I wrote down unknown words and then translated them in English. It was a good way to improve my vocabulary, and besides, I loved to read. I must have been there for a while when heavy steps resounded in the hallway. I looked up and spotted Broderick entering the library.
“I heard you were looking for me. Is everything okay?”
“Not exactly,” I confessed, placing the book down on the plush upholstery. “Alessandro went to the hospital to take off his cast.”
Broderick’s stance grew rigid. He knew what this meant. He stepped closer.
“Don't worry,” he assured me, crouching down to my level. “If he dares to do anything to hurt you, I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”
Broderick wasn't kidding. I believed he would do it to protect me, but that wouldn't solve anything. On the contrary, it would only cause more problems. Planning an accident was one thing; it was unassuming and more difficult to be linked back to the mastermind behind it. A direct attack ending in Alessandro's death would also attract the wrath of his lap dogs who would avenge him in a brutal and unforgettable way. Broderick and everyone close to him would serve as a warning to anyone who dared to even think of repeating his mistake. I thought of his sister's family and the newborn baby he had talked about. I couldn't let him risk the lives of innocent people for my sake.
“Broderick, I appreciate your help, but I think you should stay out of it,” I said quietly. “For your own sake.”
“Olivia, how can you expect me to sit back and twiddle my fingers while that bastard treats you like his private punching bag?”
“He’s my husband, Broderick,” I reminded him. “There’s nothing you or I can do to change that. We have tried and we have failed. Now we have to live with the consequences.”
“Olivia,” Broderick whispered my name, and laid his hand on my shoulder.
I quickly pushed it away.
“Broderick, don't touch me,” I warned harshly. “Don't talk to me. Don't smile at me. From now on, pretend I don't even exist while you're around me.”
Broderick grimaced in sheer confusion. “Olivia, what—”
“Ah, there you are, cara.”
At the sound of that rich drawl, both Broderick and I whirled in the direction of the door.
Alessandro stood by the threshold, accompanied by Lorenzo. It always amazed me how those two possessed the ability to move without being heard or noticed; like weightless shadows.
I took a long hard look at my husband, dressed in a black custom tailored suit that fitted him to a tee. The cast was gone and—in a matter of hours—he was back to being the smug, self-confident and dangerous man I knew all too well. Our eyes met, and the same cruelty that used to be ever-present glimmered in his gaze. He smirked