Fight Me Little Pearl

Chapter 41

Chapter Forty-One

FRANCESCA

I t’s been a day since our argument, and Valentino still hasn’t said anything to me. Right now, we’ve both accidentally arrived at the breakfast table at the same time, but he’s not even spared me a glance since we sat together. We’re falling back into an old pattern and becoming strangers again.

He's on his phone, and I wonder who he’s texting.

Is it another woman?

I stop that train of thought before it grows worse. Valentino accuses me of not trusting him, but how can I when he’s everything a woman would want? He’s handsome, rich and powerful. And gorgeous women either turn up at my doorstep or on videos while I’m trying to eat grilled cheese on toast in my own home.

I sneak a glance at him. He’s wearing a suit, as usual, and it molds his body perfectly. His body is a work of art, but it’s his face that is simply devastating. This morning, he looks even more attractive, and it’s taking all of my willpower not to throw myself at him and apologize for what happened even though it is his fault. If there is a reasonable explanation for the lap dance then why didn’t he come home and tell me about it? Although for the life of me, I cannot imagine there would be any reasonable explanation of why he would need to have a lap dance other than for pure pleasure and sexual gratification.

I harden my heart. I don’t care how good he looks. Hell will freeze over before I apologize or allow him to treat me the way my father treated my mother. He’s clearly in the wrong here and I’m not sure why he’s acting like the victim. It must be the infamous Barone pride.

“What?” Valentino barks into his phone. There is a pause before he speaks again. “Okay. I’ll be right there. Yes. Send me a location. Good.” He hangs up and stands.

“Valentino,” I keep the emotions out of my voice. “I’ll be going out today.”

He looks completely uninterested. “Have a good day.”

My mouth falls open. Isn’t he going to ask where I’m going? Doesn’t he give a damn about my safety anymore? The way he has completely switched off hurts.

“That’s all?”

His eyes narrow. “Sorry. Is there something you wanted?”

I’d prefer it if he is upset and raging at me, but Valentino isn’t doing any of that. There’s no venom in his voice, only a detached indifference that slices my heart.

“Nothing.” I push away from the table and march up the stairs. Before I round the bend, I chance another look at him, but he isn’t looking my way. His attention is now on his phone!

Now that Valentino no longer pays me any attention, I realize just how much attention he used to give me and how he was always all over me. I could never pass by him without him touching me or slapping my butt. His eyes were always on me as long as I was in the room.

Now, he plainly doesn’t care.

He’s withdrawn into himself.

Okay, I’ll admit, I was wrong for comparing him to Thomas, but he let that slut dance on him and who knows what else happened afterwards? This is not my fault, and I won’t be apologizing. If he wants to stay mad, I don’t care.

I’m in the hallway leading to my old bedroom when a wave of nausea envelopes me. My eyes widen as vomit rises up my throat. Immediately, I run into my room and head straight for the toilet, puking my stomach contents into the closet. For the next couple of moments, I hang my head over the toilet. My face is covered in beads of sweat as I flush it down. I sit on the cold floor for a few minutes before I rise to rinse my mouth.

I’ve been feeling sick for a few days now, confirming that I need to see a doctor. Not today, though. I’ve always hated hospitals, and today, I’m in a foul mood. The last place I want to be is a hospital. I’d rather go shopping with Louisa, and then see a movie after.

I change into a casual outfit and am about to leave the room when there’s a knock on my door. It’s one of the servants. She smiles politely when I open the door.

“Hello?” I smile back. “How can I help you?”

“Signore Roberto Barone is waiting to see you downstairs. I have shown him to the living room.”

“Thank you. Tell him I’ll be down to see him shortly.”

“Okay, Signora.” She hurries off.

I groan in irritation because the last thing I want is to see another Barone family member. After the cruel stunt Federico pulled, it’s now clear that they’re a dysfunctional family.

To keep him waiting, I deliberately stall another few minutes before going downstairs. He’s sitting on one of the wingback chairs and rushes to his feet when I walk in.

“Signora Barone,” he says formally. “Good morning.”

I keep my expression neutral. “Good morning, Roberto.”

“Federico is in the hospital,” he says. “Valentino stabbed him in the thigh.”

To my surprise, I feel nothing. No guilt. No pity. No remorse. Nothing.

“He deserved it,” I say coldly.

“I agree,” Roberto continues. “For what he did to you and Valentino. I half thought Valentino would kill him, and he would have still deserved it.”

“What do you want me to say, Roberto?”

Roberto smiles. “You’ve met Serena, haven’t you?”

“Yes. I met her once. She’s Federico’s wife.”

“Yes, she is. She is also the unhappiest wife married into the Barone family.”

“What?”

“Federico cheats on her with every female that walks past him,” he says. “He’s a chronic cheat.”

“Are you any better? Is Valentino any better?”

“Me? No. But Valentino? Yes.”

I laugh cynically, but he doesn’t.

“Trust me, Francesca, I’m as shocked as you to see the man he has become because of you.”

I frown. “What are you talking about?”

“Valentino respects you enough to not cheat on you, even though in our world, it’s something we expect of men. Men can cheat on their wives all they want, and no one bats an eyelid. Valentino has been faithful to you.”

“I saw the video,” I snap.

“And Federico set it all up.”

I stare at him. “Look. Federico is your brother, Roberto. You don’t have to throw him under the bus because you want to support the boss.”

Roberto smiles. “Federico is my brother; that’s why you should believe me when I say this. Federico is an ass and Valentino is innocent.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me tell you exactly what happened,” Roberto says and dives into a recount of everything that happened that led to the video I watched. I stumble onto one of the chairs and drop my head into my hands.

Now I see why Valentino is so furious with me. He’s innocent, and once again, I didn’t honor his words. How can I ever fix this?

“Valentino completely rejected Rosalia,” Roberto says. “He didn’t even react to her. It was Federico who had sex with her that night.”

“What?” My head snaps up. To think I actually liked Federico.

“Yes. That’s the truth.”

My heart burns with hate for Federico, and I suddenly wish Vance had done more than put a knife to his neck and spit on him that day. “Why would Federico do such a mean thing to me and Valentino?”

Roberto shrugs. “Valentino’s devotion to you irritates him. And there’s been tension between them since Valentino and Matteo fell out.”

“Now that I’ve learned the extent Federico can go, it makes me wonder whether I could ever look at Federico and feel anything but distrust.”

At that very moment, Vance barges into the foyer. He looks murderous as he stares at Roberto.

“Get out,” he says. “Now.”

Roberto nods and walks toward the exit. “Goodbye, Signora Barone.”

When he disappears, I look at Vance. “That was rude.”

“I don’t care about being rude,” he says. “I’m only following my Boss’s instructions from now on. Roberto or Federico is not allowed in this house.”

“Why?”

He shrugs. “I’m just following instructions.” Then he clears his throat. “Are you ready to go, La Signora Barone?”

“Excuse me?”

“The Boss said you’re going out. I’m here to drive you and keep you safe.”

Despite my aversion to having a bodyguard, Vance’s words make me smile. Maybe Valentino still cares for me. It’s up to me to find a way to make things right.