Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

19. Luca

Chapter 19

Luca

Present

T he sound of a cell phone ringing brings Allegra’s trip down memory lane to a stop. Ignoring it, my gaze locks on my angel’s wrist, where the bracelet I apparently gifted her sits against her smooth olive skin.

I try to search my memory for anything that might remind me of that night but come up empty. Frustration claws at my throat, but I push it down, not wanting to lash out at the wrong person.

“I think that’s your phone,” Allegra’s soft voice has my eyes snapping to hers. She smiles, though I see the worry in her beautiful blue orbs.

Sighing, I fish my phone from my jacket pocket, glowering when I see the name flashing on the screen. Caterina. My jaw clenches, and I stab at the decline button rejecting the call. It’s pointless really. I know my wife won’t give up until she finds me. And if she can’t, she will instruct her brother to search for me.

From what I have gathered from the conversations with Nico and Allegra, it seems that Vincenzo and Caterina have constructed a story and history close to my own. If I were to guess, the only reason for doing this would be so that, if any of my memories did happen to return, or I remembered anything, then they could pass it off as me just mixing up names.

Again, that is only viable if what these people are telling me is true. They both seem trustworthy and confident in what they say. So, if in fact this is all made up and they are my enemies, why go through the motions of all this? Why not just take me instead? Because they could. With the number of guards and weapons, they could easily just put a bullet in my head or use me as a pawn in whatever game they are playing. But I really don’t believe that is the case. Not with the way my body reacts and the fact that my mind is calm in her presence.

Once more, I have so many questions and no real answers. No matter how much I sieve through my damaged brain, nothing is coming back to me. There is a flicker of a memory, but it doesn’t form, leaving me even more frustrated at this whole messed up situation. The sound of my phone ringing cuts through the silence. Caterina’s name flashes up at me like a warning beacon.

Sighing out loud, I release Allegra’s hand and stand. I know that my time is up and if I don’t want Vincenzo to get involved, I need to answer. “I better go.” My voice is solemn, my body physically aching just saying those three words.

Allegra looks up at me, her face a picture of hurt. My chest tightens, and I have this weird urge to take her in my arms. To tell her that everything will be okay. But I am not going to lie to her. Because truthfully, I don’t know if it is.

“Right,” she rasps, swallowing hard, her teeth clamping down on her pouty bottom lip.

My cock jerks to attention, and I wonder what it would feel like to have the plump pink flesh wrapped around my length. I shake the thought away. Christ, I have officially turned into a horny teenage boy around this woman. I search her face. We never got further in our story, but… did we have sex? I want to ask her, but one look at her brother, and I am sure I will get a punch to the face. Or worse, a bullet in my skull.

“I would ask to take your number, but I don’t know if my calls and texts are being monitored.” I frown. “Now that I think about it, I don’t know if my phone is being tracked.”

“I’m one step ahead of you,” Nico says, sauntering over to us. “When my men searched you, they pinned you with this tiny device that blocks your phone from being traced,” he drawls, reaching for the lapels of my jacket and removing a small, round, black pin that I never noticed.

My eyes narrow, a glare forming on my face when I snap out, “Asshole.”

He chuckles. “There are no levels I will not stoop to, to protect my family.”

“I thought I was your family?” I shoot back, testing him.

The humor vanishes from his face, gaze turning sharp, calculating. “You are. But right now, Dante, you don’t know what is the truth and what is a lie. We know you, but you don’t know us. And until we can figure out what is going on with your brain, the extent of your injuries, we don’t understand what we are dealing with.” He shrugs. “You might never remember us. You might believe the lies that you have been fed. I mean, I have to give it to whoever orchestrated this whole thing, they are good and covered all bases. My job is to look after my family and find out the reasons behind such a detailed plan. I mean, they covered every avenue. So why did someone go to these extremes to remove you from our life and let us believe you were dead?” he asks the question, though he knows I am just as clueless as he is to the reasoning behind it.

“That’s all a good point you make Nico, but again, it could all be an elaborate part of some fucked up revenge plot you have against my family.” I hate the choked sound that leaves Allegra’s mouth at my words. My stomach turns, guilt coating my tongue. But I can’t back down now. I can’t afford to trust or believe anything right now. “Until I do some digging, and find the answers I’m looking for, I won’t believe anything as the truth.”

He barks out a laugh, shaking his head. Amusement flashes in his blue eyes. He is fucking mocking me, the asshole. Truthfully, there is a part of me that believes them. But I can’t be reckless, or foolish because this woman elicits a reaction in my cock. I can’t take their words as gospel. I need to use my head, not listen to my heart. Need to protect myself and go into this with my eyes wide open. I can’t trust anyone right now.

Movement out of the corner of my eye has my gaze locking on my angel. My chest constricts when I find the hope in her blue eyes replaced with the empty, lost look she held when I first saw her. I hate it. Want to remove it. My pulse kicks up, going haywire. I step forward, only to pause when I remember my earlier thoughts. Trust no one. Trust nothing.

Shaking my head, I realize that I can’t give her false hope. Despite not understanding this pull toward her, something tells me we are connected in ways I don’t remember. And as much as I want to take her hand and run into the sunset, I can’t. It’s not safe for either of us. Not until I find what I’m looking for. So, for right now, I have to keep her at arm’s length.

“We are your family, motherfucker,” Nico grates out.

Throwing him a look of exasperation, I start for the door. “I will be back.”

“When?” Allegra’s panicked voice stops me.

The sound of my cell phone ringing again , has me grinding my teeth together and it takes all my self restraint not to smash it to dust.

Glancing over my shoulder, I speak, “Tomorrow?”

She rushes toward me and when she places her palms on my chest, my whole body lights up, flooding me with so many emotions, I nearly fall to my knees. I swallow. My gaze taking in every part of her beautiful face as she implores me with her eyes.

“We leave in a couple of days. I have to…” she trails off, shaking her head. I hear the urgency in her voice. “No, I need to make you see the truth before we head back to New York.” Her breath catches, eyes squeezing shut as if she is in pain. They snap open, focused and determined. “You know me, Dante.” Her hand covers my erratically beating heart. “You feel our connection, deep inside just as I do. Even when I thought you were dead, my soul was tethered to yours. Just like yours is chained to mine. Dig deep, I know you will find what you’re looking for.”

My throat tightens with emotion, and I realize I have no way to contact her. I mean I could always grab a burner phone but there is no way, Caterina or Vincenzo won’t find it eventually. So, I tell her the only thing I can right now. “I will come back tomorrow. Five P.M.”

That way Vincenzo will think I’m leaving work early and my wife will be at her weekly blow dry appointment. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit, and I should be able to go undetected.

Allegra smiles, those blue eyes lighting up and her shoulders sagging in relief. “Okay.”

I smile, stepping back so her hands drop from my body and pulling the door open. “Okay.”

Climbing into my car, I slump back against the seat, feeling exhausted. After the last hour, my emotions and thoughts are all over the place, ping ponging between all the stories I have been told.

Shaking my head, I press the button to turn on the ignition, and wait for my phone to connect to the Bluetooth before I call my wife back. But instead of putting my vehicle in drive I stay stationary. Anxiety claws at my skin with all the unanswered questions. The deceit.

Scrubbing a hand across my jaw, I mull over everything I have just been told. And even though I can’t remember a thing of my… maybe past, I can’t deny the stirring of something in my head. I don’t know whether it was the story or her but there was a familiarity there. The same feeling I experienced when I first saw my angel. Begging the question I have asked myself since my first interaction with Allegra.

What if they are telling me the truth?

Though I had my initial concerns about them being enemies, I don’t believe that now. I was unarmed and neither Vincenzo, Caterina nor anyone else knew where I was. It was the perfect opportunity if Nico were going to use me or do anything and yet… They looked at me with happiness and relief. It is confusing as fuck, but I can’t deny, it’s questioned everything I thought I believed – or the version of the story Vincenzo and his sister have given me anyway.

My cell phone ringing startles me from my thoughts. I grimace when I see Vincenzo’s name flashing on the screen. No doubt Caterina has called him, asking about my whereabouts, like the little fucking annoyance she is.

Clearing my throat, I hit the answer button on my steering wheel. “Vincenzo?” I greet nonchalantly.

“Where the fuck are you? Cat called me sobbing her heart out because she couldn’t get ahold of you?” he barks. I grit my teeth, having had just about enough of him getting involved in my relationship .

“I am not a fucking child, Vincenzo,” I hiss. “And I have hit my fucking limit with you and your sister on my case all the time. Stay out of my marriage.” The word tastes like poison in my mouth, but right now, I can’t let on about Nico or Allegra.

“It fucking concerns me when you upset my sister. Now where the fuck are you? We have work to do,” he bites out.

Sighing, I say the first thing that comes to my head. “I had an appointment with a specialist doctor about my headaches.”

He goes silent. So quiet, I almost think the call was cut out. But then he speaks again, his voice tight. “Why didn’t you tell anyone about this? Our family doctor is on call for any of your needs, Luca. You know that? Why go to someone else who doesn’t know your… history.”

My brows raise, eyes narrowing at the windscreen. It’s a strange response but one that tells me everything. Vincenzo is hiding something. There is a reason he only wants me seeing the doctor on his payroll. My chest tightens. Did Vincenzo just confirm that they have been lying to me this whole time?

“Your doctor isn’t a specialist. Again, I am an adult and can make my own decisions. If I want to see another medical professional, then I will.” I state, my voice leaving no room for argument.

“I want the details of this doctor. You know, so that I can investigate him, make sure he is legit. You’re vulnerable right now, Luca. I wouldn’t want anyone taking advantage of you.” His voice has softened but I hear the underlying threat.

I bite back a snort, ignoring his demand. “I will be there shortly.”

“Okay. And call your fucking wife,” he snaps before ending the call.

Shaking my head, I drop my cell into the center console, my mind an even bigger jumbled mess after that conversation.

Whatever Vincenzo and Caterina are hiding, I will find out.

More now than ever, I am determined to uncover the truth.

No matter where it takes me or how hard it is.