Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

28. Luca

Chapter 28

Luca

A fter spending another couple of hours with Allegra and Nico where they regaled me with stories from our childhood to our induction into the famiglia , it was time to leave, much to my principessa’s disappointment.

Taking her into my arms, much to Nico’s annoyance, I explained to her that if I was any longer, and didn’t get back to Vincenzo, it would cause even more suspicion. We had to keep our knowledge of the situation quiet until we came up with a plan on how to move forward.

Truthfully, after her story of how we were intimate the first time, my cock was so hard I needed to get out of there before I did something stupid. Like take her in the bedroom and fuck her until she felt me between her thighs for the rest of her life.

Allegra was leaving Vegas tomorrow night, so we had less than twenty-four hours to come up with a plan. Nico had gifted me with a burner phone, so that we could stay in contact, not only for the rest of their trip but when they returned home to The Hamptons. While he had his PI looking into things back on the East Coast, I was going to dig deeper into Vincenzo and any connections he might have that could lead us to who was responsible for this.

From what Nico told me, he had no knowledge of the Conti’s before I mentioned them, meaning once again we were at a dead end. Though that wouldn’t stop us. Someone was guilty and we would find out who, no matter how long it took us or how deep we had to dig to find the information we wanted.

Despite the fact that I had this and my memory loss to worry about, it didn’t blind me from the fact that Allegra and Nico were hiding something from me. What that something was, I didn’t know. But before they left Las Vegas, I would be sure to find out. If we were going to get through this, we had to be completely honest with each other, even if it hurt us in the process.

We had a long way to go, but we would do it.

Together.

Strolling into my office at The Palazzo, I get seated behind my desk, waiting for the inevitable arrival of Vincenzo. He doesn’t disappoint. Within a couple of minutes he is in my doorway, eyes narrowed as tension rolls from him.

“Where have you been?” he bites out.

Flicking a glance at him, I respond, “I had another appointment with the specialist.”

“Two in two days?” he raises a condescending brow.

I shrug. “Yeah. He is eager to get to work with me.”

Vincenzo sighs. “I don’t think this is a good idea. I mean, did you even check out his credentials or background? He could be working for our enemies.”

“He isn’t,” I state, my tone bringing no room for argument. “Why the issue with me seeing another doctor, Vincenzo? Surely, you want me back to my old self, my brain working at full capacity. I also believe that it will help things in my marriage when I start to remember mine and Cat’s story.” The lie tastes like poison on my tongue but the importance of making Vincenzo believe I am still unaware, overshadows everything else right now.

I suspect that if Vincenzo gets even a hint that I know the truth, then he will not hesitate to kill me. I can’t have that. So, for now, I will put in effort to make him think he still has the upper hand.

He exhales, stepping further into the room. I can see the distrust in his beady eyes, so I keep my face a blank mask, not giving anything away. “I want to meet this specialist doctor, Luc. At least so I can do my own background checks. I wouldn’t want…” he twists his lips up thoughtfully. “Well, we wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, would we?”

I hear the underlying threat in his words, but I don’t break my act. Plastering on a fake smile, it takes everything to keep the mocking out of my tone.

“Always looking out for me, Vincenzo. I don’t think I can thank you enough for what you have done for me since my accident. If it were not for you and Cat, I don’t know where I would be.” It’s probably overkill but if there is anything people like to hear, its compliments.

He smiles smugly. “Of course. You are my best friend, Luca. My right-hand man. And my sister’s husband. You’re family. She loves you, Luc. So do the right thing by her. I know things have been messed up, but before everything happened, you were both ready for a family. Give her that. Give both of you that. A child will be a fresh start. Something that is needed.”

My lips curve into a forced smirk. “Are you telling me to go home and fuck my wife, Vincenzo.”

Disgust flashes across his face, though his lips curve up at one side. “Fucking gross. She might be your wife, but she is still my sister. I don’t need to hear about that shit.”

Laughing, I pull the screen of my laptop down, leaning back in my chair, a brow raising in question. “You’re the one that’s obsessed with me putting a baby in her. How exactly do you think that happens? A fucking stork?”

He waves me off, rolling his eyes. “I am aware of how it happens, Luc. Still don’t need to think about it.”

Just then a shadow falls over Vincenzo. My gaze darts behind him to find Benito in my door, a scowl on his face when he looks at me. His jaw is clenched, fists balled, and it doesn’t take a genius to work out he overheard our conversation. The jealousy rolling from his big body is tangible.

Shifting his gaze from me, he looks to Vincenzo. “I did my rounds on the casino floor. Everything is in order.”

Vincenzo nods, before glancing back at me. “Are you staying to work some more or going home?”

Rising from my chair, I decide to hit two birds with one stone. Antagonize Benito further and let Vincenzo believe that I am succumbing to his constant nagging of putting a baby in Caterina.

Snatching up my car keys, I smirk, rounding my desk.

“After our talk, I think I will go home to my wife . We have stuff we need to catch up on.” I wink to be an asshole.

Vincenzo smiles wide, slapping me on the shoulder, “Good choice. Hopefully in nine months I will be an uncle.”

Shooting him a smile as fake as my wife’s tits, I look at Benito whose face is bright red, anger radiating from every inch of him. He grits his teeth, and I smirk at the fact that he can’t act on what he really wants to do. Which is no doubt shooting me in the skull. He can’t do shit to me though.

He might be in love with Caterina, but he clearly had his orders to stay away from her. At least while I am in the picture.

“See you later.” I call out to both of them, shouldering past Benito and into the hallway.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t come back until my sister is pregnant,” Vincenzo shouts back, humor lacing his voice.

I smirk, happy with my performance back there.

They have no idea what is coming to them.

And by the time I am done with the lot of them…

They will wish they never set eyes on me.