Ruined in Vows (Marchetti Family #3)

41. Allegra

Chapter 41

Allegra

T he atmosphere in Nico’s office is thick when Dante and I enter.

We both take a seat, and I wait for the inevitable scolding about me being in Dante’s room, but it never comes, although Nic does shoot us both a pointed look.

“What is this about?” Dante asks, getting straight to the point.

Nico clears his throat. “I wanted you both here to discuss two things. First, I have spoken with my contact in the Las Vegas PD. As expected, the body has not yet been identified because it’s too soon, but he assures me the report will come back as Luca Mancini. The investigation into the fire has started and they are currently trying to gather witnesses. As we know, there will not be any. He has also guaranteed that when they close the investigation into the fire it will be listed as arson, although the media will spin it as an unfortunate electrical accident.”

“Just as we planned,” Dante drawls.

Nico nods. “Yeah. They have not yet spoken with your wife –”

“She is not my wife,” Dante fires back, cutting him off, his voice tight.

Nico ignores him, continuing, “Considering she is out of town. They have also not talked with Vincenzo yet, but that is their next call. I have it on good authority, Caterina has cut her trip short and is on her way back to Las Vegas with Benito, as per Vincenzo’s instruction. Vincenzo believes it was a targeted attack by their enemies and is currently in talks with his allies to help secure his position and assets in Las Vegas.”

“I don’t give a fuck what he is trying to secure. I want to know who helped him with getting and keeping me in Vegas,” Dante barks, running his hand through his hair in frustration.

Dropping a hand to his thigh, I rub gently hoping it will soothe him.

“Calm down, Dante. We will figure it out.” He glances at me, taking the hand on his leg, entwining it with his, before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my temple.

“Sorry, principessa, ” he murmurs the apology.

“No need to apologize. The not knowing is frustrating for all of us, but especially you.”

A throat clears and we both look at my brother. “As I was saying before your tantrum,” Nico smirks as Dante glares. I roll my eyes and shake my head. “What I found interesting is that Tommaso Giordano is one of those allies.”

“Who is Tommaso Giordano?” Dante asks, his interest piqued.

“He is the boss of the Giordano organization in Miami. Though he likes to think he is a big fish, he is more smalltime.”

“Get to the point,” Dante grates out.

“He is married to Vincenzo’s older half-sister,” Nico tells us.

“Vincenzo has another sister. How did I not know this?” Dante asks it as a question but it's rhetorical.

“They hid her well,” Nico drawls before continuing. “Anyway, my PI has been looking into connections and such, but couldn’t find anything.” His stare bounces between us both. “Until this morning. Giordano is Riccardo’s second cousin from his dead mamma’s side.”

My heart rate kicks up in my chest at the news. Dante freezes.

Is this the information we have been looking for?

“What does this mean?” I whisper, almost scared to say it out loud.

Dante squeezes my hand, his voice a rumble when he speaks. “What are you saying, Nic?”

My brother runs a hand through his hair. “I’m saying we may have found our connection. My PI is looking further into it and will hopefully find the paper trail we have been searching for.”

“Dante,” I choke out, my throat tight with emotion.

“I know, principessa ,” he whispers, though he keeps his attention on my brother.

Nico sighs. “Look, I don’t want to build your hopes up. It could mean nothing. It could mean everything. I don’t know. For all we know, Riccardo has no clue about his second cousin. It’s possible, considering Franco did everything he could to forget his ex-wife. The kids were young when she died and, I would assume, Franco never forced them to have a relationship with any of their mamma’s family.” Nico’s words are like a bucket of ice-cold water, shitting all over the small glimmer of hope, but I don’t let it ruin my mood. I know he is just being cautious.

“It is something. I feel it,” I say with grit.

Because it has to be. There is no other outcome for this but me and Dante together.

“Leg,” my brother warns.

I shake my head. “No. I won’t hear any of the negatives. This is it. Remember how you felt when you got the call about Ocean? Though you didn’t know for sure, every fiber in your body told you it was true,” I remind him.

He exhales, grunting out. “Yeah.”

“Well, that’s how I feel.”

My brother stares at me for a long beat, conceding. “Okay. Now the next part of what I wanted to discuss with you is a little more…” he trails off and my stomach sinks. I know before he even says it what it is going to be about. “Delicate.”

Dante tenses beside me, his grip on my hand tightening almost painfully.

“What does Riccardo want?” he bites out, obviously picking up on where Nico was going.

Nico’s gaze bounces between us, an apology in his eyes. “He wants to have dinner with Allegra tonight.”

“Absolutely not,” Dante roars, shooting up out of his chair.

“Calm down,” Nico barks.

“No. How would you feel if it was your wife having to go to dinner with another man.” Dante snaps, pacing the room and shooting my brother a challenging look.

Nico tenses, rage emanating from every inch of him. He looks murderous and I know Dante said the wrong thing.

“Don’t ever fucking talk about my wife and another man. Best friend or not, I will shoot you in the head.” His voice is deathly quiet, the threat clear.

Nico would kill him.

Dante glares. “And that’s exactly how I feel.”

“Both of you calm down,” I shout, gaining both of their attention. “We can discuss this like adults.”

Nico inhales a calming breath, sighing. “Allegra is right. Sit down, Dante.”

Dante does as he is asked, taking the seat beside me once again and holding my hand.

“What are we going to do about this?” he asks, but I can't give him the answer he wants to hear.

“Nothing. I already agreed to it.” Dante tenses beside me. I stroke his hand, silently asking him to calm down. “It’s no coincidence that he has asked for dinner. Think about it? After the fire last night, I believe he wants–”

“You think this is his way to ensure you are none the wiser?” Dante deduces, cutting me off.

Nico speaks before I get the chance to.

“Yes.” He looks at me. “There is no doubt in my mind he is going to be looking at you closely tonight, Leg. You just have to make sure you keep your poker face in place and don’t slip up.”

Glaring at the little faith he has in me, I say, “I know. Even though he believed I was in Miami, Riccardo was the same after I came home from Vegas. Asking questions without asking them. I have quickly realized; it is his modus operandi. But trust me when I say, I know how to handle him.” I assure them.

“I don’t like this,” Dante grumbles.

Smiling up at him, I squeeze his hand.

“Don’t underestimate me, Dante. I know exactly how to play Riccardo Romano.”