She’s My Queen

15. The wolf entered the house

15

THE WOLF ENTERED THE HOUSE

CRISTINA

C orrado briefed me on what to say if people start asking questions about Gio. I’m to say my mother and Gio are on an emergency business trip in the Arab Emirates, the one Gio’s deputy was supposed to attend in his stead. Romeo, the deputy, a handsome man I found attractive one spring during my senior year of high school, paid me a visit this morning.

He’s in my kitchen asking questions I can’t answer.

Why isn’t Gio answering my calls?

Why is your mother with him when it should’ve been me?

Why do you look like you’ve been crying?

Romeo’s blond hair reaches past his chin, and he always tucks it behind his ears. He is green-eyed, with chiseled cheeks and a kind smile. When we were teens in high school, he asked me out. I said yes. The date never happened because my dad forbade me from dating, “Even if the boy is nice.”

After high school, Romeo went to college in Rome and returned only a few years ago. Since then, he’s worked for my dad and, after my dad passed away, for Gio. He dates tourists. A different one each season. That seems to be working out for him.

I studied culinary arts so I could work in a job I’ll lose if I can’t get myself together enough to show up for work in a few days. Oh, and also, I fake-married dad’s recently deceased business partner. It looks to me like his life turned out way better than mine.

I baked Romeo a ricotta pie and deflected his questions as best as I could. Now, I just want him to shove a piece of pie into his mouth and shut up. I also want him to stop looking so concerned for my well-being. It makes me wonder what would have happened if my parents had allowed me to go out with him.

The smell of the pie makes my mouth water. I lean on the counter and fork off a piece from my plate. “It’s just right,” I say after I’ve swallowed. “Try it.”

From across the counter, Romeo picks up his fork, but doesn’t dig in. His eyes are darting away, and he seems uncomfortable, as if he’s about to ask more questions of a sensitive, private nature. It occurs to me that I must look this way to Severio when I want to ask things I’m too afraid to hear the answer to.

Since I’ve caught myself thinking about Severio more often than not, I make a conscious effort to stop, and surely talking to Romeo will make it stop. “What’s bothering you?” I ask.

“There are rumors floating around about your wedding night.”

Uh-oh. I might need to eat another piece of pie. “What are they saying?”

“I’m sure it’s only gossip and not true.”

“What are they saying?” I sound annoyed.

“That you spent your wedding night with Gio’s nephew, the one you seemed cozy with during the fireworks.”

“We weren’t cozy.”

“It seemed like it.” Romeo pulls out his phone and slides it across the counter.

In the picture, taken from behind Severio, the fireworks are on the right. I’m wearing my wedding dress and facing the fireworks, while Severio’s head is clearly turned toward me. Under the shadows made by the hanging wisteria trees, we don’t appear just cozy. We appear like star-crossed lovers.

I’d give up whatever little inheritance I have left to see his face. Why is he looking at me when he should be watching the fireworks?

I want to ask Romeo to send me the picture, but I push the phone back to him. “You know I would never cheat on Gio.” I shove some pie into my mouth before I start overexplaining, which can make me sound guiltier.

“I think this man, his nephew, made you do it.”

I frown, my heart starting to bounce in my chest. “That’s farfetched even for the gossip mill.”

Romeo leans in. “You can tell me, Cristina. I’ve worked with your dad and with Gio’s administration for a long time. I know they’re involved in shady business. I’ve come across encrypted emails, secret accounts, bogus companies. I just…” He covers my hand with his. “I can help you.”

His warm touch is comforting, and I don’t withdraw my hand. “You’re right that there’s a problem.”

“I knew it!” He pumps his fist.

“But it’s not what you think. My marriage to Gio, as you might’ve guessed, was arranged because of my father’s passing. After the wedding ceremony, we had a big fight. Gio hated that I went to Severio and tried to talk him into staying on the island a little longer. Severio is very wealthy, and it would help to have three villas in the resort rented for the summer. You snapped a picture of the moment the fireworks exploded, and I turned toward them before Severio did. That’s all.”

Romeo squeezes my hand. “That man, Severio. I looked him up.”

“Don’t.” I withdraw my hand. “Please don’t look for information about him.”

I must sound as scared as I feel, because Romeo comes around the counter. “You know about him.”

I don’t know what he’s referring to, but I nod anyway because I’m ready for Romeo to eat the pie and leave. When he gets close, too close to me, I step back. “You should go.”

Romeo shakes his head. “You don’t understand. Your dad and I have been looking for ways to take Severio down, and if you have even a little information about him or his dealings, anything at all, our partners will pay us handsomely. You can finally leave the island and start over.”

I back away and hit the wall. The exit is on the other side. I’m trapped, and as I’m trying to slide against the wall, Romeo slaps a palm against the wall next to my face.

“You’re scaring me,” I tell him.

His other hand comes on the other side of my face, trapping me in earnest. I have no false sense of badassery when faced with a man stronger and more agile than me. If I try to run, he’ll catch me. If I push him, I won’t get far enough. Both options will make him snap.

He probably found traces of the Order, but can’t figure out what’s really going on, so he kept digging until he got in touch with some people just as curious about Severio as he is.

He mentioned my dad because Daddy probably researched the Order and had Romeo investigate some finances. Gio and Dad might’ve considered Romeo for the Order. I have no idea, but I know I must keep quiet.

Romeo wants validation of his theories. He wants me to acquiesce. “I know about Severio.”

Romeo’s eyes light up. There’s joy behind the gaze. This will calm his mind, settle his conspiracy theories long enough for him to back off from me.

“You’re right,” I say. “Severio is a shady character. Which is why we must be careful. Don’t you think?”

Romeo steps back and runs a hand through his hair. He begins to pace.

The doorbell rings, and I freeze, wondering who’s at the door.

“I asked my assistant to bring the mail from the office. If you don’t mind, I was thinking I’ll work from your dad’s study today. There’s a small green book Gio wants me to bring to the conference.”

The ledger. I believe he’s looking for the ledger that Corrado took. I have no idea what’s in that thing, but it’s something everyone wants.

“I don’t mind,” I say, because he’s expecting this answer.

The doorbell rings again, and Romeo moves toward it. Before he answers, he fixes his suit and hair. With a smile plastered on his face, he opens the door, but from the way his smile falters, I know it’s not Romeo’s assistant.

He takes a step back. “Can I help you?”

“Certainly,” a man says.

It’s Severio’s voice.

But it can’t be. The Mancinis left the island three days ago, right after Corrado took the leather-bound book that Romeo wants. I’m imagining his voice now. Jesus, I need a break from him and all the madness he’s brought into my life.

A man’s black sneaker is followed by black sweatpants and a white T-shirt. A baseball cap hides his face. Even though he’s not wearing a suit and looks like he stepped off the alpha-male runway, I recognize his perfectly straight nose, high cheekbones, and strong jaw.

Severio Mancini is in my house.

Romeo doesn’t want to move out of his way, so the men are at a standoff. They’re about the same height, with similar broad shoulders and strong bodies, but that’s where the similarities end. Romeo’s ambition appears like dominance only when Severio isn’t around.

Severio is intimidating even when not trying to be. Now he’s trying.

“What are you doing here?” he asks Romeo, as if he has the right to question him about being in my house.

“Hi,” I pitch in cheerfully from the kitchen and make a show of wiping my hands on a kitchen rag, but really, I need something to clutch as I walk toward the men. Once near the door, I see another man standing in the middle of the path from the gate to the entrance.

A white baseball cap shields his head from the sun. Wearing a white cotton T-shirt, shorts that fall just below the knee, and flip-flops, he looks like a tourist. His right hand is in his pocket as he surveys my home, seemingly counting something on his left hand.

But I have a bigger problem than the stranger in my yard. It’s right in front of me.

“You’re just in time for pie,” I say as if I’d been expecting Severio. “Come in, come in. This is Romeo, Gio’s deputy, who’s working out of Dad’s office today.”

Severio remains unmoving, as if I hadn’t said a word. He’s staring at Romeo, and Romeo is staring back. I tug Severio’s elbow.

At first, he doesn’t move, but when I tug harder, Severio turns his head toward me. His blue eyes are glacial. Clear, cunning, and completely devoid of emotion. I release his elbow and swallow.

Romeo offers his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Severio stares down at the offered hand, and when I think he won’t shake it, he smiles like a shark might smile at a piece of flesh sinking from the surface of the sea. He clasps Romeo’s hand. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Severio steps away and bends toward me to plant a kiss on my cheek. “I’m visiting with my aunt. What are you doing here in the middle of the day while my uncle is away?”

Romeo blushes at the question. For all intents and purposes, I’m a married woman, and while I’m not Severio’s aunt, his answer puts Romeo in a position where he’s the intruder. He’s not. He’s been at my house more times than I can count, and Severio is the intruding party.

“I…” The implication of infidelity and wrongdoing makes Romeo stammer. “I was going to work here.”

“Why?” Severio asks, then kicks the door. It slams closed.

Romeo swallows.

“Your friend is still outside,” I say, mentioning the man I saw in the yard.

“That’s my hitman,” Severio says.

Romeo blinks, frowns, probably wondering if he heard him correctly.

“Severio is joking,” I say.

“I’m not. Ask him.” Severio opens the door wide enough for Romeo to walk out if he wants to.

“Hey, Drago,” Severio calls the man, and the man climbs the steps and leans against the doorjamb, ignoring both Romeo and me.

“Tell this bird what you do for me,” Severio says.

Drago sizes up Romeo while his hand moves to the back of his pants. I’m a quick study, and I’ve got Corrado to thank for knowing what the gesture means.

I grab Romeo’s hand and start to drag him outside. Once we’re in the yard, I shake him by the shoulders. “What is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?” He points at the men. “The most-wanted crime lord is threatening me with his hitman. I’m calling the police.”

I gasp. “Please, Romeo. Leave. Leave the town, the island, and forget you were ever here.”

Romeo looks from me to the men and then back to me. “Come with me. Right now. It’s broad daylight, and you have cameras around the house. They can’t touch us out here. Let’s get out of here and never come back.”

There’s no place the Order won’t find me. “Go, Romeo.”

Something sinister passes over his expression. It’s the same expression as the one he wore when he pinned me against the wall. I don’t think he knows what to do. He’s scared, and fear makes people do things they regret.

“You’re coming.” Romeo starts to drag me toward the street, but Severio materializes in front of me. My face hits Severio’s chest at the same time as I hear a pop and something thudding onto the ground.

In Severio’s arms, I freeze. “Dear Mary. Dear Mary. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I did.”

“Romeo just wanted to help me.”

“He was a tragedy from the get-go.”

I sob as Severio walks us into the house.