I’m plugging in my phone, moving to the bathroom as I turn the shower on, feeling Francesco’s rage as he stands in the bedroom, looking around like he is going to explode at any second.
What time is it?
“Tessa and Sammie went out to party and slipped their guards last night. Which was convenient timing since you sent out an emergency message about the club which gave Madeline a chance to break out of her place.” He is nervously moving around as he talks and I can feel his anxiety
I defiantly did not sent out any messages so I need to figure out how that happened.
“I didn’t have my phone with me to dispute this message because I was a little…tied up. And I’m sure that Ilaria had you too distracted to check in with anyone because I think she’s the ringleader of this fucking circus. This card shark that we’re dealing with. I think it’s your fiancée.” He is ranting and I can sense him pacing around the bathroom because he has no sense to give me privacy.
The hot water is pouring over me but I’m frozen as Francesco’s words wash over me, thinking about the information I had been reading after Ilaria had gone to bed.
The places that were hit matched up to places Ilaria’s friends had been on trips.
The Cartel called me in to help them having evidence that Becca was involved with things but did they also know Ilaria was mixed up with this all?
Jesus Christ, this woman would be the death of me.
I wanted to be angrier.
I want to feel the rage that should be flowing through me right now that she had managed to get in such a mess and now I needed to clean it all up. But instead all I can think about was how she was going through all these lengths to clean up her mess.
But Ilaria was mine.
My fiancée.
My responsibility.
I needed to show her that she was safe with me. Which meant cleaning up this fiasco that she had gotten into with the wrong people; I was sure there was a good reason she had done this. Ilaria was too smart to start problems without a reason.
And I needed to hear from her the reason why.
Stepping out of the shower, I towel off as I listen to Francesco pace and rage like a madman over everything. He’s worked up more than normal. All his cool confidence is now boiling rage. My eyebrow suddenly rises as I watch him look down at the phone and curse loudly at what he sees.
“What do you mean you were tied up?”
His head snaps to look at me and I watch the way his jaw clenches as he glares at me with such a vivid annoyance that I know Becca managed to do something to him. Something that my cousin is very mad about.
“It means that Ilaria’s friend is in trouble.”
He shoves his phone in his pocket which means there’s evidence of whatever happened is on there.
There’s a bit of redness on his wrists that his tattoos mostly hide but I’m starting to realize Francesco underestimated the petite blonde and is regretting it. No one ever pulls one over on my cousin and the idea that he underestimated Ilaria’s friend is driving him crazy.
But it seems we underestimated them all.
I get dressed, taking my time as I realize that each second that passes is putting Francesco more on edge. But where he is the hurricane, wild and unpredictable I’m the aftermath. The calmness that looks over the destruction comes up with plans on how to rebuild. And right now my mind is working.
“That fucking-”
I look at Francesco who is staring at the phone like he can somehow make it catch fire and walk over as I slide my watch on, looking over his shoulder as he stares at the picture app story Becca just posted.
They’re all at brunch in white dresses, dresses that do not leave a single thought to the imagination.
Except Ilaria.
Ilaria is in the middle of the picture, her back to the camera, a black dress on as she looks over her shoulder with a seductive smirk. But I can’t stop staring at the leather jacket she is wearing. Painted on the back is Mrs. Luchese.
Possession shoots through me.
My last name on her making me smile despite the fact I should be much more upset with her than I am.
“Well, at least we know they’re not meeting with the Cartel yet. Call and set up a meeting in Vegas. I’m sure that the girls already planned to meet them. I want to surprise my fiancée at the meeting. Not a word of what happened to the girls. We’ll act like we want them to have time together, give them a sense of freedom.”
“Before we take it away.”
Francesco wanting to cage Becca surprises me but I don’t make a comment on it. It’s good he’s invested, wanting to work things out. I need my cousin to be a little angry in times like this. He works best in moods like he is currently in.
Picking up my phone I see the missed texts from Ilaria:
I can’t wait to marry you. If you keep tempting me we might need to make a trip to Elvis
In our room for the weekend. Thanks for the roses, husband’
I miss you
Can I just have your last name already?
The last text is accompanied with a picture she took in the bathroom mirror. The leather jacket is resting on her shoulders as she gives a look in the mirror, a soft smile on her face and I know I’m hopeless when it comes to this woman.
