Valentina stands, pacing the room, the heels of her boots clicking on the tile floor and distracting me as I send a message to Nicolo with instructions. I look up briefly. “Stop.”
She inhales a deep breath. “If something happened to Addie I would just die. I was the one who encouraged her to come, and to bring her friend. She just told me she had a friend who needed a little nudge to get back into the swing of life. Addie had me send the invitation to her and then she sent it by a special courier the families use for, um, legal stuff. You have to believe that.”
“I do.” I meet her gaze head on. “No one would bring a Cassone here intentionally, especially one protected by the Rosellis.” Her eyes widen and I run a hand through my hair. “What an absolute cluster fuck.”
Valentina slumps back into the chair. “Not only brought her here but it did not look like you and Anna were talking business, especially when you took her to your own personally reserved playroom, Vincenzo. Jeez. What if the Rosellis find out?”
“Let me deal with that. Right now, you worry about the club. Any new members, give them a second and third screening, run them through Nicolo, understand? Just on the off chance the ladies were followed and someone tries to …”
Her eyes go wide. “You don’t think Anna was a plant for the Rosellis and I unintentionally let her in? I swear, Addie would never do that, Vincenzo. I love her like the sister I never had.”
I scowl. “You’re getting wigged out about the whole thing. Stop worrying. Put that cool as a cucumber mask back on your face. It’s business as usual. Nothing has changed, we’re just taking more precautions until I know exactly what’s in the fucking wind, capisce? I’ll tell you when to worry. Until then, you leave it to me.”
Valentina exhales a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll try. Thank you.”
I stand, closing the distance between us, drawing her out of her seat and into my arms to hold her close. A friend I’ve always been able to depend on through thick and thin over the years. “I’m sorry if I worried you. Now go and enjoy the evening you made so special. Let me deal with the rest.”
The minute she walks out the door I call Nicolo for a report. He clears his throat. “I hate to point out the obvious, but it hasn’t been ten minutes since you gave me the last order. The guys are on their ass, at a close distance, and nothing looks suspicious.”
“Good. I’ll text you an address. This is where they’re headed. Let me know once they’re home safe.”
“Will do.”
I disconnect without another word, pulling up the address on my phone, sending it to my brother and calculating the distance and time they should be home in my mind while cursing myself for letting them get in that fucking car.
10
ANNA
The private limo service lets us out, and we quickly get into the back seat of Addie’s brother’s car a couple blocks from home. He tucks us under a blanket before jumping back into the driver’s seat and making his way through the gates, and into the back of the house, parking by the bush that will allow us cover as we get out and make our way inside.
Andrew opens the refrigerator and pulls out a beer once we’re all safely in the house. “Glass of wine or something for the fugitives?”
Addie pushes against his shoulder. “Thank you. I mean it.”
He puts a bottle of wine on the kitchen table and gets two glasses from the cabinet. “You know, if Massimo Roselli got wind that I snuck his sister-in-law out of the protection of his guards, he’d fucking slice my tongue out and leave me in the water with a cement block tied around my ankle.”
I roll my eyes at Addie’s younger brother. “You’re so dramatic. They don’t do that anymore. They’d just toss you into an incinerator.”
Addie covers her ears. “Do not say shit like that in front of me.”
I laugh. “Relax, I’m kidding. Besides, I’m a grown woman, free to do what I want. Massimo Roselli is not the boss of me. I’m just living there until I get my life back together, but it’s best for everyone if he doesn’t know I slipped out while staying with Addie, so thank you for your help, Andrew.”
He points to Addie. “You still owe me, big time. Night ladies,” he says, heading out of the room with his beer.
I turn to Addie. “I’m sorry you had to involve him.”
She laughs. “It’s no big deal. You should see the schemes and double dates he’s wrangled me into over the years. Andrew owes me big time, not the other way around.”
My phone buzzes. I slide it from my purse and glance at the screen as butterflies dance in my belly.
Message:“Night, princessa.”
My face splits into a smile. Addie gestures to my phone. “Who is that, the guy from the club?”
“Yes.”
She takes a sip of wine. “And what was his name?”