“With Rodion, yes.”
My stomach tightened. Vincenzo and Rodion planned it together? It made no sense. Yes, Vincenzo was friendly to me somehow, but what about Leonid? “And Leonid?”
Savina didn’t answer. Her gaze slipped past me. Rodionwalked toward us with Alonzo beside him.
“Alessia,” Alonzo greeted, his voice familiar and distant all at once.
“Hi,” I managed. “I didn’t know you were here.”
“I blended well.” He smiled faintly and went to stand beside Savina and Beatrice. His arm slid over Beatrice’s shoulder with an ease that spoke of belonging. “Have you met my sister and our mother?”
For a moment, I just looked at them. He wasn’t just proud. He washome.
“Yes. I actually spent weeks with Savina,” I said, glancing at her. “She’s my friend now.”
“That’s awesome.” Alonzo turned to Rodion. “Any signal?”
I watched Alonzo. He looked content, and people who clearly cared about him surrounded him. Savina had that calm grace about her, and the way Beatrice smiled at him said everything. They weren’t bound by blood, but they were family.
Savina touched my arm. “Should we get this off?”
I looked down at the gown. “I think so, yes. Though it looks good on me,” I grinned.
“It does,” she replied, and we both laughed.
I faced Rodion again. His focus was on Alonzo as they discussed something. I interrupted them. “Will it be okay if I go and change?” I asked.
His gaze moved over me in a way that made my pulse skip before he turned back to Alonzo. “I’m losing my patience,” he said. “Make the calls, or I’ll leave a mark here in Italy.”
Alonzo’s lips curved. “You already did, Mister Konstantinov. The case is still under investigation.”
Rodion chuckled, almost amused. “The woman talked too much,” he said, and took my hand, guiding me toward the exit.
We walked down the silent hallway toward the dressing room. Rodion moved with purpose, already knowing where to go, as ifhe’d been here long before I ever arrived.
“I have so many questions,” I said as we stepped inside. Rodion locked the door behind us while I went straight to the bags we had left earlier. “What happened to Leonid?”
He sank into a chair facing me. “Detained at the airport.”
I faced him. “What did he do?”
He hummed, studying me while his thumb brushed his lower lip. “Let’s just say … someone wants him dead.”
“Oh?” I rummaged through one bag. I was sure the jeans and a hoodie I came wearing were somewhere here. “Nothing surprises me anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if it were Vincenzo. Because honestly, why would he ever make a deal with you?” I dropped one bag and grabbed another. “You’re involved, aren’t you?”
Rodion reached out and caught my hand, tugging me closer. “Why don’t you ask your brother?”
“What does my brother have to do with this?”
He pulled me down onto his lap. “He’s the one who arrested Leonid.”
“He did?” I whispered, letting his hand slip beneath my gown. “What is he? Some kind of police officer?”
“Yes.” His fingers trailed up my thigh, sending a shiver through me. “This looks too good on you.”
“Too bad it was for the show.” I rested my hands on his shoulders. “Is your wound healed?”
“I can fuck, yes.”