Page 158 of Vicious Intentions
“Is that what will happen to me?” she asks suddenly. “Will you find someone else to give you children since I refuse to have any with you?” My chest tightens at the finality of her words.
“Even if we never truly share a bed, I will never look elsewhere for such companionship. You are my wife, Anna. No heir could ever matter more than that.”
“A Don is nothing without an heir.”
“And I am nothing without you,” I say, and she flinches as if I’ve struck her. “You still don’t believe me, do you?” She doesn’t answer. “You loved me once,vita mia. Maybe one day you will again.”
“I loved a lie.”
“It was never a lie. Not for me,” I say hurriedly. “I wish you could see that.”
Just as I reach for Anna, she turns her back to me again, ending the conversation. I lie there awake for hours, my gaze settling on the gentle curve of her neck, the soft rise and fall of her breathing.
It’s only been a few days since she learned the truth. If I expect patience from my men when it comes to war, then I should extend that same grace to my wife and give her time to mend her broken heart and forgive me.
Annawilllove me again.
Iwillwin her love back… somehow.
When I wake up the next morning, Anna is no longer beside me. Panic climbs up my throat, but with a quick check on the security cameras through my phone, I see her in the kitchen, helping my mother prepare breakfast.
All the tension leaves my body at the sight of her smiling at my mother. She might believe she’s trapped in this house with nothing but enemies, but at least she’s found a friend in my mother. And after everything I told her about my mother’s past, I know Anna will do everything in her power to make my mother feel safe and cared for. It’s just her way.
Since I’m not expected anywhere this early today, I stay in bed, watching them interact. I let out a small chuckle as Anna tries to flip a pancake, only for it to soar into the air, miss the pan altogether, and land on the floor. Instead of panicking, my girl just laughs, coaxing a wider smile from my mother.
My own smile is met with a quick death when my phone begins to vibrate, an incoming call with Don Vitale’s name popping on my screen.
“I didn’t realize you were making wake-up calls now, Old Fox. Are you that bored?” I joke, running my fingers through my hair.
“Not anymore,” Don Vitale says, almost gleeful. “You really had us going there for a minute. Glad to see you finally came to your senses.”
“It’s too early for riddles, Aldo,” I mutter. “What are you talking about?”
“Like you don’t know,” he chuckles. “I just sent you the links to your newest accomplishment. Well done, young Donato. Well done. I never doubted you for a minute.”
“Glad to hear it,” I reply flatly, hanging up before he can say anything else.
However, as soon as I do, notifications start to flood my screen. One from The New York Times, another from The Washington Post, and a third from the Chicago Tribune. My eyes widen as I scan the headlines and the two-page article about Vincent Romano and his family. More specifically, how Chicago’s celebrated philanthropist has kept a polyamorous relationship with his wife and his two closest associates hidden from the public for years. Photos of the elite family fill the pages, but the one that troubles me most is the large photograph of Dominic Mancini. Right beside it is one of my Anna and her sister, Stella, exposing Mancini as their biological father.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
This has Moretti’s fingerprints all over it. Instead of coming to me like a man and telling me how furious he is, he pulls a stunt like this behind my back? I’ll have his head for it!
I jump out of bed and storm down the hall, pounding on my brother’s door. Niccolò opens it a few minutes later, looking like he’s already started his day.
“Yeah?”
I don’t answer him and shove past him into the room. “Close the door.”
He does as told, folding his arms across his chest as I pace his room, running my hands through my hair.
“Moretti is becoming a problem. A big fucking problem.”
“Why?” Niccolò asks, brow raised.
“Why?! Because he’s undermining my authority, that’s why.”
“Has he said anything?”
