Page 128 of Secrets of the Brother
She nodded. “I know that, but it would make a difference to me.” She turned in her chair to face me. “If we are going to have the slightest chance of a happily ever after, I can’t always feel like there is this shadow over my presence here.”
Papà cleared his throat. “Bianca, I sincerely hope none of us has—”
She shook her head. “You’ve all been wonderful. Truly. But your family isn’t the only one who puts stock in honor and reputation. I want a chance to redeem my family’s reputation, even if it’s only me doing it. Here’s my thought. If we strike quickly and pick a location we control, my parents will not have the advantage. I would be there for the beginning of the meeting so they see me, and then leave soon after, before it is finished.”
I exchanged looks with Cesare, Papà, and Alfonso.
Dammit, it was a reasonable solution.
They continued to look at me. I knew they were waiting for me to voice my opinion since Bianca was my responsibility. I let out a frustrated sigh. “Fine, but if we do this, you listen to everything I say, no arguments.”
She nodded. “Done.”
We then proceeded to discuss the logistics of arranging a meeting as soon as possible with Bianca’s parents. It was time to learn their exact involvement with the Agnello crime family and how to find Nevio Zettici.
At some point, Bianca tugged on my sleeve.
When I leaned down, she whispered in my ear, “For future reference, since you don’t seem to be familiar with the concept, that was called acompromise.”
I gave one long, wavy curl a playful tug. Fuck, I couldn’t wait for this mess to be over so I could marry this amazing woman and settle down into a long, wonderfully boring life of domestic bliss with her.
But first, I needed to murder the man she was supposed to marry instead of me.
CHAPTER34
ENZO
The acrid sent of fresh paint, stale air, and dust hit me the moment I pried open the front door of the house I had shared with Renata.
Although "shared" was painting it on a bit thick.
Cohabited, or perhaps endured, would be closer to the truth.
As I entered the hall, I turned and craned my neck up, relieved to see the workmen had finished painting over the ghastly mural of Renata.
Although Bianca’s idea of having the summit with her parents here was an inspired one, I found being in this place unsettling.
It wasn’t the shadows of Renata's ghost which disturbed me. My conscience was clear where she was concerned. She and she alone was responsible for the decisions she'd made which led to her downfall.
If she had only come to me and let me know she was in trouble, I would have protected her. I knew that deep down in my soul. Even knowing there was no baby, that it had all been a lie, I would not have left her to her fate. Especially since I would have had the grounds for an annulment.
With no baby, and evidence I never slept with her, I would have been granted an annulment and been able to marry Bianca in the Catholic Church.
All would have been as it should from the beginning.
No, it wasn’t Renata’s ghost which haunted me.
It was the pain I caused Bianca from my own actions.
She left for America so soon after, I never witnessed the heartache.
Through the lens of all the surveillance I had on her, all those photos and videos, all those emails when she thought she was communicating with a client, I thought she had moved on from me.
I thought I was the only one suffering from the loss of our relationship.
Returning to this house felt like returning to the scene of the crime. I guessed it was fitting for this to be the location for the beginning of the end. Today we would learn how to find Nevio. We would learn the truth of Bianca's parents’ involvement and finally put an end to this mess.
I surveilled the place before opening the double doors wider and signaling to Cesare and Matteo who were waiting outside with Bianca.
