Page 196 of Valentino

“I’m intrigued.” She smiles as she sips her wine.

“I’m leaving Milan.”

Her face falls and she puts her wineglass down with a thud. “What?”

“It’s time.”

“For what?” she whispers. “Is this about our fight? I told you I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you.”

“It’s not about our fight.” I take her hand over the table.

“You’re leaving me.”

“You’re my best friend, Chesk, nothing is ever going to change that.”

“But why?” she murmurs sadly. “We haven’t even got back to being normal yet, don’t leave.”

“I’m twenty-eight years old. The two men I cared about are both horrible people.”

“Valentino isn’t a horrible man, you know that.”

I beg to differ.

I press my lips together to stop myself from getting into a fight over him…again.

“Carlo has been charged with murder.”

“I thought he was still in hospital?” I frown.

“He is. But he’s been charged with the murder of Giovanna and now facing charges on the murder of his wife.”

“My god,” I gasp.

“The day after she came to see you…. He murdered her for it.”

“My god.”

“I know.”

“This is a nightmare.”

“The court case was this week for Giovanna,” she continues. “The police apparently found evidence in his apartment about his wife so that’s going to go through too.”

I sit back in my seat, shocked.

“Anyway, where were we?” she asks.

“Umm….” I shrug, completely rattled by this information. “I need a fresh start.”

“You need to get away from Valentino.” Her eyes hold mine. “Don’t you?”

“Among other things.”

“I don’t know why he’s….”

“It’s not about him, Chesk. It’s about my stupid fantasy that something was going to happen between us.”

“You did have something, Anna. I honestly believe that. He’s just….” She shrugs. “He’s going through a lot right now. Be patient.”