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He haunted her every dream. Twisting them into the most macabre nightmares.
“He was just one of many,” Ana said flatly, dropping all pretenses of politeness as she abruptly excused herself from the call.
God.
That was close, closer than anyone had ever been before to the truth. And it terrified her. The past was a tenuous thread that could unravel at any time and take her down with it.
What had Celia heard? And from whom?
Worse, did Gio also know?
The two of them had been doing so well since the gala. She had been sleeping better, and Gio had become so tender and trusting with her. He’d even fiercely protected her from those who had hurt her, going as far as threatening her aunt and his ex into issuing apologies.
But he was powerless against the past. There was nothing he could do to change what had happened.
The stain had set too deep.
Chapter 15
Gio was livid.
He fumed through the phone as she recounted the conversation later that night, after she’d landed and settled into the Mancini house.
“Celia did apologize...”
He scoffed.
“…probably only because you asked her to,” Ana mumbled. “Still, I appreciate it,” she said with quiet fervor, trying, however ineptly, to convey the depths of her gratitude. Not just for Celia’s apology but for Auntie’s too. “Thank you.”
“Not sure I want to take credit for that pathetic apology, but at least it was something. Fuckin’ Russos,” he grumbled under his breath. There was a heavy sigh, and she could hear him settling into bed.
“Did he cause trouble at the summit?”
“Oh, he definitely tried to stir up some shit,” Gio said darkly. “But it didn’t result in the coup he wanted. I know he’s meeting Antonio soon, though, so who knows what stunt he’ll pull then.”
“Tony won’t give in,” she assured. “I’ll be there to help him.”
“I hope he's thankful to have so much help.”
Ana paused, a hand stilling on her open suitcase. The remark was innocent, but his tone wasn’t. Just how closely had Gio been monitoring her cousin’s business? “Tony’s been great with clients,” she managed carefully. “He just needs support with the logistics.”
“Hm…I figured. The type of growth that business has seen–well, no offense, but there is no way Tony could have pulled that off alone. I always assumed he had some help.”
She said nothing.
Gio hummed pointedly at her silence. “Just be careful. If you’re in the meeting, Russo will gun for you to get back at me for stopping his coup. He’s been a thorn in my side for too long. Not just mine, my parents' too.”
“Really?”
He confirmed irritably. “They had a tough time keeping him out of their business dealings too. I even–” A pronounced pause ensued before he admitted reluctantly, “I even suspected him at one point.”
“Suspected–?”
As soon as she’d uttered it, she realized.
His parents’ murder.
“You had quite the long suspect list…” Ana said, stunned. Gio’s thirst for revenge was notorious, but she hadn’t thought it extended so far. Was there truly no one he trusted?
