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“Do me a favor. Keep me out of your fucking plan.”
“Noah…” Drake began. “I’m truly sorry for what Luca did to you. Thank you for being the friend you are to Alessandra.”
“I’m not doing it for you, Drake,” he admitted.
“Trust me, I know. But I’m thanking you anyway because you are one of the most genuine people I know. Alessandra deserves better than me, but I plan to earn it. I love her.”
Noah winced. “In the wrong hands, love is toxic.”
Before Drake could retort, Noah rose and excused himself. Jerry, who had remained silent most of the conversation, turned to Drake.
“You know Noah’s trying to process everything. I’m not going to apologize for him, because he has some valid points.”
“I really love her, Jerry.”
“I know you do. But actions speak louder than words.”
“I never asked for this shit.” Drake rubbed his eyes. “It feels like I’m never going to dig myself out of this hole.”
“Noah’s going to be pretty upset when he learns the truth about you, Drago.”
“I appreciate you not telling him.”
“I didn’t do it for you. But believe me, if it puts my husband in harm’s way again, I won’t hesitate to tell him everything. I’ll put pressure on Grant, and then you won’t have a choice.”
“I understand.”
“Sort your house, Drake. I suggest you do it soon before you lose everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve.”
***
Chapter Eleven
Still reeling from everything Noah and Beth had dropped on her, Alessandra waited anxiously for Drake. It was time to learn the truth about the man she married. Though it frightened her, there was power to gain from it.
She Googled “Drake Walker” and impatiently waited for the search engine to perform its job. There were too many hits—the first and most popular being a Wiki fan page for some kind of story game. She wanted to delve further into the enticing fandom but was a woman on a mission. Alessandra downloaded the app for later and refined the search: “Drake Walker, Chicago prosecutor.”
The refined search brought up the desired person. A black and white engagement photo from the society pages caught her eye. Drake stood stiffly, looking like he was about to face a firing squad next to Riley with her million-watt smile. A pang of jealousy shot through Alessandra because no photos depicted her and Drake as a couple. They didn’t even have one in their home, she realized, and it was suddenly the most depressing thing and something she would rectify immediately.
Alessandra scrolled through her phone to find pictures of her and Drake. They had taken a few selfies at Alessandra’s insistence. One was a day trip they took to the Milwaukee County Zoo to see the three elephants—Brittany, Ruth, and Belle. Elephants were her favorite animal; Chicago hadn’t had one since she was a little girl. Their backs were to the enclosure and one of the three magnificent beauties was visible behind them.
The quote “Love will draw an elephant through a key-hole” popped into her head. She realized how true that was, looking at the selfie of her and her husband. Despite the crap they’d waded through, the moment she captured showed nothing more than a couple in love.
Underneath Drake’s aviators, his smile was just as genuine as hers. She loved the tousled look of his chocolate, wavy hair and unshaven face. He looked as good in jeans and a gray T-shirt as he did in a thousand-dollar suit in a courtroom. Relaxed Drake was her favorite; he was like a different person letting go of his burdens, however briefly.
She sent that photo to be express-printed and continued scrolling. A video she found took her breath away.
“I want you to see yourself the way I see you. I made this video for your eyes only, Alessandra.”
Alessandra was asleep, likely after she and Drake had been intimate. She rolled over, kicking the sheet away, exposing her naked body. Her auburn hair splayed across the pillow. Her brows were knitted together, and her lips pursed. Clearly lost in a dream, she visibly calmed when Drake stroked her cheek.
“You’re so beautiful, it hurts to see you in pain. Even when you’re sleeping, there are nights you can’t escape it. But I’m here, amore mio.”
Drake’s strokes moved from her cheek down to his collar, still around her neck.
“I think you know by now how arousing it is to see you in my collar. I’ve discovered a new kink because I’m hard as a fucking rock watching the way your bare breasts rise and fall in your sleep as you simper.”
Drake propped the phone at an angle where they were both visible and climbed onto the bed, straddling her hips.
