Revenge (7 page)

He hung up the phone. “One more thing. I’m a
businessman to Kate. Do you understand me?”

Ruggero nodded. “I’ll make sure the others
are aware as well.”

“
Va bene
. You may go.”

Ruggero hesitated. “What is it?” Enrico
asked.

“My punishment.”

Enrico sat back in the chair and looked up at
Ruggero. “There is nothing I can do that will hurt you as much as
the knowledge that you’ve failed me.” He allowed a small smile to
touch his lips. “But don’t tell Antonio that.”

“I would feel better if you punished me.”

“That is why I won’t.” Enrico caressed the
wood top of his desk. “Just make sure Antonio learns from
this.”

Ruggero nodded, then left.

The paramount lesson Enrico had absorbed from
The Prince
, the one upon which his very life hung, was this:
it was best to be both loved and feared. Walking that line often
proved a struggle, however. Too much leniency, and he risked
mutiny. Too little, and he risked being hated.

He turned to the window that looked out from
his study over the broad expanse of lawn and gardens leading down
to the lake. Enrico smiled involuntarily at the deep blue water
glittering with sunlight, the lush green of the gardens, the gentle
sway of the trees in the wind. He loved living in Cernobbio, near
the tip of the southwest leg of Lake Como. Enrico had been born
here, had grown up here. He loved many parts of Italy, but he
couldn’t imagine making his home anywhere else.

But the villa had felt empty since Toni’s
death. Even though they’d never had children, the house had been
more alive when she was in it. Her laughter, her singing, her
humming, the way she talked to herself, the cheerful chatter of her
voice, the huskiness that entered it when they were alone—he was
haunted by her voice, and the absence of it whenever he returned
home still struck him at odd times. Today most of all.

He’d been fortunate in falling in love with
his wife. True, her nose was too aquiline for anyone to call her
beautiful, but Toni had large kind eyes, glossy black hair, and a
grace that surprised him during their obligatory first dance at the
wedding. Enrico remembered Carlo openly weeping when he’d embraced
his daughter after the wedding ceremony. And then Carlo turning to
him with naked menace on his face, his voice a low hiss as he said,
“If you ever hurt my Toni or let harm come to her, I will make you
suffer. And then I will strangle you until the light leaves your
eyes.”

Was that why Carlo blamed him now? He’d made
it clear Enrico wasn’t good enough for his daughter. Never mind
that Enrico had treated Toni like a rare and precious gift, even
when she couldn’t give him the family he wanted, the family he
needed.

Carlo thought he’d stayed with her because he
didn’t want to reopen the feud between their families. But he would
have endured any hardship for Toni. She’d been worth any
sacrifice.

He twisted the wedding band around his
finger. It was the last connection he had left to her. His throat
closed up, and a piercing ache rose in his chest. He’d never
thought he’d outlive his wife, had never imagined a future without
the woman he’d given his heart.

She’d told him she wanted him to remarry,
that it was the best thing for him, even though he hadn’t wanted to
hear it. But when hadn’t Toni been right?

Still, it seemed an impossible thing to
do.

Delfina was the right choice. The choice he
had to make.

If I can’t have Kate
. He shook his
head.

Delfina it was. Delfina it had to be. What he
wanted didn’t matter. He’d sworn it: the ‘Ndrangheta, first and
last.

The rap of a knuckle on Kate’s open office
door startled her. Vince stood in the doorway, a huge bouquet of
red roses in hand. Her heart caught in her throat and she
reflexively raised a hand to protect it. His eyebrows shot up at
the look on her face. “It’s that bad between me and you?” he asked.
“You look like you seen a ghost.”

Kate let out a breath and tried to relax.
Just baby him along until he goes away
. “Sorry. I was lost
in my thoughts. You scared me.” That was probably the only true
thing she was going to say to him.

Vince came around the desk. Placing one hand
on top of her papers and the other on the back of her chair, he
leaned down to kiss her. She trembled at the touch of his lips.
“You sure you’re okay?” He stepped back from her. “You’re
shivering. You getting sick?”

She rubbed her arms. “It’s just chilly. What
are you doing here?”

He frowned. “I thought I should check on you.
Make sure you was okay.” He kissed her again, a quick peck on the
unbruised cheek. “I wanted to take you to lunch. And give you
these.” He held the roses out to her.

She placed the flowers on the desk without
looking at them.
Damn it.
How was she going to get rid of
him so she could get the check from Enrico? “I’m awfully busy.” She
gestured to the file cabinets. “It takes forever to transcribe
these files.”

Vince sighed, a smile curving his full lips.
“You telling me you’d rather work on these dusty old papers than
spend time with your adoring husband?”

She automatically started to smile at his
playful tone, but the ache in her cheek stopped her. “Vince, I need
time to think.”

“Come on. There’s a café in Bellagio I been
meaning to take you to. It’s really romantic.”

“I’m beyond romance right now.”

He pursed his lips. “I said I was sorry.”

“It’s going to take more than sorry.” She
pointed to the bruise.

“Katie, I love you. Let me make it up to
you.” He reached out to stroke her face, but she jerked her head
away from his hand.

“You don’t seem to feel that bad. Everyone
who looks at me knows what happened. It’s humiliating.”

“It’ll never happen again. I swear,” he said
in a small voice.

She shook her head. “We’ll talk when I get
home.”

“Whatever you want, honey.” He stepped away
from her and stumbled when his foot connected with her overnight
bag. She let out a gasp.
What a stupid mistake
! She hadn’t
gotten it all the way under the desk. He looked down at it, then up
at her. “What’s this?”

“I thought I’d work out when I was done here.
Let off a little steam.”

He stared at her for a moment, his eyes
narrowing, becoming harsh. “You’re a terrible liar, Katie. You
always was.”

Kate’s blood turned to slush, her heart
ceasing to beat. Her hands went numb with cold.
Shit
,
shit
,
shit.

A roar of delight from the children playing
outside told her Enrico had arrived. Her heart started to beat
again. She could use this to get away from Vince.

“What’s with the noise?”

“Signor Lucchesi has arrived.”

Vince frowned, then reached for her hand. “We
got to talk this through. Now. Let’s go home.”

She resisted the tug. “There’s something I
need to ask him. Can you give me a minute?”

He looked at her unhappily, then nodded.
“Make it quick.”

She’s so damn young. Too young
. As the
car sped along the road winding through the mountains around the
lake, Enrico pondered his potential bride. He was used to a woman
with opinions and education, a woman who could spar with him
intellectually. What would he and Delfina even say to each
other?

Talking with Kate was never a problem.

He let out a long breath.
Damn it.

The car turned off onto the long gravel drive
to the Lucchesi Home for Children. Enrico’s chest was a collapsing
balloon, all his air hissing out from a hole in his heart.

Going after Kate would be a declaration of
war on the Andretti family.

When the car came to a stop, Antonio and
Ruggero got out, flanking Enrico’s door. He stepped out and was
immediately surrounded by excited children. Cries of “Zio Enrico!”
filled the air.

Hearing the children call him “uncle” filled
his chest with warmth and took the bite off his disappointment over
Kate. As the children swarmed them, he glanced at Ruggero, who
shrugged. What could they do? The children were harmless. And it
wouldn’t do to alarm anyone, though the presence of Claudio and
Santino, who were already waiting for them, would certainly be
remarked upon, if not by the children, then by the staff.

Enrico unbuttoned his suit jacket and hitched
up his trousers so he could crouch down to accept hugs from the
younger children. Antonio gazed at him, a wistful expression on his
face. There had been a time when Enrico had been greeted by Antonio
this way, at this place, a time when he’d taken Antonio onto his
lap and treated him like a son. But those days were gone.

Enrico noticed a shift in the children’s
attention. He stood up and looked past Antonio to see Kate standing
at the top of the steps leading up to the doorway of the orphanage.
She was gazing out at the commotion. Enrico couldn’t help staring
at her. Hearing a satisfied hum to his left, he glanced at
Antonio’s half-turned face and saw a longing there that surely was
mirrored on his own.

Enrico raised a hand in greeting to Kate, and
she returned his wave and started descending the steps. She headed
straight for him, her auburn hair gleaming in the sun, a few
strands of it blowing across her pale cheek and into her green
eyes. With a delicate hand, she brushed the hair out of her face.
Enrico’s fingers twitched with the desire to touch her cheek like
that, to feel the slide of her silky hair. A small, almost
secretive smile crossed her features, and he swallowed hard.
Dio
mio.
He felt that smile down to his toes.

She stopped a couple feet from him. “Signor
Lucchesi, it’s good to see you, as always.”

He bowed his head slightly. “And you, Signora
Andretti.” He paused, a grin spreading across his face. “Since when
did we get so formal, Kate?”

She half-turned and motioned to the doorway
behind her. And that was when he noticed it—a bruise on her right
cheek.
Merda
!
Had someone hit her
? Tearing his eyes
off the mark, he followed her gesture. A tall, sandy-haired man,
well-muscled and handsome, leaned in the doorway, his arms crossed.
“My husband, Vincenzo, is here.”

Enrico’s smile receded. Of course. Santino
had called with the news a few minutes ago. He looked back to Kate.
“I’d like to meet him.”
And if he did this to her
,
he’s
going to pay
.

Something flashed in her eyes—fear
perhaps?—then she smiled again. “Of course.” She turned and
motioned for him to accompany her. Antonio and Ruggero fell into
step behind them.

Enrico glanced up at Kate’s husband. Andretti
didn’t look happy. Enrico’s eyes flicked back and to his right at
Ruggero, who nodded. Andretti could have a gun tucked under his
armpit, could be ready to draw when they came upon him. Ruggero
stepped deftly around Kate, putting himself a little ahead of her.
Antonio followed suit on Enrico’s left.

They approached Andretti. When they were two
steps from the top, Andretti smiled, derision on his face. He
addressed Enrico. “Don’t you worry,
signore
. I wouldn’t
think of it. Not with all these kids around.”

“So you have more scruples than your
uncle.”

“It was your pop who made things
personal.”

Blood rushed in Enrico’s ears, the pounding
of his heart the only sound he could hear. “Carlo was not justified
in what he did. You know that.”

Andretti shrugged and looked away. “The past
is the past. There ain’t no changing it.” His eyes swung back to
Enrico. “
You
gotta know
that
.”

Enrico felt Kate’s eyes on him, her gaze a
weight. There was so much he wanted to say to her husband. And all
of it would make him look horrible to her.

Kate looked from Enrico to Andretti. “What
are you two talking about?”

“Things ain’t been easy between the Lucchesis
and my uncle.”

When her gaze turned back to him, Enrico
said, “Your husband is being delicate.”

“Will one of you actually tell me what’s
going on instead of talking in riddles?”

“Carlo was my…” Enrico groped for the word in
English.

Andretti supplied it. “Father-in-law.”

Kate’s brows shot up. “What happened between
you?”

What could he tell her that was at least half
true? Before he could settle on a story, Andretti winked at him, a
glint in his eye as he said to Kate, “I’ll explain later.” He
extended his hand. “
Signore
.”

Enrico took Andretti’s hand. The man squeezed
harder than necessary. He resisted the impulse to return the extra
pressure.

Merda
. His pulse quickened, his
stomach doing a little flip. Kate couldn’t hear anything about who
he really was. Particularly not from a member of the Andretti
family.