“Are you going to let her talk to me like that?”

“Absolutely. Get the fuck out.”

“Dom,” she begins, and softens her face into a soft, self-deprecating smile. “When your mama was dying, she told me that she hoped that you’d find a nice woman like me. She wanted us to be together.”

“My mother didn’t know what you are, Liliana. I do. Get off of Gianna’s property before I have you arrested for trespassing.”

Liliana glares at both of us, then stomps inside for her purse and slams out the front door. Gianna and I watch each other quietly as we hear her car start and the tires squeal as she tears out of the driveway.

“Are you okay, bella?” I ask her.

She frowns and nods, but then her face crumbles and she shakes her head no. I cross to her and gather her close, rocking her back and forth as she cries.

“I thought she was my friend.”

“I know. I’m so sorry.”

“I thought she loved you, and I felt sorry for her, and that’s why I always ask you to come home.”

“I knew that too.”

“God, she’s a bitch.”

I chuckle and kiss her head, then lead her to the porch swing and help her dry her cheeks.

“You knew all of it,” she says quietly. “You knew that she was helping Marco steal from me, and all the rest of it.”

“I did.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I tilt my head and watch her quietly, and finally she sniffs and nods.

“You tried. Right after it all happened, you tried, and I told you that you were imagining things and wouldn’t believe you.”

“She was your friend.”

“You’re my family,” she replies.

I shrug and then nod, just as my phone rings in my pocket.

“Hello, Celeste.”

“Hi, Dominic. I’m placing the food order for the family reunion being held here next weekend, and I wanted to make sure that you don’t have anything to add to it.”

“No, the last email I sent you is it. Check with Blake, though. He might have tweaked the menu a bit.”

“Yes, sir. Oh, and did Alecia catch up with you the other day before you got to the airport?”

I frown, ignoring Gianna’s look of surprise at Alecia’s name.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, she was looking for you. She didn’t leave a message, but it sounded important.”

Of course it was important. I’d caught her with Blake.

“Thanks, Celeste.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

She clicks off and I shove my phone in my pocket.

“Who’s Alecia?”

“No one.” Everything.

“What is it the American’s say? Oh yes, bullshit. Who is she?”

I take a deep breath, and before I know what I’m doing, I’ve spilled everything to her. How I met her, how we came together, how much she means to me, all the way through to the day I was coming to Italy and I found out she’d been sleeping with her best friend.

“But she was trying to find you when you were on your way here. Celeste just said so.”

“Of course she was,” I scoff. “She got caught and she was trying to beg for my forgiveness, which she won’t get.”

“So, you haven’t spoken to her.”

“No.”

Gianna sighs and murmurs something about pig headed men. “Perhaps you should talk to her before jumping to conclusions.”

“I know what I saw, Gianna.”

“You saw her best friend sitting on the couch.”

“Half naked, sweaty, and their clothes thrown all over the fucking living room. It wasn’t exactly innocent.”

“Well, I’ll concede that.” She bites her lip. “I’m sorry. I’m clearly not the best judge of character, and I’ve never met your Alecia.”

“She’s not mine,” I reply quickly.

“Isn’t she?” Gianna grins and cups my face in her hands. “You love so strongly, Dominic. You always have. It’s one of the things that both opens you up to great heartache and brings you such joy. Liliana dimmed that light in you for a while, but I can see that it’s back. There’s anger there, and I’m not saying it shouldn’t be, but perhaps you should try to reach out to her.”

“She hasn’t tried to contact me either, Gianna.”

“You’re halfway across the world. It’s been two days. Cell phones aren’t always reliable.” She leans in and kisses my cheeks then stands. “Ti amo.”

“I love you too.” I kiss her hand before she walks away, lifts the forgotten wine bottle off the railing, and returns inside.

I know what I saw. There was no way to mistake it. Her clothes were everywhere; Blake was half dressed.

And she refused to fucking say that she hadn’t just been with him. She wouldn’t deny it.

If she came looking for me, it was because I found out about it.

Right?

I shake my head and scrub my scalp in agitation, and then decide fuck it and pull my phone out of my pocket and quickly dial her number.

It goes straight to voice mail.

I frown and try one more time, but it again goes to voice mail. It’s either dead or she shut it off. I take a deep breath, and finally bring Jules up in my contacts and dial her number.

“Hello.”