Ferrara, p.27
Ferrara, page 27
“Mr. Ferrara has requested that the test results go to him first, he will instruct us from there.”
“Okay.” I nod in understanding. That’s code for, if it’s good news Giuliano wants to tell me himself, if it’s bad news, which I think it is, the doctor will call me. “Goodbye.”
I watch the two men walk down the hall and get into the elevator, the doors close and they disappear out of sight.
I stare at the closed doors for a moment, I never thought that my future life would depend on the results of a stick covered in saliva. I exhale heavily and close the door, don’t get your hopes up.
The rain pours down as I push out through the heavy glass doors at my office. I worked on-site today and just as my boss predicted, I was interrupted almost every ten minutes and achieved next to nothing. I definitely will be working from home for the next few weeks, there’s no way I’m going to make all my deadlines with today’s productivity.
As I walk out I see my black Mercedes and another man standing with the door open, he’s in the customary black suit and is holding an umbrella over his head. I haven’t seen him before, who is he?
Shit.
I dart back into the building and check my messages. There’s one from Lorenzo that came through an hour ago, I haven’t seen it yet.
Hi Cheska,
You have a new driver today.
His name is Davidoff.
Lorenzo
Xox
What?
I instantly dial Lorenzo’s number and he answers first ring as if expecting my call. “Hello, darling.”
“Hi.” I force myself to use my manners. “Where’s Antonio?”
“He’s been moved back to Italy,” Lorenzo replies calmly.
“Why?” I snap, although I already know the answer, it’s because he told Giuliano that I’m back with Marcel.
“Giuliano wants him in Rome for the time being.”
“Rome?” My eyes bulge from their sockets. “It’s not safe in Rome, why would he send him to Rome?”
Lorenzo lets out a deep exhale. “It is not for us to decide where Giuliano stations his staff, Francesca, Davidoff will now be looking after you.”
“Davidoff?” I gasp, annoyed, I peer through the glass windows to see the burly man.
He’s huge, mid to late forties, and hardened.
Nobody is messing with Davidoff.
“He’s been with the company for many years and is one of Giuliano’s most trusted guards,” Lorenzo replies.
“One of Giuliano’s most trusted guards is code for hit men…. I’m not stupid, Lorenzo. No, that won’t do,” I announce. “I want Antonio back. Thank you.” I try to sound dismissive.
“You have no say in the matter, my darling,” Lorenzo replies calmly. “When are you coming home, your mother and I miss you.”
I frown, that tone…. The one he uses with me. I’ve never noticed it before but it’s fatherly. “Soon.”
“Good, I look forward to it.”
The rain really comes down, it’s torrential outside. “Can you hear that rain?” I ask him.
“Is that what that is? My God, I thought it was a bad line. Go, get out of the weather.”
“Okay.” I smile and I go to say what I always say when we finish our calls and I stop myself.
Why do I tell Lorenzo that I love him?
It’s something that we’ve always done to each other. In fact, I probably tell Lorenzo that I love him more than I tell my mother. It’s always been him who has been my nurturer…not her.
Weird.
“I love you, my darling,” he says.
“You too,” I reply softly as my feelings for him become real and apparent.
“Go. Get home and out of the weather, Davidoff is a good man, you will grow to like him.”
I roll my eyes, unimpressed. “Goodbye.” I hang up and make a run for the car, Davidoff smiles and holds the umbrella over me. “Good afternoon, Miss Ferrara.”
“Hello.” I force a smile and get into the car, he closes the door behind me and gets behind the wheel, as we pull out into the traffic I exhale heavily.
Where are you, Antonio?
I’m sorry.
I open my email, check it again for the tenth time and exhale in exasperation. Damn it, why isn’t he replying?
Dominic is missing in action, I can change the tiles but not to the ones he wanted, they are currently out of stock and won’t fit with the timeline schedule we have with the tilers. He did give me a second option but I would like to clear it with him first. I’ve called him, I’ve emailed him…no answer.
Maybe he’s on vacation?
Giuliano
My pointer finger steeples at my temple as I stare aimlessly at the dance floor in front of me. The air is smoky, the music tantric and while the men at my table chatter and laugh, the gorgeous woman on stage does a seductive striptease.
Carlo smirks up at the stage like a predator. “She’s fucking hot, man,” he mutters under his breath.
I nod, acting impressed.
This is the bachelor life, the one I am accustomed to.
The one I no longer want.
My thoughts are not here, or my surroundings, or the naked women and certainly not with the company I keep.
They are with her…they are always with her.
And damn it, where are these fucking results?
It’s been five days since Francesca took that paternity test, how long can it take? What are they doing, growing a fucking clone from her DNA?
I turn my phone over and glance at the screen.
No missed calls
Val and Alex appear through the crowd and give me a smile and nod as they walk toward our table.
I smile, excited for the first time tonight. The two best friends a man could ever asked for. They’ve been with me since childhood, we grew up together and then I found out who I really was, a Ferrara. They showed their true loyalty, instead of judgement and fear, they stood beside me and showed up for the challenge to become my two right-hand men.
Risking everything for me.
They could have walked away. Turned their backs. Instead, let their hopes and dreams of a normal life trickle down the drain along with mine.
They are loyal, the best of the best.
While Alex has stayed exactly the same and more interested in the running of the staff, Valentino has become a darker version of himself.
Running the logistics of our assets. There are things that he, Carlo and I don’t share with Alex, simply because he just couldn’t handle it, but that’s okay, we can.
We protect him where we can, he doesn’t need to know everything. He is here by default, by being our friend and we respect that.
Me…. I’m different.
I often wonder if I was always this dark. Was it simmering inside me, waiting to come out? If my life hadn’t turned out as it has, would I still have ended up working in organized crime?
Maybe…it feels very natural to be here, but perhaps that’s because it’s in my blood. The men before me have been living like this for decades.
I’m fucked in the head; I already know that. Any man who sleeps with his own sister is. I cannot deny it, I have no regrets.
I am what I am, fuck everyone else.
I truly believe that Valentino would have always had this life, he thrives on the power, the adrenaline, the women, the money, chasing the kill.
He was made for this role in life, the cocaine king of Italy.
With Carlo running the brawn and Valentino running the blow, we can’t lose.
Carlo shuffles over and Valentino and Alex fall into the seat beside me, Val takes out a cigar and puts it between his teeth, he smiles darkly up at the naked woman on stage as he lights it up. “Is she new?” he asks before blowing a thin stream of smoke in the air.
I shrug as my gaze turns toward her, she has long blond hair and a body to die for. Curvy and fuckable. “No idea.” I raise my finger and the scantily dressed waitress appears. “Another round, please.”
“Of course, sir.” She smiles with a nod before disappearing.
We’re in the Viper club, we own this establishment. A bar with live shows and exotic guests, high-end girls are entertaining men upstairs and the place is filled with Ferrara men. This is our turf.
We are safe here, protected.
Val answers his phone, he listens and then frowns. “What do you mean?” He inhales his cigar as he listens and then narrows his eyes. “Since when?” His eyes flick to me and he gives a subtle shake of his head. “Send out a chopper.” He listens again. “And what happened?” He exhales heavily. “Keep me informed.” He hangs up and leans into me, I put my ear to his mouth. “The yacht is missing.”
My eyes meet his, “What time was it due in?”
“Two p.m. this afternoon. They’ve made no contact and their tracking device has just been switched off.”
I glance at my watch, Ten p.m.
Fuck.
I tip my head back and drain my scotch.
Val glares at me as he inhales his cigar, he leans over and whispers the same thing to Carlo and he clenches his jaw before muttering the words, “Someone’s going to fucking die.”
Early morning and the office is abuzz with drama.
Our yacht filled with the blow is missing, there’s been no contact since one p.m. yesterday when it was on track to land at our port. The satellite tracking was turned off about an hour from port yesterday and since then the chopper was unable to trace it. The only explanation could be that the tracking device was switched to another vessel, which traveled the course to throw us off the scent.
It could be fucking anywhere.
A twenty-million-dollar superyacht doesn’t go missing by itself and it could mean only one of two things.
The crew are dead and someone else has our eighty million worth of blow…and our yacht. Or the crew are the ones who stole it and are prepared to live with a death wish.
Either way it’s a fucking nightmare and something we’ve never encountered before.
Val is staring at the satellite-tracking map to see where and when this could have happened.
Lorenzo is sending men to all of the crew’s homes and family to put them under surveillance, check for any inconsistencies. If the crew have revolted and do have it, someone will return home for their girl, they always do.
My phone rings.
Nicolai
“Here we go.” I click my fingers to get Val’s attention and he jumps up and closes the office door. I put the phone on speaker and answer, “Nicolai.”
“Giuliano. How are you my friend?”
I lean back and swing on my chair, speaking with the chief of police is always a pleasure. “Good, good. What have you got for me?”
“The word is that one of your men is on Lombardi’s payroll.”
My eyes meet Carlo’s and he narrows his eyes in contempt.
“Who?” I ask.
“I don’t know, there’s talk they’re about to come into some serious blow. Big time from what I hear.”
“Interesting,” I reply.
Carlo and I glare at each other.
My phone lights up as another call comes in and I immediately hit decline.
“Where are they getting this…blow?” I ask.
“I believe a yacht was hijacked two days ago as it left Columbia. The tracking device was put into a dummy ship which stayed on course to throw them off the scent.”
“I see.”
He has information, he’s fishing for funds.
Val scribbles a note on the paper to tell me what to offer.
Ten million for whereabouts of yacht: Ten million for traitor’s name.
I screw up my face and shake my head, “Too much,” I mouth.
He scribbles on the paper again.
If we don’t get a name,
We’re fucked!!
I swing on my chair as I contemplate my offer, fuck.
Val is right, we need answers.
This is a problem that won’t go away until it’s taken care of. If we have a traitor, we need to take care of it now.
“Find my yacht and we’ll deliver ten million,” I say.
“Nice,” Nicolai replies.
“Give me a name and you’ll receive another ten.”
“Done,” Nicolai replies. “I’ll need some time.”
“Make it quick.” I hang up.
Val screws up the paper in his hands and throws it at the wall with force. “I’m going to fucking kill someone.”
Carlo walks in. “We’ve got surveillance on everyone involved, I have the chopper going up and down the coast. We’ll find it, don’t worry. And when we do, they will fucking pay.”
He and Alex start to discuss their conspiracy theories and I click through my phone to the missed call, I don’t know that number.
I dial the number and wait as it rings. “Dr. Miracash,” the voice answers.
Shit.
My eyes flick to the boys and I stand and walk out of the office as my heart hammers in my chest. “Hello, this is Giuliano Ferrara, returning your call.”
“Yes, Giuliano. The results are back.”
“And?”
“Negative.”
My face falls in disappointment.
“There is no way the two of you are genetically related.”
“What?” I stop still in the corridor as the earth moves beneath me. “Are you sure?”
“We ran the tests three times at both pathologies. One hundred percent that there’s no match.”
I smile, euphoria runs through me. “Thank you.”
“Do you want us to deliver the results to Francesca?”
“No…I’ll do it.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks again.” I hang up and put my head into my hands.
Thank God.
“Everything alright?” Alex asks as he walks down the hall.
“Yep.” I grab him and kiss his forehead, unable to hide my delight.
He frowns. “Haven’t you got a yacht missing or something.”
“Yep.” I smile, like I could care about missing cocaine.
No DNA matches.
I catch sight of Lorenzo in the foyer and I step toward him, my first instinct to knock him out.
No.
Francesca needs to be the first to know.
She needs to be the one to tell them that she knows. It’s not my place.
I march back into my office. “I’m going to France,” I announce to Val and Carlo.
“What?” They look up. “When?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“What? Today? No. You’re needed here.” Val snaps.
They watch me in horror as I gather my things.
“How the fuck can you even think about her when this shit is going on?” Val snaps.
I smile broadly and want to jump and punch the air.
How can I not?
They frown at me as if I’m going crazy…. And maybe I am.
“My dear Valentino.” I laugh and kiss his forehead. “See you tomorrow, my friend.” I grab my keys and briefcase.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I hear Val call from my office as I march toward reception. “Giuliano,” he cries. “You’re fucked,” I hear him cry.
I laugh and get into the elevator.
No DNA match.
The car travels through the peak hour traffic in Paris and I stare out the window smiling like a Cheshire cat.
I can hardly contain my excitement.
I imagine Francesca’s door opening and then telling her, she jumps into my arms and we live happily ever after, but I know it won’t go like that.
How could it possibly?
While this is the best news I’ve ever received, Francesca is about to lose the only identity she’s ever known. It’s going to be messy and complicated and will take time to work through the legalities of the situation. She’s going to be devastated.
The car pulls to a stop out the front of her apartment and I take a moment to steel myself.
Please let this go well.
Five minutes later, I stand at her door. Knock, knock.
I turn and look back up the corridor, this place is so different to anywhere else she stays. Modest, dated. If I didn’t know better, I could never have imagined her living somewhere like this.
The door opens in a rush and she lets out an audible gasp as she sees me.
Her eyes search mine, the air swirling between us. “Tell me something good,” she whispers.
I try to hold my smile and fail miserably. “There’s no DNA match.”
Her eyes well with tears. “You mean….”
I nod as I get a lump in my throat.
“We’re not….”
“No.”
She throws herself into my arms and we hold each other tight. For a long time, we hug. Standing in the hallway.
A million emotions passing between us, relief, despair…anger from my side for all the years of pain we’ve been put through, and for what?
But mostly, all I can feel is excited. Because for the first time in forever, I have hope of a future with the only woman I’ve ever loved.
My beloved Francesca.
She takes my hand and pulls me into her apartment, and once the door shuts behind us, I take her into my arms abruptly and kiss her, she smiles against my lips.
Our kiss is long, slow and intimate as if we have all the time in the world.
And now we do.
I run my hand down over her back and feel that she’s lost more weight. “Are you okay?”
She nods with a forced smile and pulls out of my arms, her eyes search mine for answers. “She lied.”
I remain silent, what is there to say?
“All this time, she knew….”
“In Bianca’s defense, it wouldn’t have been an easy thing to own up to.” I shrug. “I can see why she wouldn’t want it out there.”
“How can you defend her?” She frowns.
“You know….” I roll my lips as I try to articulate my thoughts properly. “I’ve thought about this and how things were run back then. It would have been scandalous for one of our father’s—”
“Okay.” I nod in understanding. That’s code for, if it’s good news Giuliano wants to tell me himself, if it’s bad news, which I think it is, the doctor will call me. “Goodbye.”
I watch the two men walk down the hall and get into the elevator, the doors close and they disappear out of sight.
I stare at the closed doors for a moment, I never thought that my future life would depend on the results of a stick covered in saliva. I exhale heavily and close the door, don’t get your hopes up.
The rain pours down as I push out through the heavy glass doors at my office. I worked on-site today and just as my boss predicted, I was interrupted almost every ten minutes and achieved next to nothing. I definitely will be working from home for the next few weeks, there’s no way I’m going to make all my deadlines with today’s productivity.
As I walk out I see my black Mercedes and another man standing with the door open, he’s in the customary black suit and is holding an umbrella over his head. I haven’t seen him before, who is he?
Shit.
I dart back into the building and check my messages. There’s one from Lorenzo that came through an hour ago, I haven’t seen it yet.
Hi Cheska,
You have a new driver today.
His name is Davidoff.
Lorenzo
Xox
What?
I instantly dial Lorenzo’s number and he answers first ring as if expecting my call. “Hello, darling.”
“Hi.” I force myself to use my manners. “Where’s Antonio?”
“He’s been moved back to Italy,” Lorenzo replies calmly.
“Why?” I snap, although I already know the answer, it’s because he told Giuliano that I’m back with Marcel.
“Giuliano wants him in Rome for the time being.”
“Rome?” My eyes bulge from their sockets. “It’s not safe in Rome, why would he send him to Rome?”
Lorenzo lets out a deep exhale. “It is not for us to decide where Giuliano stations his staff, Francesca, Davidoff will now be looking after you.”
“Davidoff?” I gasp, annoyed, I peer through the glass windows to see the burly man.
He’s huge, mid to late forties, and hardened.
Nobody is messing with Davidoff.
“He’s been with the company for many years and is one of Giuliano’s most trusted guards,” Lorenzo replies.
“One of Giuliano’s most trusted guards is code for hit men…. I’m not stupid, Lorenzo. No, that won’t do,” I announce. “I want Antonio back. Thank you.” I try to sound dismissive.
“You have no say in the matter, my darling,” Lorenzo replies calmly. “When are you coming home, your mother and I miss you.”
I frown, that tone…. The one he uses with me. I’ve never noticed it before but it’s fatherly. “Soon.”
“Good, I look forward to it.”
The rain really comes down, it’s torrential outside. “Can you hear that rain?” I ask him.
“Is that what that is? My God, I thought it was a bad line. Go, get out of the weather.”
“Okay.” I smile and I go to say what I always say when we finish our calls and I stop myself.
Why do I tell Lorenzo that I love him?
It’s something that we’ve always done to each other. In fact, I probably tell Lorenzo that I love him more than I tell my mother. It’s always been him who has been my nurturer…not her.
Weird.
“I love you, my darling,” he says.
“You too,” I reply softly as my feelings for him become real and apparent.
“Go. Get home and out of the weather, Davidoff is a good man, you will grow to like him.”
I roll my eyes, unimpressed. “Goodbye.” I hang up and make a run for the car, Davidoff smiles and holds the umbrella over me. “Good afternoon, Miss Ferrara.”
“Hello.” I force a smile and get into the car, he closes the door behind me and gets behind the wheel, as we pull out into the traffic I exhale heavily.
Where are you, Antonio?
I’m sorry.
I open my email, check it again for the tenth time and exhale in exasperation. Damn it, why isn’t he replying?
Dominic is missing in action, I can change the tiles but not to the ones he wanted, they are currently out of stock and won’t fit with the timeline schedule we have with the tilers. He did give me a second option but I would like to clear it with him first. I’ve called him, I’ve emailed him…no answer.
Maybe he’s on vacation?
Giuliano
My pointer finger steeples at my temple as I stare aimlessly at the dance floor in front of me. The air is smoky, the music tantric and while the men at my table chatter and laugh, the gorgeous woman on stage does a seductive striptease.
Carlo smirks up at the stage like a predator. “She’s fucking hot, man,” he mutters under his breath.
I nod, acting impressed.
This is the bachelor life, the one I am accustomed to.
The one I no longer want.
My thoughts are not here, or my surroundings, or the naked women and certainly not with the company I keep.
They are with her…they are always with her.
And damn it, where are these fucking results?
It’s been five days since Francesca took that paternity test, how long can it take? What are they doing, growing a fucking clone from her DNA?
I turn my phone over and glance at the screen.
No missed calls
Val and Alex appear through the crowd and give me a smile and nod as they walk toward our table.
I smile, excited for the first time tonight. The two best friends a man could ever asked for. They’ve been with me since childhood, we grew up together and then I found out who I really was, a Ferrara. They showed their true loyalty, instead of judgement and fear, they stood beside me and showed up for the challenge to become my two right-hand men.
Risking everything for me.
They could have walked away. Turned their backs. Instead, let their hopes and dreams of a normal life trickle down the drain along with mine.
They are loyal, the best of the best.
While Alex has stayed exactly the same and more interested in the running of the staff, Valentino has become a darker version of himself.
Running the logistics of our assets. There are things that he, Carlo and I don’t share with Alex, simply because he just couldn’t handle it, but that’s okay, we can.
We protect him where we can, he doesn’t need to know everything. He is here by default, by being our friend and we respect that.
Me…. I’m different.
I often wonder if I was always this dark. Was it simmering inside me, waiting to come out? If my life hadn’t turned out as it has, would I still have ended up working in organized crime?
Maybe…it feels very natural to be here, but perhaps that’s because it’s in my blood. The men before me have been living like this for decades.
I’m fucked in the head; I already know that. Any man who sleeps with his own sister is. I cannot deny it, I have no regrets.
I am what I am, fuck everyone else.
I truly believe that Valentino would have always had this life, he thrives on the power, the adrenaline, the women, the money, chasing the kill.
He was made for this role in life, the cocaine king of Italy.
With Carlo running the brawn and Valentino running the blow, we can’t lose.
Carlo shuffles over and Valentino and Alex fall into the seat beside me, Val takes out a cigar and puts it between his teeth, he smiles darkly up at the naked woman on stage as he lights it up. “Is she new?” he asks before blowing a thin stream of smoke in the air.
I shrug as my gaze turns toward her, she has long blond hair and a body to die for. Curvy and fuckable. “No idea.” I raise my finger and the scantily dressed waitress appears. “Another round, please.”
“Of course, sir.” She smiles with a nod before disappearing.
We’re in the Viper club, we own this establishment. A bar with live shows and exotic guests, high-end girls are entertaining men upstairs and the place is filled with Ferrara men. This is our turf.
We are safe here, protected.
Val answers his phone, he listens and then frowns. “What do you mean?” He inhales his cigar as he listens and then narrows his eyes. “Since when?” His eyes flick to me and he gives a subtle shake of his head. “Send out a chopper.” He listens again. “And what happened?” He exhales heavily. “Keep me informed.” He hangs up and leans into me, I put my ear to his mouth. “The yacht is missing.”
My eyes meet his, “What time was it due in?”
“Two p.m. this afternoon. They’ve made no contact and their tracking device has just been switched off.”
I glance at my watch, Ten p.m.
Fuck.
I tip my head back and drain my scotch.
Val glares at me as he inhales his cigar, he leans over and whispers the same thing to Carlo and he clenches his jaw before muttering the words, “Someone’s going to fucking die.”
Early morning and the office is abuzz with drama.
Our yacht filled with the blow is missing, there’s been no contact since one p.m. yesterday when it was on track to land at our port. The satellite tracking was turned off about an hour from port yesterday and since then the chopper was unable to trace it. The only explanation could be that the tracking device was switched to another vessel, which traveled the course to throw us off the scent.
It could be fucking anywhere.
A twenty-million-dollar superyacht doesn’t go missing by itself and it could mean only one of two things.
The crew are dead and someone else has our eighty million worth of blow…and our yacht. Or the crew are the ones who stole it and are prepared to live with a death wish.
Either way it’s a fucking nightmare and something we’ve never encountered before.
Val is staring at the satellite-tracking map to see where and when this could have happened.
Lorenzo is sending men to all of the crew’s homes and family to put them under surveillance, check for any inconsistencies. If the crew have revolted and do have it, someone will return home for their girl, they always do.
My phone rings.
Nicolai
“Here we go.” I click my fingers to get Val’s attention and he jumps up and closes the office door. I put the phone on speaker and answer, “Nicolai.”
“Giuliano. How are you my friend?”
I lean back and swing on my chair, speaking with the chief of police is always a pleasure. “Good, good. What have you got for me?”
“The word is that one of your men is on Lombardi’s payroll.”
My eyes meet Carlo’s and he narrows his eyes in contempt.
“Who?” I ask.
“I don’t know, there’s talk they’re about to come into some serious blow. Big time from what I hear.”
“Interesting,” I reply.
Carlo and I glare at each other.
My phone lights up as another call comes in and I immediately hit decline.
“Where are they getting this…blow?” I ask.
“I believe a yacht was hijacked two days ago as it left Columbia. The tracking device was put into a dummy ship which stayed on course to throw them off the scent.”
“I see.”
He has information, he’s fishing for funds.
Val scribbles a note on the paper to tell me what to offer.
Ten million for whereabouts of yacht: Ten million for traitor’s name.
I screw up my face and shake my head, “Too much,” I mouth.
He scribbles on the paper again.
If we don’t get a name,
We’re fucked!!
I swing on my chair as I contemplate my offer, fuck.
Val is right, we need answers.
This is a problem that won’t go away until it’s taken care of. If we have a traitor, we need to take care of it now.
“Find my yacht and we’ll deliver ten million,” I say.
“Nice,” Nicolai replies.
“Give me a name and you’ll receive another ten.”
“Done,” Nicolai replies. “I’ll need some time.”
“Make it quick.” I hang up.
Val screws up the paper in his hands and throws it at the wall with force. “I’m going to fucking kill someone.”
Carlo walks in. “We’ve got surveillance on everyone involved, I have the chopper going up and down the coast. We’ll find it, don’t worry. And when we do, they will fucking pay.”
He and Alex start to discuss their conspiracy theories and I click through my phone to the missed call, I don’t know that number.
I dial the number and wait as it rings. “Dr. Miracash,” the voice answers.
Shit.
My eyes flick to the boys and I stand and walk out of the office as my heart hammers in my chest. “Hello, this is Giuliano Ferrara, returning your call.”
“Yes, Giuliano. The results are back.”
“And?”
“Negative.”
My face falls in disappointment.
“There is no way the two of you are genetically related.”
“What?” I stop still in the corridor as the earth moves beneath me. “Are you sure?”
“We ran the tests three times at both pathologies. One hundred percent that there’s no match.”
I smile, euphoria runs through me. “Thank you.”
“Do you want us to deliver the results to Francesca?”
“No…I’ll do it.”
“Okay.”
“Thanks again.” I hang up and put my head into my hands.
Thank God.
“Everything alright?” Alex asks as he walks down the hall.
“Yep.” I grab him and kiss his forehead, unable to hide my delight.
He frowns. “Haven’t you got a yacht missing or something.”
“Yep.” I smile, like I could care about missing cocaine.
No DNA matches.
I catch sight of Lorenzo in the foyer and I step toward him, my first instinct to knock him out.
No.
Francesca needs to be the first to know.
She needs to be the one to tell them that she knows. It’s not my place.
I march back into my office. “I’m going to France,” I announce to Val and Carlo.
“What?” They look up. “When?”
“I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“What? Today? No. You’re needed here.” Val snaps.
They watch me in horror as I gather my things.
“How the fuck can you even think about her when this shit is going on?” Val snaps.
I smile broadly and want to jump and punch the air.
How can I not?
They frown at me as if I’m going crazy…. And maybe I am.
“My dear Valentino.” I laugh and kiss his forehead. “See you tomorrow, my friend.” I grab my keys and briefcase.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I hear Val call from my office as I march toward reception. “Giuliano,” he cries. “You’re fucked,” I hear him cry.
I laugh and get into the elevator.
No DNA match.
The car travels through the peak hour traffic in Paris and I stare out the window smiling like a Cheshire cat.
I can hardly contain my excitement.
I imagine Francesca’s door opening and then telling her, she jumps into my arms and we live happily ever after, but I know it won’t go like that.
How could it possibly?
While this is the best news I’ve ever received, Francesca is about to lose the only identity she’s ever known. It’s going to be messy and complicated and will take time to work through the legalities of the situation. She’s going to be devastated.
The car pulls to a stop out the front of her apartment and I take a moment to steel myself.
Please let this go well.
Five minutes later, I stand at her door. Knock, knock.
I turn and look back up the corridor, this place is so different to anywhere else she stays. Modest, dated. If I didn’t know better, I could never have imagined her living somewhere like this.
The door opens in a rush and she lets out an audible gasp as she sees me.
Her eyes search mine, the air swirling between us. “Tell me something good,” she whispers.
I try to hold my smile and fail miserably. “There’s no DNA match.”
Her eyes well with tears. “You mean….”
I nod as I get a lump in my throat.
“We’re not….”
“No.”
She throws herself into my arms and we hold each other tight. For a long time, we hug. Standing in the hallway.
A million emotions passing between us, relief, despair…anger from my side for all the years of pain we’ve been put through, and for what?
But mostly, all I can feel is excited. Because for the first time in forever, I have hope of a future with the only woman I’ve ever loved.
My beloved Francesca.
She takes my hand and pulls me into her apartment, and once the door shuts behind us, I take her into my arms abruptly and kiss her, she smiles against my lips.
Our kiss is long, slow and intimate as if we have all the time in the world.
And now we do.
I run my hand down over her back and feel that she’s lost more weight. “Are you okay?”
She nods with a forced smile and pulls out of my arms, her eyes search mine for answers. “She lied.”
I remain silent, what is there to say?
“All this time, she knew….”
“In Bianca’s defense, it wouldn’t have been an easy thing to own up to.” I shrug. “I can see why she wouldn’t want it out there.”
“How can you defend her?” She frowns.
“You know….” I roll my lips as I try to articulate my thoughts properly. “I’ve thought about this and how things were run back then. It would have been scandalous for one of our father’s—”
