Page 45 of Stolen Dove
“Thanks. I’m asking for it.”
“I bet. I just sent Santino one, and he’s going to be all growly soon. He doesn’t flip me over his shoulder anymore because he’s worried about hurting the baby, but it doesn’t stop him from scooping me up.”
“Here you ladies are.” I completely forgot that Geraldo’s right there listening, and we both blush.
“Can we talk in private?” she whispers to me.
“Sure. Let’s go into the enclosed patio, but let’s take our goodies with us.”
She turns to Geraldo. “Thank you for the treats.”
“My pleasure.” He’s always proud to have people to praise his work. It’s not often that he has anyone else to feed but Victor and me, so I’m expecting a masterpiece for dinner.
“We totally embarrassed him,” I giggle as I lead the way past Victor’s office.
“I’m so glad I didn’t say what we did with the can,” she says, snickering as I open the doors to my little paradise. Flowers hang from the wooden slatted roof, and in the center is a large patio set. The rain starts to fall onto the reinforced glass above us, creating our own little world of beauty.
“This is beautiful. I’m taking notes because Santino’s ready to spoil me any way I want.”
“Thank you. He looks like he’s just as nuts as Victor.”
“Totally as crazy. It’s so nice to just be around a woman my own age.”
“Me too.” We take bites out of our desserts. We should have had a meal, but we can wait until later. “Would you like a water?”
“Sure.” I walk to the cooler off in the corner and grab two waters.
After taking a drink, she asks, “So I wanted to ask how you met Victor.”
“I don’t know how much you know about your father’s activities.”
“Pretty much everything,” she confesses, looking disheartened. I know her story. I remember hearing about it from my father as a warning of what Avanti was capable of.
“It was at the virgin sale party.”
“Oh. Did he buy yours?” she asks, taking a bite of her pie as if it’s not a big deal.
“Yes. I know it’s terrible, but he saved me from one of the other slimy men.” I don’t want anyone thinking bad about Victor. I know his motives were genuine and loving, even if it took us forever to realize it.
She nods. “Your husband seems like Santino, obsessed with his wife.”
“It took us a while to work it out. He thought I couldn’t love him because of it, but in all honesty, I couldn’t hate the man who saved me from something fucked up.”
“Yes, Santino saved me, but I wasn’t that lucky. It took a while and I lived in hell, but he took me and told me I was his. I welcomed his passion and love, even if it scared me.” I take a bite of my food, feeling the weight of the conversation, remembering who I’m talking to. Giada suffered more than most at the hands of those close to her. At least my mother died and didn’t sell me off.
I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I feel like we’ve lived similar lives.”
She smiles. “We have. I’m so grateful that you were rescued. Now if my father was taken down, we could save others. I know that the other families don’t deal in human trafficking or at least they’re undercover about it, but my father flaunted his mistresses and the fact that he slept with many of the women that enter our home. Honestly, I’m happy Victor got you out because my father would have taken you after you’d serviced whoever bought you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He has a thing for blondes, gorgeous ones.”
“What?” Victor snarls, causing us to jump and my fork to fall on the floor. He picks it up as he rushes to my side. He rubs my back and then kisses the crown of my head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you ladies, but you said he’s interested in my wife.”
She frowns as Santino sits by her in another chair, taking her hand. “I don’t know that for certain, but I know his past reputation. He always gives the ones he wants to bed a special piece of jewelry to wear with a tracker.”
I look at Victor, and I can see the wheels in his head turning. I most definitely received one of the special pieces. “What? Baby, where is that piece of jewelry?”